February 7, 2009
Actress Jessica Biel presented the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific and Technical Awards on Feb. 7, 2009, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Among the awards voted by the Academy’s Board of Governors, the Gordon E. Sawyer Award, an Oscar statuette, was presented to Ed Catmull for his lifetime of technological contributions to the industry. Mark Kimball was awarded the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation for his “dedication to his craft and service to the Academy.”
Gordon E. Sawyer Award to Ed Catmull
The Academy’s Board of Governors voted the Gordon E. Sawyer Award to Ed Catmull, a computer scientist, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, and president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, for his lifetime of technical contributions and leadership in the field of computer graphics for the motion picture industry.
“Ed is one of the rare individuals who can bridge the space between science and art,” said Academy President Sid Ganis. “His vision, ingenuity and groundbreaking designs have made the impossible possible—for filmmakers and movie audiences around the world.”
Catmull, currently president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, founded three of the leading centers of computer graphics research—the computer graphics laboratory at the New York Institute of Technology, the computer division of Lucasfilm Ltd., and Pixar Animation Studios.
In 2000 Catmull, Rob Cook and Loren Carpenter received an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) for their significant advancements to the field of motion picture rendering as exemplified in Pixar’s RenderMan. The software, which produces images used in motion pictures from 3D computer descriptions of shape and appearance, has been used in 45 of the last 50 films nominated for an Academy Award in the Visual Effects category.
Catmull previously received two Scientific and Engineering Awards: in 1992 as part of a team for the development of RenderMan software, and in 1995 as part of a team responsible for pioneering inventions in Digital Image Compositing. He also shared a Technical Achievement Award in 2005.
While at Lucasfilm Ltd., Catmull managed development in the areas of computer graphics, video editing, video games and digital audio.
Catmull earned Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science and physics and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah. In 2005 the University of Utah presented him with a honorary doctoral degree in engineering.
John A. Bonner Medal to Mark Kimball
Mark Kimball, a computer scientist and motion picture technologist with more than 28 years experience in the movie industry, was voted the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation by the Academy's Board of Governors.
“For three decades, Mark has been at the forefront of technological advancements in motion pictures,” said Academy President Sid Ganis. “His dedication to his craft and service to the Academy are both highly regarded in the industry.”
Kimball shared a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1991 for the design and development of the CAPS production system for feature film animation.
Kimball’s career began in 1978 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a system engineer with the Deep Space Network. In 1980 he moved to Walt Disney Productions, transferring in 1985 to Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he spent nearly two decades as the CAPS logistics system lead, a senior software systems specialist, a consulting engineer and finally as chief technologist. From 2004 through 2007, Kimball was director of digital production for the Walt Disney Company. Currently Kimball works as an independent media technology systems expert.
Kimball’s feature credits include Tron, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Dinosaur and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
An Academy member since 1996, Kimball has served on the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee for 13 years, and in 2006 he was asked to join the Science and Technology Council.
Kimball earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in computer science and distributed systems from West Coast University in Los Angeles.
Technical Achievement Awards
- To Steve Hylén for the concept and his continued leadership in the further development of the Hylén Lens System for motion picture effects photography.
When attached to a film or digital production camera, this versatile aerial image device can produce a wide variety of optical effects interactively, on set and in real time without postproduction image manipulation.
Scientific and Engineering Awards
- To Erwin Melzner for the overall concept including the optical and cooling systems, Volker Schumacher for the optical design, and Timo Müller for the mechanical design, of the ARRIMAX 18/12 lighting fixture for use in motion picture production.
With its choice of vari-focus and specular reflectors, the superior optical and mechanical design of this lighting fixture allows it to operate at 18,000 watts, producing unsurpassed light quality while its innovative cooling system keeps the housing safe to touch.
- To Jacques Delacoux for the concept and electronic design, and Alexandre Leuchter for the software and electronic design, of the Transvideo video assist monitors for the motion picture industry.
Using color LCD screens, the Transvideo monitors provide flicker-free video assist bright enough for use in sunlight and have become a ubiquitous tool in both spherical and anamorphic cinematography.
- To Bruno Coumert and Jacques Debize for the optical design, and Dominique Chervin and Christophe Reboulet for the mechanical design, of the compact and lightweight Angenieux 15-40 and 28-76 zoom lenses for handheld motion picture photography.
With focus and zoom functions that can be easily controlled by either the operator or focus puller while filming handheld, these lightweight zoom lenses demonstrate a very high degree of engineering, supporting both ease of use and quick interchange.
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