The Oscar® nomination process was a rigorous one, starting on December 16 in 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the ten films that advanced in this year’s visual effects Oscar race. On January 7 in Los Angeles, excerpts from each feature were presented for consideration of the top honour, and Iloura VFX Supervisor Jason Billington was on site representing the Melbourne- and Sydney-based VFX studios contributions to the stunning action feature.

Billington and the Iloura team collaborated closely with lead effects studio Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and VFX Supervisor Craig Hammack to heighten realism in many action sequences in the film, which tells the tale of the 2010 explosion of the drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico that was one of the world’s largest man-made disasters.

Iloura’s work included the creation of the massive engine explosion that ignites the rig fire. To achieve optimal dramatic impact, Iloura designed and created a full CG engine interior; artists digitally built, then animated the engine as well as a CG version of the engine room that is engulfed by fire. Artists also added CG flames, embers, mud, explosions and fireballs to various plates, expertly blending shots containing practical and digital elements.

Billington said, “The sheer volume of work kept us on our toes, but we’re well equipped to handle any challenge. ILM was an excellent partner, happy to share reference footage and assets that we successfully integrated with our pipeline, and the final result speaks to our successful working relationship.”

Billington will join his fellow nominees on the feature, Craig Hammack, Jason Snell and Burt Dalton, at the Academy Awards on February 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Dylan O’Brien, Gina Rodriguez, John Malkovich and Kate Hudson, Deepwater Horizon released in Australian cinemas in October last year.

More about Deluxe’s Iloura at www.iloura.com.au