The 80th Annual Academy Awards were held tonight at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. As TrekMovie.com reported last month, nine Star Trek alumni (present and future) were nominated for an Oscar this year including Michael Giacchino, the composer for the new Star Trek film. Of the nine ‘Trek’ nominees only two left with trophies and Giacchino wasn’t one of them. See below for our full coverage including photos from the show and Trek celebs spotted at Oscar weekend events.
Maybe next time Mike
Giacchino, who was up for Best Original Score for the animated Ratatouille, had been on a winning streak lately. He recently nabbed a Grammy and an Annie, but tonight wasn’t his night. Mike lost out to Atonement‘s Dario Marianelli. It should be noted, though, that veteran Trek composer Jerry Goldsmith had sixteen Best Score nominations (including one for Star Trek The Motion Picture) but only a single win (his ninth nomination, for The Omen). Trek vet James Horner won his sole Oscar (Best Song for Titanic) on his fourth of six nominations. So Giacchino is in good company. Let’s hope 2 years from now he takes home the gold for Star Trek.
Star Trek The Motion Picture alumni honored
The two Trek alumni who won Oscars this year were both members of the production team on Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Robert Elswit, who was a visual effects photographer on TMP, won the Best Achievement in Cinematography award for There Will Be Blood. Mike Fink, a miniature and props man on TMP, won for his visual effects in The Golden Compass. They join the ranks of several other TMP production members who have won Oscars, including director Robert Wise, visual effects maestro John Dykstra, and the aforementioned Jerry Goldsmith. The two Oscar winners were not the only TMP alumni honored at the ceremony; production designer Harold Michelson, who received an Oscar nomination for his work on TMP and who died March of last year, was among those featured in the show’s In Memoriam segment (the ‘clip’ shown with Michelson was the launching of the refit 1701 in TMP). The only other Trek veteran who made the memoriam list was First Contact & Insurrection makeup artist Monty Westmore.
Visual effects artist Michael L. Fink (at the mic), along with Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris, Trevor Wood win for "The Golden Compass"
Cinematographer Robert Elswit picks up an Oscar for "There Will Be Blood"
The Academy remembers the late Harold Michelson
Trek presenters
Several of the presenters at the Oscars were actors whose names have popped up in connection with the new Star Trek movie. Alias actress Jennifer Garner, who wants to be Klingon, presented the first award of the evening (Best Achievement in Costume Design). Also presenting awards were Attonement‘s James McAvoy (who was rumored to be a contender for the role of Scotty) and Mission: Impossible III‘s Keri Russell (who really was up for a role). The only actual Trek alum to present an award, however, was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the former pro-wrestler who appeared in the Voyager episode “Tsunkatse.”
Garner as presenter…for god’s sake JJ make her a Klingon!
Oscar’s past Trek connections
Although Trek itself has received zero Academy Awards, a few of the films have received nominations. TMP was up for Best Original Score, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Visual Effects; Voyage Home earned nods for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing; Undiscovered Country was nominated for Makeup and Sound Effects Editing; and First Contact was up for Best Makeup. In addition, dozens of Trek alumni have received honors from the Oscars for non-Trek work, including four wins for acting (Star Trek: Insurrection‘s F. Murray Abraham for Amadeus, DS9’s Louise Fletcher for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, VOY: “Resistance” guest star Joel Grey for Cabaret, and TNG’s Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost).
Trek Celebrity sightings over the Oscar weekend
Writer Brad Bird (L) and composer Michael Giacchino attends The Belvedere Luxury Lounge in honor of the 80th Academy Awards featuring the Ilori Luxury Sunglass Suite, held at the Four Seasons Hotel on February 23, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California
J.J. Abrams arrives to the US-Ireland Alliance Pre-Academy Awards at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on February 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Actress Zoe Saldana attends the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party at the Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2008 in West Hollywood, California.
Actress Zoe Saldana arrives at the 2008 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 23, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.
Actor Bruce Greenwood at the ELLE Green Lounge at Film Independent’s 2008 Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 23, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.
For more winners, pictures and videos check out Oscar.com
(Photos: Wire Image)
Anybody else notice the tiny shot of the Enterprise from TMP during the In Memoriam montage?
Sure did!
sometimes I wonder if people even read articles or just look at the pictures and read the headlines
from the article:
Anthony, your hard work is not lost on me, my friend. Keep up the good work!
Hell, EVERYBODY on this site keep up the good work. Great coverage Mr. Trotter. THANKS!
Nice work, Chuck!
Damn! I was hoping Giacchino would pick up the Oscar for “Ratatouille.”
Maybe ’09 will be his year for best original score for Trek.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Sigh … Brad Bird … on my list of Ultimate Star Trek Movies From The Universe Where My Wishes Define Reality is a Pixar Trek film written by Brad Bird :)
But really, the only Oscar I cared at all about this year went where I most wanted it to go: to Glen and Marketa for “Falling Slowly.”
Yup, better coverage than any official site ever was.
Yep #1, I saw the Enterprise in Spacedock for a brief moment.
