Posted in: Movies, News | Tagged: cats, cats academy awards, cats oscars, James Corden, rebel wison, visual effects society

'Cats' Vs the VFX Industry as Oscars Joke Goes Wrong

Published Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:15:44 -0600

by Jeremy Konrad

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Cats was a terrible, no good film that should not exist, and now effects houses and artists across Hollywood agree. At Sunday night's Academy Awards, two of the film's stars, James Cordon and Rebel Wilson, took the stage to give out the award for Best Visual Effects. They were dressed like Cats characters, and were terribly unfunny as they pawed at the microphone and said "nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects." This was a joke at the expense of the film, because like the rest of it, the film's effects were lackluster to say the least (and also unfinished). The Visual Effects Society has answered back, with a statement being released late yesterday:

"Last night, in presenting the Academy Award for outstanding visual effects, the producers chose to make visual effects the punchline, and suggested that bad VFX were to blame for the poor performance of the movie 'Cats,'" the statement said. "The best visual effects in the world will not compensate for a story told badly. The Visual Effects Society is focused on recognizing, advancing and honoring visual effects as an art form — and ensuring that the men and women working in VFX are properly valued.

On a night that is all about honoring the work of talented artists, it is immensely disappointing that The Academy made visual effects the butt of a joke. It demeaned the global community of expert VFX practitioners doing outstanding, challenging and visually stunning work to achieve the filmmakers' vision. Our artists, technicians and innovators deserve respect for their remarkable contributions to filmed entertainment, and should not be presented as the all-too-convenient scapegoat in service for a laugh."

Hilarious. This is the kind of Hollywood feud we can all get behind, especially if they are dragging Cats, which is rightfully deserved.

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