Academy Award for Technical Achievement

Year Recipient(s) Department 1971 (44th) Thomas Jefferson Hutchinson, James R. Rochester, and Fenton Hamilton for the development and introduction of the Sunbrute system of xenon arc lamps for location lighting in motion picture production Lighting Photo Research Corporation, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation, for the development and introduction of the film-lens balanced Three Color Meter Photography Robert D. Auguste and Cinema Products Company for the development and introduction of a new crystal-controlled lightweight motor for the 35mm motion picture Arriflex camera Camera Producers Service Corporation and Consolidated Film Industries; and to Cinema Research Corporation and Research Products, Inc., for the engineering and implementation of fully automated blow-up motion picture printing systems Laboratory Cinema Products Company for a control motor to actuate zoom lenses on motion picture cameras Camera 1972 (45th) Photo Research Corporation, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation, and PSC Technology Inc., Acme Products Division, for the Spectra Film Gate Photometer for motion picture printers Laboratory Carter Equipment Company, Inc. and Ramtronics for the RAMtronics light-valve photometer for motion picture printers Laboratory David Degenkolb, Harry Larson, Manfred Michelson, and Fred Scobey of DeLuxe General Incorporated for the development of a computerized motion picture printer and process control system Laboratory Jiro Mukai and Ryusho Hirose of Canon, Inc., and Wilton R. Holm of the AMPTP Motion Picture and Television Research Center for the development of the Canon Macro Zoom Lens for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Philip V. Palmquist of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., Dr. Herbert Meyer of the Motion Picture and Television Research Center, and to Charles D. Staffell of the Rank Organization for the development of a successful embodiment of the reflex background projection system for composite cinematography Props E.H. Geissler and G.M. Berggren of Wil-Kin Inc., for the engineering of the Ultra-Vision Motion Picture Theater Projection System Projection 1973 (46th) Rosco Laboratories, Inc., for the technical advances and the development of a complete system of light-control materials for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Richard H. Vetter of Todd-AO Corporation for the design of an improved anamorphic focusing system for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters 1974 (47th) The Elemack Company, Rome, Italy, for the design and development of their Spyder camera dolly Camera Cranes Louis Ami of Universal City Studios for the design and construction of a reciprocating camera platform used when photographing special visual effects for motion pictures Stage Operations 1975 (48th) Lawrence W. Butler and Roger Banks for the concept of applying low inertia and stepping electric motors to film transport systems and optical printers for motion picture production Special Photographic David Degenkolb and Fred Scobey of Deluxe General Incorporated and John C. Dolan and Richard Dubois of the Akwaklame Company for the development of a technique for silver recovery from photographic wash-waters by ion exchange Laboratory Joseph Westheimer for the development of a device to obtain shadowed titles on motion picture films Special Photographic Carter Equipment Company, Inc. and Ramtronics for the engineering and manufacture of a computerized tape punching system for programming laboratory printing machines Laboratory Hollywood Film Company for the engineering and manufacture of a computerized tape punching system for programming laboratory printing machines Laboratory Bell & Howell for the engineering and manufacture of a computerized tape punching system for programming laboratory printing machines Laboratory Fredrik Schlyter for the engineering and manufacture of a computerized tape punching system for programming laboratory printing machines Laboratory 1976 (49th) Fred Bartscher of Kollmorgen Corporation and to Glenn Berggren of the Schneider Corporation for the design and development of a single-lens magnifier for motion picture projection lenses Lenses and Filters Panavision, Incorporated for the design and development of super-speed lenses for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Hiroshi Suzukawa of Canon and Wilton R. Holm of AMPTP Motion Picture and Television Research Center for the design and development of super-speed lenses for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Carl Zeiss Company for the design and development of super-speed lenses for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Photo Research Corporation, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation for the engineering and manufacture of the Spectra TriColor Meter Photography 1977 (50th) Ernst F. Nettman of the