The entry period has opened for the Hollywood Production Alliance’s (HPA) fourth annual J. Michael Brinkman Scholarship and Mentoring Fund. The total value of the Brinkman Scholarship awards have increased to $9.335 for 2008. This year, a stipend has been added for the faculty member who nominates each winning student.
Former winners include students from Los Angeles City College, California State University Northridge and UC San Diego as well as individuals already working in post.
Application is open to any resident of Southern California who meets at least one of the following criteria: Entrant is currently working in the postproduction industry and looking to advance his or her career; entrant is currently working in the entertainment industry and looking to cross over into a post career; or entrant is a student (minimum of nine credits) working toward a degree and has a strong interest in a career in post.
The ’08 Brinkman Scholarship provides: up to six Scholarship Awards of $1000 to be given to the college or university where award winner is currently enrolled, on their behalf, to cover tuition or related educational costs; up to six $250 awards to the nominating instructor of each of the students who win a Scholarship Award to be used for scholarly activity such as books, research materials, or equipment (instructor winners will be recognized along with the Scholarship Award winner); conference registration for 2009 HPA Technology Retreat, February 17-20 in Palm Springs plus $500 towards the cost of transportation and lodging in Palm Springs; and registration to three HPA networking events.
Applicant does not need to be an HPA member. For additional info and to enter, visit www.hpaonline.com and click on “J. Michael Brinkman Scholarship Fund” in the left menu. Application form and required materials must be in the HPA office by 5 p.m. on June 15. Awards will be announced on July 15. For further questions, contact the HPA office at 213-614-0860 or e-mail hpastaff2@earthlink.net.
SHOOT is glad to get the word out in that we have fond memories of Brinkman, the VP of strategic business development for Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 54. I last saw him in ’02 in Los Angeles. We met because he wanted to discuss the recent formation of the HPA. A mainstay member of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers and the defunct International Teleproduction Society (ITS), Brinkman became a founding member of the HPA because he believed the demise of the ITS created a void that needed to be filled. He felt the HPA could do even more than ITS to better the industry and foster a 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 also envisioned the HPA as being inclusive of all those who make their livelihoods in post, and in helping to mentor those who aspired to careers in the industry.
So it’s most fitting that this Scholarship and Mentoring Fund bears his name. It continues Brinkman’s quest to open up opportunities for others and serves as an occasion for us to remember his legacy.
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More