The Hollywood Post Alliance (HPA) has announced the winners of the 2008 J. Michael Brinkman Scholarship Awards honoring students and industry professionals committed to excellence and a desire to further their careers in post.
Four college students were awarded scholarships: Jose Ho-Guanipa of Duke University, Silvestre Grimaldo of California State University Long Beach, and Daniel Reams Jr. and Nicholas Batchelder of California State University Northridge. Additionally, Ryan Erik Lam, a student at Hawaii Pacific University, and Debrah Lemattre, founder of Filmanthrophy, will receive registrations to HPA’s 2009 Technology Retreat.
“Encouraging the development of young people who will help shape the future of the postproduction industry and the continuing education of those already in the industry is central to the mission of the HPA,” said Leon Silverman, HPA president.
The scholarship program is open to individuals working in the industry in Southern California or students who intend to live and work in the area upon leaving school and fulfill specific application requirements.
In recognition of teachers’ contributions toward the students’ success, the HPA awards a stipend to the recommending instructors of scholarship winners to be used in support of their scholarly endeavors. Among the educators recognized this year are Mary Schaffer, Director of California State University Northridge’s Cinema and TV Arts program; James R. Thompson, faculty director of the Duke University program in Los Angeles; Patricia Gillespie, video production teacher at the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii; and Barbara J. Stanton, executive director of the Entrepreneur Education Center Inc. in Watts, Calif.
This is the fifth year of the J. Michael Brinkman Scholarship program. It’s named after the longtime VP of strategic business development for Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems, who died in 2003 at the age of 54. Brinkman was a leading figure in Hollywood’s broadcast and post communities and a founding member of the HPA. He spent 16 years with Panasonic and prior to that was a producer/director working in documentary and educational production.
Brinkman was a mainstay member of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers and the former International Teleproduction Society (ITS). He became a founding member of the HPA because he believed the demise of the ITS created a void that needed to be filled. But that was only part of his motivation. He felt the HPA could do even more than ITS to better the industry and foster a much needed sense of community. Brinkman talked about the need for post artisans and executives to band together, share information, address issues and have a collective voice. He envisioned the HPA as being inclusive of all those who make their livelihoods in post.
Brinkman spent his professional life helping others understand technology in the service of the creative endeavor. His enthusiasm and willingness to mentor touched many lives. In his memory the HPA via the scholarship program bearing Brinkman’s name hopes to continue his legacy to the industry and the people who choose to make it their career.
“Se7en” Turns 30, Gets A Special Restoration From David Fincher For Its Re-Release
For David Fincher, seeing “Se7en” in 4K was an experience he can only describe as harrowing. That or a high school reunion.
“There are definitely moments that you go, ‘What was I thinking?’ Or ‘Why did I let this person have that hairdo’?” Fincher said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
He’s OK with the film being a product of its time in most respects. But some things just could not stand in high-definition resolution.
“It was a little decrepit, to be honest,” said Fincher. “We needed to resuscitate it. There are things you can see in 4K HDR that you cannot see on a film print.”
Ever the perfectionist, he and a team got to work on a new restoration of the film for its 30th anniversary re-release. This weekend the restored “Se7en” will play on IMAX screens for the first time in the U.S. and Canada, and on Jan. 7, the 4K UHD home video version will be available as well.
The dark crime thriller written by Andrew Kevin Walker and starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as a pair of detectives looking for a serial killer was somewhat of a career-reviver for Fincher, whose directorial debut “Alien 3” had not gone well. “Se7en” was not a sure thing: It was made for only $34 million (and only got that when Fincher managed to persuade studio execs to give up $3 million more). But it went on to earn more than $327 million, not accounting for inflation, and continues to influence the genre.
Fincher has over the years overseen several restorations of the film (including one for laser disc) but decided this needed to be the last. It’s why he insisted on an 8K scan that they could derive the 4K from. He wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t have to be repeated when screens get more... Read More