In an installment of this column last month (12/15), we promoted the first annual Downhill Derby, a soapbox derby race created to raise funds for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles. The event, which took place on Jan. 7, was a major success made possible by assorted participants from the spotmaking community.
The derby was the brainchild of Josh Canova, owner/executive producer of Detour Films, Venice, Calif. According to Canova, a little more than $44,000 was raised for The Boys and Girls Clubs, with some 1,500 people in attendance throughout the course of the day. The event even received local TV news coverage from the ABC, CBS and Fox channels.
Proceeds were raised largely through sponsorships of cars and participating in the race. Taking first place in the derby was director Jeff Zwart of @radical.media who drove under the pseudonym “The Royal Speed Bomb.” Finishing second was GARTNER and affiliated shops tight, Outsider and The Viral Factory in a car driven by Sully Carter, the 10-year-old son of GARTNER executive producer and AICP/West president Rich Carter. AICP/West was a major supporter of the event. Third place winner was a car sponsored by edit house Cutters and driven by editor Nadia Hennrich.
Garnering the best design award was @radical for its “Cuban Cigar” auto, aptly named because the driver and handler both showed up dressed like Fidel Castro and the car looked like it had smoke coming out of it as it raced downhill.
But the big winner was The Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles, with funds to be distributed to all 28 Southland clubs. The clubs provide a safe haven for kids primarily after school, enabling them to channel their energies into art and music programs as well as leadership initiatives, helping the youngsters to make better sense of where their skills and talents lie.
Canova’s assessment of the event bears repeating. As he articulated in last month’s column, “We are helping a worthy cause. We researched organizations that help under-served and underprivileged kids and found The Boys and Girls Clubs to be efficiently run with funds and resources going directly to programs that support and nurture youngsters. It’s a chance for the industry to simply give back to the community we live and work in.”
The companies who sponsored cars included: @radical.media; Bob Industries; Chelsea Pictures; Detour, Argyle Brothers; Payday/Need Financial; The Camera House; Cutters; Jigsaw; Musikvergneugen; GARTNER; Cut + Run; Machine Head; Location Creations; Zoic Studios; and Zwart (a.k.a. The Royal Speed Bomb).
Canova expects the Downhill Derby to be an annual fund-raiser. The event steering committee for the successful first go around consisted of Canova, Linda Rahn of the Boys and Girls Clubs/L.A. Alliance, Robert Yniguez, race director of the All American Soapbox Derby, AICP’s Steve Caplan, Rich Carter of GARTNER, Anne Kurtzman of davidandgoliath, Jennifer Smieja of Wieden+Kennedy, Ali Hileman of Mirror Films, Sue Crain of Argyle Brothers, Mel Mathis of The Camera House and Christie Cash of Cut+Run.
Nominees Unveiled For Cinema Audio Society’s 61st Annual Awards
The Cinema Audio Society has unveiled its nominees in seven categories for the 61st Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing 2024.
The 61st CAS Awards will be held on Saturday, February 22, at the Beverly Hilton.
Nominated in the live action motion picture category were the audio teams behind A Complete Unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Gladiator II and Wicked.
Animated motion picture nominees were the sound ensembles behind Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, The Wild Robot and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
As previously announced, multi-award-winning sound mixer Tod A. Maitland CAS (A Complete Unknown, West Side Story, Joker), will be honored with the CAS Career Achievement Award. In addition, visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) will receive the Cinema Audio Societyโs Filmmaker Award.
The CAS Award nominees highlight the outstanding contributions of sound mixers, recognizing excellence in the specialized craft of sound mixing for both film and television. Each year, accomplished CAS membersโwho possess extensive expertise in the art and science of soundโcarefully review hundreds of projects to ensure the nominees truly reflect excellence in sound mixing in Motion Picture and Television entertainment.
โ2024 was a year of remarkable achievements in the sound community, with exceptional talent on display across every category,โ said CAS president Peter Kurland. โThe innovation and artistry of these sound mixers continue to elevate the craft, and the upcoming awards will be a celebration of the outstanding contributions made this year. Congratulations to... Read More