In 1964, editor Fred Heinrich broke into the spot business at John Urie & Associates, a pioneering Los Angeles studio which helped start numerous filmmaking careers over the years.
Fast-forward to the early 1990s and Heinrich decided to conclude his distinguished career as an editor. He embarked upon a new path, teaming with his wife, producer Stephania Lipner, to launch a career spawning ground which has gone on to transcend any single studio. In response to the racial unrest, violence and destruction of the Rodney King riots in L.A. in ’92, Heinrich and Lipner decided to do something that would make a positive difference in the lives of youngsters who might not otherwise get the chance to be part of the film community.
That “something” turned out to be Inner-City Filmmakers (ICF), which since ’93 has provided free-of-charge training and hands-on experience in different aspects of filmmaking to numerous graduates of varied ethnic backgrounds and from financially disadvantaged families. The program has also helped secure paid entry-level jobs for many grads.
Indeed, the grass-roots brainchild of Heinrich and Lipner made–and continues to make–its mark, improving the lives of and career prospects for deserving high school students. Assorted ICF grads are now full fledged professionals in the industry.
Heinrich recalled that the purpose of ICF hit home for him during its first year, when students from Bell High School in Bell, Calif., brought in their school video yearbook, which included five obituaries.
“That underscored the fact that we need to help create some opportunities for underprivileged young people in the inner city,” affirmed Heinrich.
Based both on his work as an editor and ICF, Heinrich was at press time slated for induction into the Association of Independent Creative Editors (AICE) Hall of Fame during this week’s AICE Awards ceremony.
Heinrich has seen the industry evolve during his career–from Movieolas to computer-based nonlinear editing, from the days when commercial production companies maintained edit houses to the emergence of editorial boutiques. (He for example was an in-house editor at the legendary commercial production company FilmFair and then went on in 1973 to form his own entrepreneurial venture, the mainstay editorial firm Wildwood in Hollywood where he turned out notable work, including the long running Well Fargo”Stagecoach” campaign out of McCann Erickson, San Francisco.)
But the biggest evolution was a personal one as the successful editor embarked on a new career chapter some 16 years ago, closing Wildwood and dedicating himself to ICF. His retirement from editing hardly means he’s retired. “Stephania and I work 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week,” related Heinrich. “Inner-City Filmmakers has become a full-time passion.”
Heinrich noted that while a rousing success, ICF still needs help in terms of contributors, professionals and companies who will provide opportunities for qualified grads to get their foot in the industry door. He and Lipner urge those interested to call ICF at (310) 264-3992 and/or to log onto www.innercityfilmmakers.com.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More