Avatar Days

No, I’m not talking about the James Cameron movie. That is sooooo passé. Instead, I’m talking about MMORPG (that’s massive multiplayer online role-playing games for the uninitiated) avatars.

In the following short film, director Gavin Kelly features 4 MMORPG players who talks about their in-game avatars. Filmed, vfx-ed, and comped in just 4 days, it was made as part of the “4 day Film” catagory in the Darklight Film Festival. As they tell their stories we see them go about their everyday lives against the mundane backdrop of city life… as their avatars.

I really enjoy the pace and tone of this short 4-minute film, and I hope you do too!

Avatar vs. Titanic

via This is Indexed

Just thought I’d share this awesome diagram from the amazing brain behind This is Indexed comparing James Cameron’s two biggest movies.

Especially love the bit where people turn blue in the end. Heehee.

The Oscars!

It’s finally over. The battle of the giants ended last night with Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker completely demolishing James Cameron’s Avatar six Oscars to three, with the former sweeping particularly the Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay awards. Mind you, she’s the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Direction (woohoo!).

Here’s how it went down:

Of note, Sandra Bullock also became the first performer to win both a Razzie and an Oscar in the same year, leaving her contender, Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) in the dust. Pity though. It was Streep’s 13th nomination for Best Actress (most ever on the planet!).

Other winners of the night included Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) for Best Actor, Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) for Best Supporting Actor, and Mo’Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire) for Best Supporting Actress.

There you have it! Phew! I can power down and recharge my batteries at long last

Countdown to the Oscars… begins now.

The 82nd Academy Awards will be held this Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodiak Theatre, Hollywood, honouring the best in film for the year 2009.

Amongst the nominees, perhaps the biggest showdown to keep a lookout for will be that of Avatar versus The Hurt Locker, with 9 nominations a piece. The latter has already come out tops in the BAFTAs and appears set for another round of Pandorian slaughter. Let’s not forget the dark horse, as Tarantino’s Basterds stealthily creeps behind with no less than 8 nominations. Upset or not, it would definitely be a night to remember.

For a quick-loading look at the lineup for the ceremony, there’s always trusty Wikipedia.

On a lighter note, let us look at what ingredients go into making a great film.

And while we’re at it, here’s a list of 10 ways to win an Oscar!

Robo out!
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