The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that 11 distinct scientific and technical investigations have been launched for 2024 in the lead-up to the Scientific and Technical Awards on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
These investigations are made public so that individuals and companies with devices or claims of innovation within these areas can submit achievements for review. The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee has started investigations into the following areas:
–Character dental prosthetics
–On-set tools for live compositing of virtual characters and environments
–In-Camera Visual Effects rendering or playback engines
–LED processors for In-Camera Visual Effects
–Image-based lighting for CG rendering
–Heat-protective gel for stunt performer safety
–Artist-friendly tools for constructing anatomical character simulation setups
–Final frame post process denoisers for CG rendering
–Dynamic time alignment of multiple moving microphones
–Stabilized multi-camera systems for capturing wide FOV plates
–Transportable six-degrees-of-freedom motion bases capable of supporting heavy loads
“The Awards committee is thrilled to have a wide range of applicants representing innovation across our branches. Our diverse committee of industry experts will investigate 11 areas of advancement, including character dental prosthetics, fire-protective stunt gels, and CG rendering techniques. The continued evolution of production and post-production, along with technologies that merge them, such as components of virtual production related to in-camera visual effects, highlights the evolution of motion picture workflows based on these advancements,” said Scientific and Technical Awards Committee co-chairs Darin Grant and Raymond Yeung.
The deadline to submit additional entries is Thursday, September 5, at 5 p.m. PT. For more information on the Scientific and Technical Awards or to submit a similar technology, click here.
After thorough investigations in each technology category, the committee will meet in the fall to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.
The Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws To Protect Actors Against Unauthorized Use Of AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.
"We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers," Newsom said in a statement. "This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."
Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a new California law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language might allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The law is set to take effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another law signed by Newsom, also supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates. Supporters said the law is... Read More