SF Visual Effects Class Worked on Oscar-Nominated Film

Students in a class at San Francisco's Academy of Art University are going to do better than just getting an "A" in their visual effects class.

They may be linked to an Oscar-winning film that they had a hand in on Sunday night.

The school's Animation & Visual Effects Studio 400A class led by Catherine Tate completed most of the post-production visual effects for the independent movie "Beasts of the Southern Wild," a seemingly out-of-nowhere hit also up for several other Oscar awards. The film is nominated for best picture, best director, best leading actress and best screenplay.

The film, which also won grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival, is about an intrepid six-year-old girl who lives with her father, Wink, in a southern Delta community at the edge of the world.

Lokesh Prakash and Anteneh Adamu are part of this 33-member visual effects class, and they told NBC Bay Area on Thursday that they are thrilled for the experience. In an era where young people are worried about their job prospects, these students are already getting notice.

"It's really helpful to have something like this on your resume," Prakash said. "It gets you ready for the real world."

The class, which Tate simply called "Studio 400A," will get together Sunday night to cheer for their movie.