-- SMPTE , the organization that is defining the future of storytelling, today revealed the industry leaders and innovators who will be honored at the Awards Gala that will be part of this years interactive remote SMPTE 2020. Scheduled for Nov. 11 and 12 during the Societys annual technical conference and exhibition, the online celebration will recognize business, technical, and creative leaders and students who have made substantial contributions to the ongoing advancement of media and entertainment technology.
SMPTE Fellow elevations will be conferred Nov. 10.
One of the many lessons weve learned over the past few months is just how much we rely on the media and entertainment industry to engage, inform, educate, and entertain us, said Barbara Lange, executive director at SMPTE. The industry luminaries and next-generation leaders we recognize during SMPTE 2020 have all played an important part in shaping this industry and enabling its future evolution and success.
Honorary Membership, the Societys highest accolade, recognizes individuals who have performed distinguished service in the advancement of engineering in motion pictures, television, or the allied arts and sciences. This year, SMPTE will bestow three such honors. The Society will recognize Richard Edlund for a lifetime of advancing the art and science of visual effects cinematography, W. Reed Hastings for his momentous development and continuing leadership of Netflix, and John D. Ross for a lifetime of advancing the state of the art in television engineering.
The Progress Medal is the most prestigious SMPTE award, and it recognizes outstanding technical contributions to the progress of the engineering phases of the motion-picture, television, or motion-imaging industries. SMPTE will posthumously honor Natalie Kalmus with the 2020 Progress Medal in recognition of her pioneering contribution to motion-picture color. As co-founder of the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, Kalmus helped to develop the Technicolor process, a groundbreaking innovation that had an unparalleled impact on filmmaking. She worked on more than 400 films, including The Wizard of Oz, as color director, ensuring that the Technicolor process was used to its fullest extent to enhance and not detract from the story. Kalmus was an exemplary role model, especially for young women.
The Technicolor - Natalie and Herbert T. Kalmus Medal, sponsored by Technicolor Inc., has been renamed this year to recognize the prodigious contributions of Natalie Kalmus as the executive overseeing the Technicolor art department and as color director of nearly all Technicolor feature films produced from 1934 to 1949. She is often credited as a co-developer of the Technicolor process itself and was a member of the production team that shot the first Technicolor footage in 1917.
Natalie Kalmus described her role as playing ringmaster to the rainbow, and this statement beautifully expresses the intent of this Technicolor award, said Joshua Pines, chair of the SMPTE committee that oversees the award and color scientist at Technicolor. This year were celebrating a worthy recipient of the 2020 award as well as Natalies innovation and lasting contribution to the art and science of color motion pictures.
In recognition of outstanding contributions that reflect a commitment to the highest standards of quality and innovation in motion-picture production, postproduction, and distribution services, the Technicolor - Natalie and Herbert T. Kalmus Medal will be awarded to Beverly Joanna Wood for her essential contributions to the creation and development of the Color Contrast Enhancement (CCE) and Adjustable Contrast Enhancement (ACE) motion-picture processes.
The David Sarnoff Medal, sponsored by SRI International, recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of new techniques or equipment that have improved the engineering phases of television technology, including large-venue presentations. This year the Society recognizes Rich Chernock for his contributions to the development of the ATSC 3.0 digital television standard, which is now becoming widely implemented and deployed throughout the United States.
The Camera Origination and Imaging Medal recognizes significant technical achievements related to inventions or advances in imaging technology, including sensors, imaging-processing electronics, and the overall embodiment and application of image-capture devices. G rard Corbasson will be recognized for his lasting contributions to the improvement of television and film camera optics.
The Excellence in Education Medal, sponsored by William C. Miller and Ellen Sontag-Miller, recognizes outstanding contributions to new or unique educational programs that teach the technologies of motion pictures, television, or other imaging sciences, including emerging media technology. Corey P. Carbonara will receive the award in recognition of his more than 35 years teaching production and media technology, transforming complex ideas into practical lessons for his students.
The Digital Processing Medal recognizes significant technical achievements related to the development of digital processing of content for cinema, television, games, or other related media. Katie Cornog will receive the award in recognition of her role in the development of a wide range of digital signal processing methods in her work in the office of the CTO of Avid Technology Inc.
The James A. Lindner Archival Technology Medal, sponsored by James A. Lindner, recognizes significant technical advancements or contributions related to the invention or development of technology, techniques, workflows, or infrastructure for the long-term storage, archive, or preservation of media content essence. The 2020 award will be presented to James Snyder in recognition of his work developing workflows and methodologies for digit
