Three-time Oscar Winner Richard Baneham was on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the significance of his win.
Three-time Oscar winner Richard Baneham said winning again felt the same as being a two-time winner in some ways “with the exception of the fact that the team is properly recognised for the effort on movie three”.
Baneham won Best Visual Effects at the 98th Academy Awards last Sunday for his work on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Richard Baneham is one of Ireland’s most distinguished visual effects artists. This is his third Academy Award, having won the category previously in 2009 for Avatar and again in 2023 for Avatar: The Way of Water.
He told The Hard Shoulder they had been very lucky with the consistency of the team, having worked with some people for 9 to 20 years.
“[The win] is a true nod to the team”, he added.
Mr Baneham said despite the public commentary that he should have five Oscars for his work on the Lord of the Rings sequels he was ready to “let that go”.
During the show it was revealed that An Post, who previously painted two gold letterboxes in Ballyfermot and Old Bond Road, also employed Richard Baneham’s father as a gardener.
He told The Hard Shoulder's Shane Coleman that the best thing was seeing how well the movie was accepted.
“That's the thing that really hits home”, he said.
“You can get a movie that's out there and it's a sequel, obviously, but that still has a way to connect with new kids.
“The fact that it's a family movie, which people don't really think about, it's about mothers and daughters and fathers and sons and the tension that exists between them and that's ubiquitous.”
He said Ireland’s success with animation had to do with “creating community and everything to do with helping each other”.
“We were at a moment where there was a lot of interest and talent and good storytellers and everybody committed to going forward, even though, to be honest it didn't look like there was a viable career to be had.”
He maintains close contact with other students from his class.
“We’re forever bonded, you know, and I think that gives you a real footing if you're being away, if you're forced to be away from home.
“We're also a bit blessed with all the visits from grandparents of all the kids.
“We still all have Christmas dinner together and Easter dinner - all the usuals.”
Main Image: Three-time Oscar Winner Richard Baneham winning at the Oscars in LA.