Astrovision Division of Continental Camera Systems, Incorporated, for the engineering of its Periscope Aerial Camera System Camera EECO (Electronic Engineering Company of California) for developing a method for interlocking non-sprocketed film and tape media used in motion picture production Systems Dr. Bernhard Kühl and Werner Block of OSRAM, GmbH, for the development of the HMI high-efficiency discharge lamp for motion picture lighting Lighting Panavision, Incorporated for the design of Panalite, a camera-mounted controllable light for motion picture photography Lighting Panavision, Incorporated for the engineering of the Panahead gearhead for motion picture cameras Stage Operations Piclear, Inc, for originating and developing an attachment to motion picture projectors to improve screen image quality Laboratory 1978 (51st) Karl Macher and Glenn M. Berggren of Isco Optische Werke for the development and introduction of the Cinelux-ULTRA Lens for 35mm Motion Picture Projection Lenses and Filters David J. Degenkolb, Arthur L. Forde, and Fred J. Scobey of DeLuxe General, Incorporated, for the development of a Method to Recycle Motion Picture Laboratory Photographic Wash Waters by Ion Exchange Laboratory Kiichi Sekiguchi of CINE-FI International for the development of the CINE-FI Auto Radio Sound System for Drive-In Theaters Systems Leonard Chapman of Leonard Equipment Company, for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Chapman Hustler Dolly Camera Cranes James L. Fisher of J.L. Fisher, Incorporated, for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Fisher Model Ten Dolly Camera Cranes Robert Stindt of Production Grip Equipment Company, for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Stindt Dolly Camera Cranes 1979 (52nd) Michael V. Chewey, Walter G. Eggers, and Allen Hecht of M-G-M Laboratories for the development of a Computer-controlled Paper Tape Programmer System and its applications in the motion picture laboratory Laboratory Irwin Young, Paul Kaufman, and Fredrik Schlyter of Du Art Film Laboratories, Incorporated, for the development of a Computer-controlled Paper Tape Programmer System and its applications in the motion picture laboratory Laboratory James S. Stanfield and Paul W. Trester for the development and manufacture of a device for the repair or protection of sprocket holes in motion picture film Projection Zoran Perisic of Courier Films, Ltd., for the Zoptic Special Optical Effects Device for motion picture photography Special Photographic A. D. Flowers and Logan R. Frazee for the development of a device to control flight patterns of miniature airplanes during motion picture photography Stage Operations Photo Research Corporation, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation for the development of the Spectra Series II Cine Special Exposure Meter for motion picture photography Photography Bruce Lyon and John Lamb for the development of a Video Animation System for testing motion picture animation sequences Cartoon Process Ross Lowell of Lowel-Light Manufacturing, Incorporated, for the development of compact lighting equipment for motion picture photography Lighting 1980 (53rd) Carter Equipment Company for the development of a continuous contact, total immersion, additive color motion picture printer Laboratory Hollywood Film Company for the development of a continuous-contact, total immersion, additive color motion picture printer Laboratory fr: André Debrie for the development of a continuous contact, total immersion, additive color motion picture printer Laboratory Charles Vaughn and Eugene Nottingham of Cinetron Computer Systems, Incorporated, for the development of a versatile general purpose computer system for animation and optical effects motion picture photography Systems John W. Lang, Walter Hrastnik, and Charles J. Watson of Bell and Howell Company for the development and manufacture of a modular continuous contact motion picture film Laboratory Worth Baird of LaVezzi Machine Works, Incorporated, for the advanced design and manufacture of a film sprocket for motion picture projectors Projection Peter Regla and Dan Slater of Elicon for the development of a follow-focus system for motion picture optical effects printers and animation stands Photography 1981 (54th) Hal Landaker for the concept and to Alan Landaker for the engineering of the Burbank Studios’ Production Sound Department 24-frame color video system Special Photographic Bill Hogan of Ruxton, Ltd., and Richard J. Stumpf and Daniel R. Brewer of Universal City Studios’ Production Sound Department, for the engineering of a 24-frame color video system Special Photographic John DeMuth, for the engineering of a 24-frame video system Special Photographic Ernst F. Nettman, of Continental Camera Systems, Inc., for the development of a pitching lens for motion picture photography Camera Bill Taylor of Universal City Studios for the concept and specifications for a Two Format, Rotating