Jan 6, 2009–“Journey to the Center of the Earth,” the 3-D children film from Walden, New Line and Warner, has made the Academy's visual effects short list. The other semi-finalists for the visual effects Oscar are: “Australia,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Hellboy II,” “Iron Man,” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”
The inclusion of “Journey,” the first digital 3-D movie ever did beat out. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which was passed over, as well as “Cloverfield” and “Hancock.”
The Academy needs to install a digital 3-D projector in its main Goldwyn Theater, which lacks such. At the bakeoff, the seven semi-finalists for the Oscar will present 15-minute reels of visual effects highlights and have a few minutes to answer questions from the Academy's visual effects branch, after which the members cast their votes for the three nominees.
The visual effects event will be held January 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
