Bush honours SFX

Special effects firm Industrial Light Magic (ILM), founded by George Lucas, has been honoured by the US president George Bush.

The company received the National Medal of Technology at a ceremony at the White House in recognition of its work in visual effects.

Lucas, director of Star Wars and American Graffiti and producer of Labyrinth, Willow and Raiders Of The Lost Ark, was on hand to receive the medal.

The long list of films ILM has been involved in since its establishment in 1977 tells of the importance of special effects in today's movies.

Along with special effect-heavy blockbusters such as Men In Black, Deep Impact, Titanic and Poltergeist, many will be surprised that ILM was employed on Schindler's List, Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry and Along Came Polly.

The work by ILM has earned 14 films an Oscar for best visual effects and this success could continue at this year's ceremony.

The company is up for a statuette for its work on The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and Steven Spielberg's War Of The Worlds.

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