Canadians claim technical Oscars

First-time technical Oscar winner Andrew Clinton has been briefed on what to expect this Saturday when he and Side Effects Software colleague Mark Elendt attend the black-tie awards gala in Beverly Hills. He’s been warned that it’ll be a bit terrifying.

It’ll be Elendt’s third time receiving a technical achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that hands out the Oscars. The previous two times he walked up to the stage he was warmly welcomed by Hollywood stars Ashley Judd and Kate Hudson.

This year, Milla Jovovich is hosting the show and handing out awards. “You’re up onstage with a very, very beautiful actress and you’ve got to say a speech too at the ceremony, just like the Oscars,” said Clinton with a nervous chuckle. “So for a bunch of technical people it’s not the easiest thing in the world.”

Canada will be well represented when the academy honours behind-the-scenes innovators this weekend, taking home two of 10 awards. Also being honoured are Burlington, Ont., residents Michael Lewis, Greg Marsden, Raigo Alas and Michael Vellekoop for the development of Pictorvision Eclipse, a stabilized camera mount used for shooting scenes from helicopters.

The technology has been used in a long list of recent feature films, including A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, The Hangover and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, to name just a few.

Side Effects, based in Toronto, is being honoured for software that helps Hollywood create digital special effects that can be overlaid in post-production.