During the Academy Awards Sunday night, host Jon Stewart came back from a commercial break playing 'Wii Tennis'
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News.com)It was a big night for Hollywood Sunday night, what with the biggest stars and best films being celebrated at the 80th Academy Awards.
But, unexpectedly, it also turned into a big night for Nintendo and its popular Wii video game console.
At one point in the show, as the broadcast came back from commercial, host Jon Stewart appeared on-stage playing tennis on the Wii, with the game displayed on the Oscars' giant screen.
It was a funny moment, and in keeping with Stewart's contemporary wit.
And while Nintendo must have known about it in advance--otherwise, how could the Oscars possibly have gotten ahold of a Wii--I'm sure it was a thrill for the game company's people to see their hit device get a moment in the sun during such a global event.
ILM's John Knoll and Hal Hickel were nominated for the best visual effects Oscar for their work on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the third film in the Pirates franchise. Knoll and Hickel have been nominated for each of the three films, and they won the Oscar last year.
(Credit: Industrial Light & Magic)
As you probably have heard by now, it's Oscar nominations day, and Hollywood is all a-buzz.
But up here in the Bay Area, there are some pretty happy people as well.
That's because the folks at Lucasfilm divisions Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound were honored with a total of six nominations Tuesday.
ILM was nominated for its visual effects work on both Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
ILM's John Knoll and Hal Hickel, who were nominated for their work on both of the two previous Pirates films, and who won the Oscar last year, were nominated again for the third Pirates movie.
And ILM visual effects supervisor Scott Farrar, animation supervisor Scott Benza, and associate visual effects supervisor Russell Earl were nominated for their visual effects work on Transformers.
ILM animation supervisor Scott Benza and associate visual effects supervisor Russell Earl earned their first Academy Award visual effects nominations for their work on Transformers. Visual effects supervisor Scott Farrar was also nominated for Transformers, his fifth overall nomination. He previously won the Oscar for his work on Cocoon.
(Credit: Industrial Light & Magic)
Over at Skywalker Sound, Randy Thom was nominated for best sound editing and best sound mixing for his work on Pixar's Ratatouille, which was also nominated for best animated feature. In addition, Michael Semanick, a two-time Oscar winner, was nominated for sound mixing and previous Oscar winner Michael Silvers earned a sound editing nomination.
Skywalker Sound's Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Michael Silvers earned Oscar nominations for best sound editing and best sound mixing for their work on Pixar Animation's Ratatouille. The film also was nominated for best animated feature.
(Credit: Pixar)
Finally, Skywalker Sound's Matthew Wood also got a best sound editing nomination, as did two-time Oscar winner Ethan Van der Ryn for his work on Transformers.
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