Oscars 2017: For Jason Billington, it all started with the worst Star Wars movie

By Garry Maddox
Updated February 26 2017 - 10:08pm, first published 1:09pm
"All five are awesome movies": Jason Billington who is nominated for best visual effects at the Oscars with a scene from the oil rig disaster film Deepwater Horizon. Photo: Edwina Pickles
"All five are awesome movies": Jason Billington who is nominated for best visual effects at the Oscars with a scene from the oil rig disaster film Deepwater Horizon. Photo: Edwina Pickles
Spectacular explosions and fires: Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon. Photo: David Lee
Spectacular explosions and fires: Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon. Photo: David Lee
More action in Deepwater Horizon.
More action in Deepwater Horizon.

While Star Wars fans still scoff about The Phantom Menace, one striking scene inspired a change of career for Jason Billington that has taken him to the Academy Awards.