Star Trek Into Darkness Nominated for An Oscar

Today the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences officially announced the nominations for the the 86th Annual Academy Awards. Star Trek Into Darkness received one nomination for Visual Effects. Congrats to the crew on the recognition of their fantastic work. Sadly odds are very long with them winning as suspect a Gravity sweep. The winners will be announced during the Oscar telecast on March 2nd. The full list of nominations is here.

Visual Effects
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness

Introducing Sir Patrick Stewart

Actor Patrick Stewart was officially knighted today by Queen Elizabeth II. The famous actor, known for his role as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Charles Xavier in the X-Men films and much more now adds knighthood to his long list of honors.

Sir Patrick Stewart said told the BBC he owed "literally everything" to the English teacher [Cecil Dormand] who first encouraged him to perform. "Although many people in my life have had great influence on me, without this man none of it would have happened."

"The knights of the theatre represented to me not only the pinnacle of the profession but the esteem in which the profession was held. To find myself, to my astonishment, in that company is the grandest thing that has professionally happened to me."

Congratulations to Sir Patrick Stewart.

Star Trek Nominated for Two MTV Movie Awards

MTV has announced the final list of nominees for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards that will air on the network on June 6th, at 9PM EST. Star Trek had been part of six categories in total including Best Movie, Best Fight and Best Kiss but that has been reduced to two with nominations in the Biggest Badass Star and Best Breakout Star for Chris Pine (Kirk). While none of the other Trek cast members received nominations for the film, Zoe Saldana did receive two for Avatar in the Best Kiss and Best Female Performance categories. Click here to vote for your favorite movie in the various categories.

Biggest Badass Star
Chris Pine
Angelina Jolie
Channing Tatum
Rain
Sam Worthington

Best Breakout Star
Chris Pine (Star Trek)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief)
Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side)

Star Trek in Six MTV Movie Awards Categories

Just when you thought the award shows ended with the Oscars, we get a reminder that there is one more to go. The MTV Movie Awards has opened up voting for nominees through April 9th for your favorite movies and stars in many categories.

From these votes a short list of nominees will be determined which will open a final round of voting from May 11th to June 5th. The winners will be announced live on MTV on June 6th at 9PM EST. From what I can tell the list seems to be based on movies released between March 2009 to March 2010 (only way to explain Hot Tub Time Machine's inclusion). This year Star Trek has a chance in six categories, with multiple nominees in many of the categories.

Star Trek specific categories
Best Movie
Best Kiss - Spock & Uhura
Best Fight - Kirk & Sulu vs. Romulans or Kirk vs. Nero
Best Ass-Kicking Star - Chris Pine or Zoe Saldana
Best Breakout Male Star - Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto
Best Villain - Nero (Eric Bana)

Support Star Trek star
Best Female Performance - Zoe Saldana (Avatar)

To vote for Star Trek and other favorites, click here. The website does require you have or create an account and you can only make one choice per category so I guess some will have a hard choice to make.

Star Trek Franchise Wins First Ever Oscar

JJ Abrams' Star Trek achieved a goal none of the previous ten films were able to achieve, an Oscar win. The film won Best Makeup for Marney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow. Based on the outdated information at Memory-Alpha (missing Star Trek's 2010 nominations), the Star Trek franchise has received 14 total nominations over its entire history. The film did lose in its three other Oscar nominated categories of Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. The full list of winners can be found here.

Here is the text of their acceptance speech:

Mindy Hall: I don't want to step on your tail. It's hard to follow that face. We thank you, the Academy. We thank J.J. Abrams, your vision inspired us, your energy kept us going and your insistence on perfection brought us here. We thank Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures, we felt your support every day.

We had an amazing staff of artists, over 40. We share this with you and we'll be giving your names backstage at that backstage Thank You Cam. Thank you very much.

Barney Burman: Happy anniversary, baby!

Makeup
* “Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
* “The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
* “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow (winner)

Sound Editing
* “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
* “Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
* “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
* “Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
* “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson (winner)

Sound Mixing
* “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
* “Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
* “Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
* “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
* “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett (winner)

Visual Effects
* “District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
* “Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
* “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones (winner)

Congratulations to Marney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow.

Star Trek Recieves Four Oscar Nominations

This morning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its official list of nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards. The goal - to win the coveted Oscar, which indicates the winners produced the best work in their field for 2009 and of course get to add that line "Oscar winning..." to their resumes from now on. The Academy gives out a lot of awards with only the prime categories being award live on ABC Sunday, March 7th, 2010.

Overall, Star Trek had a good showing. It did not get a nod for Best Picture which was a long shot bet anyway but it did get a nod for Makeup, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. Below is the major categories Star Trek is nominated for. Click here for the full list of nominees in the various categories.

Sound Mixing
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken

Sound Editing
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Makeup
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Sadly I think Star Trek may have to live with just the nominations. About the only category the movie stand a chance of winning is for Makeup and that is a long shot because of period pieces like Young Victoria tend to do well in this category. The sound categories are not understood by most Academy voters so they tend to award their second favorite movie. I am thinking with The Hurt Locker likely a lock for Best Picture, both sound categories will go to Avatar. Visual effects is also an easy lock for Avatar.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Star Trek!

