‘Avatar’s’ Pandora becomes triumph of a winner’s own struggles

Art direction

“Avatar”

Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg (art direction); Kim Sinclair (set decoration)

Pandora, the unspoiled alien world at the heart of “Avatar,” provided moviegoers with some of the year’s biggest wow moments. The movie’s mix of digital and traditional sets -- all of which were rendered in 3-D -- was regarded by many as a technological triumph.

Carter, who was previously nominated in this category for “Forrest Gump” in 1995, saved his most heartfelt thanks for the film’s director. “Jim Cameron -- this Oscar sees you. Your vision is so deep,” he said.

Stromberg, who was nominated in 2004 for his visual-effects work on “Master and Commander,” devoted most of his speech to recounting his personal health struggles. “Thirteen years ago, doctors told me I wasn’t going to survive,” he said. “And here we are.”

Later backstage, Stromberg said his illness, which he declined to specify, motivated him to “spend whatever time I had here trying to do something profound and worthwhile. So from that point until tonight is a journey that I can’t explain to anybody.”