‘Avatar’ VFX artist Eric Saindon rushed to hospital for surgery after Oscar win
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA : Eric Saindon checked into a Beverly Hills hospital at noon on the day of Oscars, after experiencing severe pain, according to a representative from Weta FX, the visual effects production studio behind 'Avatar: The Way of Water'. Saindon had reportedly been experiencing this discomfort all day.
The team that brought Pandora to life in James Cameron's blockbuster took the stage to celebrate 'Avatar: The Way of Waters' Visual Effects Oscar win on Sunday. Nevertheless, things quickly changed for one team member as senior visual effects supervisor Eric Saindon was taken to the hospital for surgery soon after his victory.
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Saindon suffered a ruptured small intestine
Saindon was rushed into a Beverly Hills hospital at midday after experiencing excruciating pain all day long during the Oscars. Saindon opted to still attend the awards ceremony and was given painkillers by his doctors after testing negative for kidney stones and appendicitis.
Saindon battled through the discomfort to receive the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but after the ceremony, he had to leave his press conference to go back to the hospital. Saindon underwent surgery after doctors discovered that he had a ruptured small intestine. He is now recovering, according to the Weta FX spokesman.
Saindon's big win at the Oscars
Saindon, a Weta FX employee, won his first Academy Award for 'The Way of Water'. He started out as the movie's on-set VFX supervisor, working to make the water scenes come to life. During filming, he was promoted to senior VFX supervisor. He oversaw the visual effects for the 2009 original of 'Avatar.' Previous credits include work as VFX supervisor on movies like 'Night at the Museum','X-Men: The Last Stand', and 'The Green Knight', as well as on movies like 'Alita: Battle Angel', 'Pete's Dragon', and other well-known ones. The two 'The Hobbit' trilogy movies he worked on and which were released in 2012 and 2013 earned him his first two Oscar nominations.
