REZN8, a design and animation production house, developed part of the opening sequence for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards telecast Sunday, March 25, 2001. REZN8 designed and created the special video segment that introduced Oscar host Steve Martin. Traveling through deep space, viewers were treated to animated radio signals and past Academy Award moments composited by the REZN8 graphics team over film footage. The opening culminates in a 3D NASA space station, modeled and animated by REZN8. The sequence was created working closely with Michael Shapiro, producer of special segments for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards. He said, "The sequence produced by REZN8 visually brought together the essence of what the year 2001 represents in the minds of movie goers, and the excitement and creativity that we have all come to expect from the Academy Awards over the years. REZN8 has a unique talent for presenting effects and images in a compelling way. We are delighted that they joined us in producing the opening sequence for this year's Oscar telecast." REZN8 President Paul Sidlo said, "REZN8's goal was to create visually stimulating effects that would inspire the viewer while upholding the cinematic integrity of the Academy. It was a great honor to be tapped by the Academy to produce a segment so important to the film industrys biggest night. Knowing that hundreds of millions of people worldwide were tuned in and enjoying visuals we created was very gratifying."
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