Head, Aerial Image Optical Printer Special Photographic Peter D. Parks of Oxford Scientific Films for the development of the OSF microcosmic zoom device for microscopic photography Camera Louis Stankiewicz and H.L. Blachford for the development of Baryfol sound barrier materials Stage Operations Dennis Muren and Stuart Ziff of Industrial Light and Magic, Incorporated for the development of a Motion Picture Figure Mover for animation photography Stage Operations 1982 (55th) Richard W. Deats for the design and manufacture of the “Little Big Crane” for motion picture production Camera Cranes Cons Tresfon and Adriaan De Rooy of Egripment, and to Ed Phillips and Carlos DeMattos of Matthews Studio Equipment, Incorporated, for the design and manufacture of the “Tulip Crane” for motion picture production Camera Cranes Bran Ferren of Associates and Ferren for the design and development of a computerized lightning effect system for motion picture photography Stage Operations Christie Electric Corp. and LaVezzi Machine Works, Inc., for the design and manufacture of the Ultramittent film transport for Christie motion picture projectors Projection 1983 (56th) William G. Krokaugger of Mole-Richardson Company for the design and engineering of a portable, 12,000 watt, lighting-control dimmer for use in motion picture production Lighting Charles L. Watson, Larry L. Langrehr, and John H. Steiner for the development of the BHP (electro-mechanical) fader for use on continuous motion picture contact printers Laboratory Elizabeth D. De La Mare of De La Mare Engineering, Incorporated, for the progressive development and continuous research of special effects pyrotechnics originally designed by Glenn W. De La Mare for motion picture production Stage Operations Douglas Fries, John Lacey, and Michael Sicrist for the design and engineering of a 35mm reflex conversion camera system for special effects photography Camera Jack Cashin of Ultra-Stereo Labs, Incorporated, for the engineering and development of a 4-channel, stereophonic, decoding system for optical motion picture soundtrack reproduction Sound David J. Degenkolb for the design and development of an automated device used in the silver recovery process in motion picture laboratories Laboratory 1984 (57th) Nat Tiffen of Tiffen Manufacturing Corporation for the production of high-quality, durable, laminated color filters for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Don Trumbull, Jonathan Erland, Stephen Fog, and Paul Burk of Apogee, Inc., for the design and development of the “Blue Max” high-power, blue-flux projector for traveling matte composite photography Special Photographic Jonathan Erland and Robert Bealmear of Apogee, Incorporated, for an innovative design for front projection screens and an improved method for their construction Special Photographic Howard J. Preston of Preston Cinema Systems for the design and development of a variable speed control device with automatic exposure compensation for motion picture cameras Camera 1985 (58th) David W. Spencer for the development of an Animation Photo Transfer (APT) process Cartoon Process Harrison & Harrison, Optical Engineers, for the invention and development of Harrison Diffusion filters for motion picture photography Lenses and Filters Larry Barton of Cinematography Electronics, Inc., for a precision speed crystal-controlled device for motion picture photography Camera Alan Landaker of The Burbank Studios for the Mark III Camera Drive for motion picture photography Camera 1986 (59th) Lee Electric (Lightning) Ltd., for the design and development of an electronic, flicker-free, discharge lamp control system Lighting Peter Parks of Oxford Scientific Films’ Image Quest Division for the development of a live aero-compositor for special effects photography Special Photographic Matt Sweeney and Lucinda Strub for the development of an automatic capsule gun for simulating bullet hits for motion picture special effects Stage Operations Carl E. Holmes of Carl E. Holmes Company and to Alexander Bryce of The Burbank Studios for the development of a mobile DC power supply unit for motion picture production photography Lighting Bran Ferren of Associates and Ferren for the development of a laser synchro-cue system for applications in the motion picture industry Special Photographic John L. Baptista of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Laboratories, Inc., for the development and installation of a computerized silver recovery operation Laboratory David W. Samuelson for the development of programs incorporated into a pocket computer for motion picture cinematographers, and to William B. Pollard for contributing new algorithms on which the programs are based Photography Hal Landaker and Alan Landaker of The Burbank Studios for the development of the Beat System low-frequency cue track for motion picture production sound recording Sound 1987 (60th) Ioan Allen of Dolby Laboratories, Inc., for