The Avatar franchise is, if nothing else, a technical achievement. The things that it does with motion capture technology, digital effects, and theatrical 3D are truly incredible, and unlike anything any other movies are doing today. For that reason, it was pretty much expected that Fire and Ash would be nominated for an Oscar in Visual Effects, which it was. However, the film’s other nomination was a bit more surprising to me, as it was in the field of Costume Design.
The Oscar nominees for Costume Design usually go to people who design and create the physical outfits worn by actors in films. Anyone who has seen a behind-the-scenes shot of an Avatar production knows that what the actors wear on set is usually limited to what looks like a sweat suit and a large camera rig on their faces. All the costumes are created digitally. However, after seeing THR’s conversation with costume designer Deborah L. Scott, it all makes a lot more sense.
