The Academy Announces Scientific and Technical Awards Contenders

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ scientific and technical awards committee has selected achievements for Oscar consideration.

On Monday, the Academy publicly revealed 20 scientific and technical achievements, comprising 11 distinct investigations, to “allow individuals and companies with similar devices or claims of prior art” a chance to submit additional entries by the September 1st deadline. The following technologies from ILM, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Weta Digital, DreamWorks Animation, and others were selected for deeper consideration for next year’s Academy Awards:

• A remote-controlled lens attachment that enables highly adjustable in-camera distortion effects. Prompted by Squishy Lens (Clairmont Camera)
• A remote-controlled lens attachment that allows viewable, easily manipulated, real-time image movement without displacing the camera. Prompted by Image Shaker (Clairmont Camera)
• Portable, inflatable panels for on-location motion picture production. Prompted by Inflatable Airwall (Aircover Inflatables)
• Displays that provide P3 color space for image review in motion picture workflows. Prompted by Dolby Laboratories model PRM-4200 Professional Reference Color Monitor (Dolby Laboratories)
• Tools that are used for the creation and quality control of DCI compliant digital cinema packages for the motion picture industry. Prompted by easyDCP Software Suite (Fraunhofer IIS)
• Rig-based solvers for tracking and animating deforming objects from image sequences. Prompted by Geometry Tracker (ILM) and FACETS – Directable Facial Motion Capture (Weta Digital)
• Integrated computer solutions for collaborative, iterative review of cinema resolution shots and sequences within the visual effects and animation studio environment. Prompted by RV Media Player (Tweak Software), Clip – A Comprehensive Playback, Editing and Review Suite (Double Negative), DreamWorks Animation Media Review Ecosystem (DreamWorks Animation), FrameCycler (IRIDAS), Global DDR (Rhythm & Hues), HiDef – Media Review System (Weta Digital), Itview Collaborative Review System (Sony Pictures Imageworks), WDAS Collaborative Enhanceable Image Playback and Review Systems (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
• Large-scale, massively parallel, distributed, multi-physics simulation systems. Prompted by Odin: A massively parallel simulation environment (Weta Digital)
• Image compression coding and parameters that adhere to the specifications for the theatrical release of motion pictures. Prompted by JPEG 2000 Digital Cinema and IMF Profiles (Fraunhofer IIS)
• 3D texture paint systems capable of dealing with large texture sets for production assets. Prompted by MARI (The Foundry)
• Rule-based frameworks for the art-directable creation of computer-generated structures and urban environments. Prompted by CityEngine (Esri R&D Center Zurich)

Those looking to stake claims of prior art or technology must submit them through the Academy’s website. The Academy’s sci-tech committee will reconvene in early December to vote on the recommendations to its board of governors, after conducting “thorough investigations” in all of the technology categories. After that process, the Academy’s board of governors makes the final call.

Scientific and technical achievement awards are presented on three levels: Technical Achievement Award (certificate), Scientific and Engineering Award (bronze tablet), and Academy Award of Merit (Oscar statuette). This year’s Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented on February 13 next year, followed by the Oscars proper two weekends later.