Each year, the Oscars recognize A-list talent we regularly see on screen, on the red carpet, and in tabloids. But the Academy Awards also reward those who work behind the scenes: the writers, editors, costume designers, and others who help create trophy-worthy movie magic. This Oscars season, we’ll be toasting those off-screen artists by delving into the hidden secrets that helped create the on-screen magic that we — and the Academy — fell in love with. For more access backstage during this Oscars season, click here for EW.com’s Oscars Behind the Scenes coverage.
Real Steel director Shawn Levy knew he succeeded in telling the story of a washed-up fighter (Hugh Jackman) who redeems himself in the eyes of his estranged son (Dakota Goyo)–they partner to train a boxing robot–when that robot, named Atom, tested as well with movie audiences as Jackman and Goyo. Bringing Atom to life–a character that doesn’t speak or have facial expressions–involved a combination of animatronic and CG robots and the skill of motion-capture performers, puppeteers, and animators. The end result earned the film’s visual effects team an Oscar nomination. EW spoke with Digital Domain visual effects supervisor Erik Nash, who shares the nod–his second (he was also nominated for I, Robot)–with John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor, and Swen Gillberg. READ FULL STORY »
