The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards are in — and once again, Star Wars is all over the technical side of the industry… even when Star Wars itself isn’t the movie being nominated. Because when the Oscars get to categories like Visual Effects and Sound, two names keep showing up behind the scenes: In other words: Star Wars craftsmanship, still quietly carrying half of Hollywood on its back. ILM’s Presence at the Oscars Is Basically a Tradition Now Even when there isn’t a Star Wars film in the race, ILM is usually involved in multiple projects getting Academy recognition — and the 98th Oscars are no different. The Academy’s process for Visual Effects typically includes a shortlist/bake-off stage before final nominees are locked in, and ILM talent is involved across a wide range of major titles competing in the category. If you’ve ever watched a modern blockbuster and thought…
film industry
ILM’s 2025 Holiday Card Is a Subtle Nod to 50 Years of Visual Storytelling
When Industrial Light & Magic released its official 2025 holiday card, it didn’t feel like marketing—or even a celebration in the usual sense. It felt deliberate. Quiet. Confident. At first glance, the card shows a glowing Christmas ornament hanging on a tree. Inside the glass: a bright red “50”, an X-wing silhouette, and tiny sci-fi details embedded in the glow. It’s festive, sure—but it’s also doing something more interesting than just wishing people happy holidays. Why People Are Searching for This Card Most searches around the ILM holiday card come down to a few clear questions: The short answer: this card isn’t about hype. It’s about legacy. What the Design Is Actually Communicating ILM was founded in 1975, making 2025 its 50th year. Instead of spelling that out, the card lets the number speak for itself. The choice of a glass ornament matters. Ornaments are handled carefully, brought out once…
Harrison Ford to Receive SAG-AFTRA’s Highest Honor
Some careers don’t just age well—they become part of the culture. Harrison Ford’s is one of them. The Screen Actors Guild has officially confirmed that Ford will receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, the guild’s highest honor for an actor, recognizing a body of work that helped define modern blockbuster cinema. This isn’t a legacy award handed out lightly. It’s the actors’ union tipping its hat to one of its own, and to a career that has quietly shaped generations of filmgoers. What was announced, and why it matters SAG-AFTRA has named Harrison Ford as the next recipient of its Life Achievement Award, an honor reserved for performers whose careers embody excellence, longevity, and impact within the industry. The award is decided by fellow actors, which gives it a particular weight. This isn’t about box office math or studio branding. It’s peer recognition for decades of work that still resonates….
A 1993 Contract Might Rewrite Star Wars History — And Change Hollywood Forever
Star Wars is no stranger to drama, but this time the conflict isn’t happening in a galaxy far, far away. It’s happening in a courtroom — and the ripple effects could change the way Hollywood handles digital likenesses forever. The headline?A 1993 contract involving the likeness rights of Peter Cushing — Grand Moff Tarkin himself — has resurfaced, and it’s raising big questions about how Lucasfilm and Disney can legally use digitally recreated actors. And yes, this could rewrite more than Star Wars history. The Legal Twist No One Saw Coming The story revolves around Rogue One (2016), where filmmakers digitally recreated Tarkin using CGI. The performance was impressive, controversial, and apparently… not entirely settled legally. According to reporting, a 1993 agreement may give the actor’s estate more control over the use of his likeness than previously assumed. The contract is now being dissected in a London court, with lawyers…