3. Anthony Pascale – February 24, 2008
>sometimes I wonder if people even read articles or just look at the >pictures and read the headlines
Is that a trick Question?
Oh, and congratulations to Bardem, the firsty actor with an Oscar from my country. (yipeeeee)
ILM was completely robbed!! Anyone with a frickin brain could see that they’re work this year is superior to Rhythm and Hues!! Everyone in the Kodak theater didn’t make a sound, they were completely shocked!! Even on MPR news they were shocked!!
still cant believe TMP didnt get best effects- Alien won cause people couldnt tell make up FX from special FX!- abd the 500 or so aliens in ST VI always seemed like more work than arnies one gore effects make up- maybe ST XI will get one.
Bruce Greenwood is going to be awesome as Pike!
The new ST will win at least one oscar. Probably for special fx and/or original score.
Jenny Garner as a Klingon…….. Interesting.
I would like to hear more from Greenwood and how playing Captain Pike thihs time around might be different and perhaps his take on the late Jeff Hunter as an actor.
Sorry for the typos!! Ha Ha!
In addition will we have a sort of torch passing from Fleet Captain Pike to newly crowned Captain Kirk?? Plus a little advice?
– I can’t understand why is this…Pie …sorry ..Pike ressurected…
With Star Trek moved to May 2009 will this give Jenny Garner some time maybe to get in the movie or maybe Keri Russell?
Mongo no like read words, Anthony.
# I 9 I think because he was Kirks Predessesor and pike is a classic trek character ,if you are doing young James Kirk then there is a certain logic to having pike on the Enterprise. I tell you one thing, I like Bruce Greenwood for the role of Pike, he both looks and sounds the part .
#20 Steve Short — the release date change will have no effect on the film’s script or production schedule, according to Bob Orci. This means that those who were looking to be cast but have not yet been case (i.e. Garner, Russell, Shatner) are likely still out.
Mongo actually like words, Charles. Mongo just try to make funny. Mongo not mean to hurt feelings. Humor difficult concept to grasp.
Michael Giacchino was screwed!
Mongo likes pin-ups!
Harry make Mongo blush. Harry right. No tell Mrs. Mongo.
Time for feast.
no worries people…just a pet peeve of mine.
TrekMoive.com folks like Chuck and others work hard writing these articles and yet people make comments that it is clear they didnt actually read the article. Like ‘hey did you know x?’ or ‘can someone tell me about x’ when X was in the actual article.
Of course we added a picture of the Michelson tribute a hour later so in this case the ‘word challenged’ people can now enjoy it as well.
My 6 year old son and I watched Firehouse Dog on HBO over the weekend. It was a cute movie with Bruce Greenwood as the Firehouse Captain. Bruce was great. He played the leadership/hero role effortlessly.
I CANNOT wait to see him as Pike. From what I can tell, he is a perfect casting choice!
Oscar’s past Trek connections….
Whoopi Goldberg should be mentioned, Ghost was a great film.
It might be an urban legend, but apparently there is an executive of Hollywood who is decidedly unimpressed with Whoopi Goldberg as an entertainer. He is supposedly offering $10,000 to anyone who can show any 10 minute film clip where Ms. Goldberg is funny.
So far he hasn’t had to pay out a dime.
#32 Harry from three point range, and..nothing but net!!
That’s gold, my friend. I actually hope that’s true.
I had dinner once with Harold Michelson, and his wife Lillian. Very nice people, and he had fun talking about working on TMP and Catch 22. Said they had to film Catch 22 in Mexico, near the coast, so that one of the producers could go deep sea fishing while not on the set! I wonder if he ever wrote a book? RIP
Thanks Gene! I heard the Whoopi story (on good authority) several years ago……I agree with you……Ms. Goldberg has done remarkably well for someone with very limited talent!
Thanks for sharing the Michelson story!
Hey, another thing. Since we seem to be adding new cast members to the new Trek movie every time I check in here, why not see what Javier Bardem is doing next week. Put THAT crazy man in our movie! Anton Chiguhr as a Vulcan hitman! (Spock had that hair first in TMP!) I can’t find a picture of Spock from TMP with the hair, but here is Anton…tell me he isn’t up for the Kohlinar necklace!
http://theenvelope.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-12/33648176.jpg
Yeah, this guy would kill in the single bars!!
#31 — Whoopi! Er, I mean… Whoops! Don’t know how I missed that one. Good catch. :)
If Johnny Depp can get noms for Pirates and Sweeny Todd, I think it’s high time Trek received at least an acting nom. Maybe Quinto if he rocks Spock? I think Stewart deserved at a nom for First Contact. That scene with Woodard in the Ready Room where Picard loses it is a freakin’ amazing performance. “Patrick Stewart, for Star Trek First Contact” then cut to that scene “And I … will make them PAY … for what they’ve done!” Was he not submitted for Oscar consideration? I believe I heard that somewhere but he didn’t make the short list.
to make the comic book based on his novel though and included him in the project.