BY FEARSmag

- The VES Awards were given out last night during the Visual Effects Society's (VES) sixth annual gala event at the Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom in Hollywood. The sold-out event attracted more than a thousand visual effects and animation artists, dozens of nominees and members of the film, television, commercial and video game industries. During the evening, filmmaker Steven Spielberg received the VES Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to the art and science of visual effects.

 "The work we celebrated tonight is a testament to the crucial role the talent, knowledge and experience visual effects artists play in the storytelling process. Because visual effects 'geeks' are at the cutting edge of technology, they are also at the cutting edge of entertainment as well," says Eric Roth, VES Executive Director. "I think it is remarkably appropriate that we awarded our highest honor -- the VES Lifetime Achievement Award -- to Steven Spielberg, because he is not only one of the greatest storytellers of our time, he is also an honorary techno-geek for us tonight."



And the winners are:

    Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture

    "Transformers"
    Scott Farrar
    Shari Hanson
    Russell Earl
    Scott Benza

    Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture

    "Ratatouille"
    Michael Fong
    Apurva Shah
    Christine Waggoner
    Michael Fu

    Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special

    "Battlestar Galactica - Razor"
    Mike Gibson
    Gary Hutzel
    Sean Jackson
    Pierre Drolet

    Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series

    "Fight for Life - Episode 4"
    Philip Dobree
    Nicola Instone
    Marco Iozzi
    Matt Chandler

    Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program

    Rome 2 - Episode 6 - "Philippi"
    James Madigan
    Barrie Hemsley
    Duncan Kinnard
    Gary Brozenich

    Visual Effects in a Commercial

    Smirnoff "Sea"
    William Bartlett
    Scott Griffin
    Dan Seddon
    David Mellor

    Best Single Visual Effect of the Year

    "Transformers" (Desert highway sequence)
    Scott Farrar
    Shari Hanson
    Shawn Kelly
    Michael Jamieson

    Real Time Visuals in a Video Game

    Halo 3
    Marcus Lehto
    Jonty Barnes
    Stephen Scott
    CJ Cowan

    Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game

    "World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade"
    Jeff Chamberlain
    Scott Abeyta

    Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

    "Sea Monsters"
    Sean Phillips
    Jack Geist
    Robin Aristorenas
    Mark Dubeau

    Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture

    "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Davy Jones)
    Hal Hickel
    Marc Chu
    Jakub Pistecky
    Maia Kayser

    Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture

    "Ratatouille" (Colette)
    Janeane Garofalo
    Jamie Landes
    Sonoko Konishi
    Paul Aichele

    Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial

    Chemical Brothers "Salmon Dance"
    Nicklas Andersson
    Mike Mellor
    Sylvain Marc
    Florent DeLa Taille

    Effects in an Animated Motion Picture

    "Ratatouille" (food)
    Jon Reisch
    Jason Johnston
    Eric Froemling
    Tolga Goketkin

    Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture

    "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (the Maelstrom)
    Frank Losasso Petterson
    Paul Sharpe
    Joakim Arnesson
    David Meny

    Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial

    "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee"
    Phi Tran
    Matthew Lee
    Martin Hilke
    Justin Mitchell

    Models or Miniatures in a Motion Picture

    "Transformers"
    Dave Fogler
    Ron Woodall
    Alex Jaeger
    Brian Gernand

    Models or Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

    "Halo 3/Believe Campaign"
    Matthew Gratzner
    Alan Scott
    Seth Curlin
    Greg Boettcher

    Compositing in a Motion Picture

    "Transformers"
    Pat Tubach
    Beth D'Amato
    Todd Vaziri
    Mike Conte

    Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

    Nike "Leave Nothing"
    James Allen
    Rob Trent

    Special Effects in a Motion Picture

    "Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix"
    John Richardson
    Stephen Hamilton
    Richard Farns
    Stephen Hutchinson

    Special Effects in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

    Lexus Hydrant "Actively Safe"
    Dave Peterson
    Anthony De La Cruz
    About the VES

VES is a professional, honorary society, dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual effects profession. The VES is the entertainment industry's only official trade organization representing the extended community of visual effects practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives.

Its 1,600 global members contribute to all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos, games and new media. The VES strives to enrich and educate its members and the entertainment community at large through many domestic and international events, screenings and programs. Visual effects professionals constitute a vital creative force in content creation and are literally shaping the future of entertainment.

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