the Cat. 43 playback-only noise reduction unit and its practical application to motion picture sound recordings Sound John Eppolito, Wally Gentleman, William Mesa, Les Paul Robley, and Geoffrey H. Williamson for refinements to a dual screen, front projection, and image-compositing system Special Photographic Jan Jacobsen for the application of a dual screen, front projection system to motion picture special effects photography Special Photographic Thaine Morris and David Pier for the development of DSC Spark Devices for motion picture special effects Stage Operations Tad Krzanowski of Industrial Light and Magic, Inc., for the development of a Wire Rig Model Support Mechanism use to control the movements of miniatures in special effects Stage Operations Dan C. Norris and Tim Cook of Norris Film Products for the development of a single-frame exposure system for motion picture photography Camera 1988 (61st) Grant Loucks of Alan Gordon Enterprises Incorporated for the design concept, and to Geoffrey H. Williamson of Wilcam for the mechanical and electrical engineering, of the Image 300 35mm High-Speed Motion Picture Camera Camera Michael V. Chewey III for the development of the motion picture industry’s first paper tape reader incorporating microprocessor technology Laboratory BHP, Inc., successor to the Bell & Howell Professional Equipment Division, for the development of a high-speed reader incorporating microprocessor technology for motion picture laboratories Laboratory Hollywood Film Company for the development of a high-speed reader incorporating microprocessor technology for motion picture laboratories Laboratory Bruce W. Keller and Manfred G. Michelson of Technical Film Systems for the design and development of a high-speed light valve controller and constant current power supply for motion picture laboratories Laboratory Dr. Antal Lisziewicz and Glenn M. Berggren of ISCO-Optic GmbH for the design and development of the Ultra-Star series of motion picture lenses Lenses and Filters James K. Branch of Spectra Cine, Incorporated, and to William L. Blowers and Nasir J. Zaidi for the design and development of the Spectra CineSpot one-degree spotmeter for measuring the brightness of motion picture screens Photography Bob Badami, Dick Bernstein, and Bill Bernstein of Offbeat Systems for the design and development of the Streamline Scoring System, Mark IV, for motion picture music editing Editorial Gary Zeller of Zeller International Limited for the development of Zel-Jel fire protection barrier for motion picture stunt work Stage Operations Emanual Trilling of Trilling Resources Limited for the development of Stunt-Gel fire protection barrier for motion picture stunt work Stage Operations Paul A. Roos for the invention of a method known as Video Assist, whereby a scene being photographed on motion picture film can be viewed on a monitor and/or recorded on videotape Systems 1989 (62nd) Dr. Leo Cattozzo for the design and development of the CIR-Catozzo Self-Perforating Adhesive Tape Film Splicer Editorial Magna-Tech Electronics Company for the introduction of the first remotely controlled Advance/Retard function for magnetic film sound dubbing Sound 1990 (63rd) William L. Blowers of Belco Associates, Incorporated and Thomas F. Denove for developing and manufacturing the Belco/Denove Cinemeter. This digital/analog exposure meter was specifically and uniquely designed for the cinematographer. Photography Iain Neil for optical design; Takuo Miyagishima for the mechanical design; and Panavision, Incorporated for the concept and development of the Primo Series of spherical prime lenses for 35mm cinematography Lenses and Filters Christopher Gilman, Harvey Hubert Jr. of the Diligent Dwarves Effects Lab for the development of the Actor Climate System, consisting of heat-transferring undergarments Stage Operations Jim Graves of J&G Enterprises for the development of the Cool Suit System, consisting of heat-transferring undergarments Stage Operations Bengt O. Orhall, Kenneth Lund, Bjorn Selin, and Kjell Högberg of AB Film-Teknik for developing and manufacturing the Mark IV film subtitling processor, which has increased the speed, simplified the operation, and improved the quality of subtitling Laboratory Richard Mula and Pete Romano of HydroImage, Incorporated, for the development of the SeaPar 1200 watt HMI Underwater Lamp Lighting Dedo Weigert of Dedo Weigert Film GmbH for the development of the Dedolight, a miniature low-voltage tungsten-halogen lighting fixture Lighting Dr. Fred Kolb Jr. and Paul Preo for the concept and development of a 35mm projection test film Film Peter Baldwin for the design; Dr. Paul Kiankhooy and the Lightmaker Company for the development of the Lightmaker AC/DC HMI Ballast Lighting The All-Union Cinema and Photo Research Institute (NIKFI) for continuously improving and providing 3D presentations to Soviet motion picture audiences for the last 25 years Systems