Quebec production designer Patrice Vermette, nominated for an Academy Award for Dune: Part 2, has had no time for lavish celebrations. Instead, he remains focused on his craft, currently working on an undisclosed film in Budapest.
“It’s amazing to be celebrated by your peers, but we should never forget that the reason for the Oscar is the work that goes into making the movie,” Vermette said.
Vermette, who won the Oscar for Best Production Design in 2022 for Dune, is nominated again this year. Despite his excitement, this nomination is bittersweet, as director Denis Villeneuve was notably absent from the Best Director category, despite winning multiple critics’ awards.
“There are surprises every year, and Denis won in many, many, many critics’ choice awards circles,” said Vermette. “It’s like the pyramids of Egypt. It’s a mystery.”
Villeneuve did, however, receive nominations from the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, and other prestigious organizations, while Dune: Part 2 secured a Best Picture nomination.
Vermette, a frequent collaborator of Villeneuve, credits the director as the essential force behind the film’s success. “The captain of the ship is Denis,” he said. “Without Denis, there is no film.”
A Montreal South Shore native, Vermette recently completed his long-overdue degree at Concordia University in 2023. “I wanted to graduate at the same time as my daughter,” he said.
With a career spanning decades, Vermette has become a key figure in Hollywood, joining other Quebec filmmakers like Adrien Morot, who won an Oscar for Best Makeup in 2022. Despite their international success, Vermette emphasizes the importance of staying connected to their roots.
“You take your baby steps making local music videos, then commercials, and then meet a guy like Jean-Marc Vallée—it’s amazing,” he said. “We’ve been following each other, and it’s great because you look around and think, ‘My God, we’re there.’ But you never forget your roots.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
