Academy to showcase technology

Sep 22, 2004 by Ian Evans

“Movie Magic: 180 Years of Cinema Technology” will present a sweeping survey of some of the outstanding technological innovations that changed the art of moviemaking on Thursday, October 14, at 7:30 p.m., in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

A presentation of the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, the evening will explore the science and technology of six topics: pre-cinema; the silent era; color and sound; widescreen formats and multi-channel sound; zoom, telephoto and wide-angle devices; and the digital age. Rare footage and imagery will illustrate the milestones, and a special exhibit of important objects, ranging from the Praxinoscope to the Steadicam, will be on display in the Goldwyn lobby.

Oscar-winning visual effects master Richard Edlund will be among the event’s hosts. Joining him will be Jonathan Erland, who has received two Technical Achievement Awards and two Scientific and Engineering Awards from the Academy; Rob Hummel, senior vice president of production technologies at Warner Bros.; visual effects supervisor Jamie Price; Scott MacQueen, Director, Pro-Tek Restoration Management; and film historian and author Rudy Behlmer.

Additional public programs exploring the science and technology of filmmaking will be presented by the Council in coming months.

Tickets for “Movie Magic” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with valid identification. They may be purchased in advance at the Academy during regular business hours, by mail, or on the night of the event when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call 310-247-3600.