Update: From question in the comments, the four nominations ties the Star Trek record of four for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. It is also the fifth film nominated with The Motion Picture (3 noms), Undiscovered Country (2 noms), and First Contact (1 nom). Sadly, despite 14 nominations, the franchise has zero wins.

Orci, Kurtzman Up for WGA Award

It is award season as multiple studios, productions and people jockey for position on the coveted Academy Award (Oscar) nomination list and hopeful win. As part of that all the guilds (writer, director, actor, etc), various associations all have their own awards which can often influence the Oscar nominations and eventual winner.

Today it is The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) turn to announce their list of nominations for writing and the writing team of Star Trek received a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman will find out if they won on February 20, 2010. The full list of writing nominations is here. Below is their competition. Good luck to both but sadly it is probably going to either Precious or Up in the Air.

WGA's Best Adapted Screenplay nominations
- Crazy Heart, Screenplay by Scott Cooper; Based on the novel by Thomas Cobb
- Julie & Julia, Screenplay by Nora Ephron; Based on the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
- Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher; Based on the novel Push by Sapphire
- Star Trek, Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman; Based upon Star Trek, Created by Gene Roddenberry
- Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn

Star Trek Remains on Oscar VFX Shorter List

The number of movies still in contention for an Academy Award for Visual Effects has gone from 15 to 7 according to the LA Times. Fortunately Star Trek remains on the list. Some contenders removed include Watchmen, Sherlock Holmes, and A Christmas Carol. Remaining contenders:

- Star Trek
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
- Avatar
- District 9
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Terminator Salvation
- 2012

The next step in the process is for the Academy's VFX panel to view 15-minute clips and vote on three as the official nominees for the award. The final three will be announced on February 2nd with the winner rewarded during the ceremony on March 7th. Avatar is a clear lock for one of the spots (and likely the award winner). My guess the final two spots are between Transformers: ROTF, Star Trek, and 2012.

Patrick Stewart to be Knighted

Star Trek's very own, Patrick Stewart is getting honored with knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and thus adding the title of "Sir" to his name. The honorific will become official during a New Year's ceremony from the Queen held in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Knighthood is considered the highest honor for British citizens to "recognize service and achievement in all fields."

Patrick Stewart, 69, played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and related films. He was also Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, CIA boss Avery in American Dad, and done voice work for plenty of video games.

Congratulations to Sir Patrick Stewart.

Star Trek On Oscar VFX Short List

Star Trek has been selected as one of fifteen semi-finalists for Achievement in Visual Effects for the upcoming Academy Awards. In early January, the list will be cut to fifteen. Next on January 21st, Academy members will screen 15-minute excerpts to choose the final three for official nomination announcement on February 2nd. The Oscar will be rewarded during the live telecast on March 7th.

The full list of semi-finalists:
Angels & Demons, Avatar, Coraline, Disney's A Christmas Carol, District 9, G-Force, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2012, Watchmen and Where the Wild Things Are (via Dark Horizons)

Star Trek's Giacchino Nominated for Grammy Awards

Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino received four Grammy Award nominations as a result of his work for Star Trek and Up. The Star Trek Score received a nomination and the other three are for Up. If he doesn't win at least one, especially for "Married Life", it will be criminal. The full list of nominees is at grammy.com.

Michael Giacchino's nominations:

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (Alexandre Desplat)
- Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (Nicholas Hooper)
- Milk (Danny Elfman) [Decca]
- Star Trek (Michael Giacchino)
- Up (Michael Giacchino)

Best Instrumental Composition
- “Borat In Syracuse” from “Jazz-Clazz” (Paquito D’Rivera) (Paquito D’Rivera Quintet)
- “Counting To Infinity” from “Dialmentia” (Tim Davies) (Tim Davies Big Band)
- “Fluffy” from “Legendary” (Bob Florence) (Bob Florence Limited Edition)
- “Ice-Nine” from “Lab 2009″ (Steve Wiest) (University Of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band)
- “Married Life” from Up (Michael Giacchino)

Best Instrumental Arrangement
- “Emmanuel” from “In Boston” (Jeremy Lubbock) (Chris Botti & Lucia Micarelli)
- “Hope” from “Revolutions” (Vince Mendoza) (Jim Beard With Vince Mendoza & The Metropole Orchestra)
- “Slings And Arrows” from “The Comet’s Tail: Performing The Compositions Of Michael Brecker (Vince Mendoza) (Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge)
- “Up With End Credits” from Up (Michael Giacchino)
- “West Side Story Medley” from “Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson” (Bill Cunliffe) (Resonance Big Band)

Via TrekMovie, here is a video of a live performance of "Enterprising Young Men" from the movie as conducted by Michael Giacchino.

Star Trek Nominated for People's Choice Awards

Star Trek has recieved five nominations for the 2010 People's Choice Awards in several categories. Nominated actors include Zoe Saldana ("Breakout Movie Actress"), Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto (Breakout Movie Actor). The movie itself was nomiated for Favorite Franchise and Favorite Movie.

To vote for your favorites in the above characters and many more for television, movies and music, click here. Winners will be announced live during the People's Choice Awards telecast on Wednesday January 6th by CBS.

Star Trek Wins Six Scream Awards

Saturday Night, the Spike TV Scream Awards ceremony was held at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA and Star Trek took home six awards including the top award of "Ultimate Scream". Star Trek had 17 nominations in 15 categories.

Th wins:
Ultimate Scream
Best Science Fiction Movie
Best Director (JJ Abrams)
Best Science Fiction Actor (Chris Pine)
Best Cameo (Winona Ryder)
Best Fight Scene (Kirk Spock bridge fight)

Probably the highlight of the night for Trek fans was Shatner accepting the Ultimate Scream trophy:

Morgan Freeman presented the Ultimate Scream award (essentially best in show) to "Star Trek" — and William Shatner shocked fans when he stepped on stage to accept the trophy.

"J.J., I'll handle this," Shatner said to J.J. Abrams, seated in the audience, who also won best director and best sci-fi movie for "Star Trek." (via Trekmovie)

"This movie was big," Shatner said. "Imagine how big it could have been with me in it? ... I'll be waiting for your call."

The full list of winners can be found here. The telecast of the award ceremony will air on Spike TV on Tuesday, October 27th from 10:00pm to midnight ET/PT.

Star Trek Tops 2009 Scream Awards

Star Trek recieved the most nominations for Spike TV's 2009 Scream Awards with 17 total. The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 17th at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. I guess the Star Trek crew should feel honored but realistically the Spike Awards have no credibility to speak of as it is a popularity contest that attempts to mimic (poorly) the MTV Movie Awards.

"Getting nominated for kissing a Vulcan is a better fate than logic," said "Star Trek's" Zoe Saldana after getting word she received two "SCREAM" Awards nominations for Best Breakout Performance: Female and Best Science Fiction Actress.

J.J. Abrams' Sci-Fi action-adventure "Star Trek" tops the list with 17 nominations including The Ultimate Scream, Best Science Fiction Movie, Best Director, Best Ensemble, Holy Sh*t Scene of the Year and a nod in the all-new Fight-to-the-Death Scene of the Year category.

The nominations were decided by the awards "Advisory Board" that includes Tim Burton, Wes Craven, Roland Emmerich, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller and Eli Rith. If you want to vote for your favorite movie, head to the Scream Award website.

Star Trek Nominated for Five Teen Choice Awards

JJ Abrams' Star Trek received five Teen Choice Award nominations yesterday. The awards are given out by FOX and per its name it is for things that are of interest to 13-19 year olds. I am not sure but it seems the awards are based on the May 2007 to May 2008 window but many of the nominations are from the Christmas season and early summer releases.

Nomination Categories:
Best Action Adventure Movie
Best Action Adventure Actress - Zoe Saldana (Uhura)
Best Villain - Eric Bana (Nero)
Best Fresh Face Male - Chris Pine (Kirk)
Best "Rumble" - Chris Pine as Kirk vs. Zachary Quinto as Spock

The full list of categories and nominations can be found here. If you are between the ages of 13-19 then click here to find out how to vote for your favorites. The awards will be given out on Monday, August 10th starting at 8:00pm EST.

Star Trek Wins Golden Trailer

The 10th Annual Golden Trailer Awards were held last Thursday night at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. As the naming indicates, the awards are not for the movies themselves but the trailers created to help promote the movie. Star Trek won Best in Show award so already a good start in hopefully getting more awards for the movie.

Awards in the best trailer categories:
Action: "Fast and Furious," AV Squad; Universal.
Animation/family: "WALL-E," Craig Murray Productions; Disney.
Comedy: "Bruno," The Ant Farm; Universal.
Documentary: "Man on Wire," The Editpool; Icon Film Distribution.
Drama: "Frost/Nixon," Empire Design; Working Title.
Horror: "The Unborn," Buddha Jones; Rogue.
Independent: "The Wrestler," Mark Woollen & Associates; Fox Searchlight.
Music: "Where the Wild Things Are," "The Ant Farm; Warners.
Romance: "(500) Days of Summer," Mark Woollen & Associates; Fox Searchlight.
Thriller: "Angels & Demons," Trailer Park; Sony.
Video Game: "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed," Eyestorm Prods.; Lucasarts.
Don LaFontaine Award for Best Voice Over: "Tropic Thunder-Hollywood Legend," Buddha Jones; DreamWorks.
Golden Fleece: "The Spirit," Seismic Prods.; Lionsgate.
Most Original: "My Winnipeg," Kinetic Trailers; IFC Films.
Summer 2009 Blockbuster: "Star Trek," Aspect Ratio; Paramount.
Trashiest: "One Eyed Monster," The Refinery; Liberation Entertainment.
Best in Show: "Star Trek," Aspect Ratio; Paramount.