The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented its 2021 Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday (Feb. 13). It recognized 17 technologies represented by 55 individuals in a virtual ceremony hosted by filmmaker Nia DaCosta.
James Cameron paid tribute to the honorees, stating: “The motion picture innovation train never stops. Its progress is in fact vital to the art form. Technical advancement is disrupting the creative process at a breakneck pace. Filmmaking shouldn’t merely keep up, it has the power to lead.”
The honorees also included three women: Hayley Iben of Pixar Animation Studios and Kelly Ward Hammel and Maryann Simmons of Walt Disney Animation Studio. This is particularly noteworthy as the technical achievements are mostly dominated by men. During the virtual ceremony, Kathleen Kennedy highlighted the achievements of women working in technical roles.
February 16, 2021
Kent Fountain
MEMPHIS, Tenn. February 11, 2021 Kent Fountain, a Surrency, Ga., ginner, was re-elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2021 during the organization’s virtual annual meeting today. Ted Schneider, a Lake Providence, La., producer, was re-elected to the position of vice chairman for 2021.
A member of the NCC’s 2001-2002 Cotton Leadership Class, Fountain served as a NCC vice president from 2016-2018 and as a NCC director in 2011. He has served on multiple NCC committees, including chairing its Quality Task Force, and served for 10 years as a director of Cotton Council International, the NCC’s export promotion arm.
Very active in the National Cotton Ginners Association, Fountain has held numerous leadership positions including serving as its president in 2012. He is a past president of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association and currently serves as a director for Staplcotn and the Cotton Growers Warehouse Association.
Robert Derry and
Glenn Derry for the system design, ergonomics, engineering and workflow integration of the widely adopted Technoprops head-mounted camera system.
The Technoprops head-mounted camera system, with its modular and production-proven construction, supports consistent face alignment with improved actor comfort, while at the same time permitting quick reconfiguration and minimizing downtime. This system enables repeatable, accurate and unobstructed capture of an actor’s facial movements.
To
Babak Beheshti and
Scott Robitille for the development of the compact, stand-alone, phase-accurate genlock synchronization and recording module, and to
Ian Kelly and
Dejan Momcilovic for the technical direction and workflow integration, of the Standard Deviation head-mounted camera system.
Oscars: Three Women From Disney and Pixar Among SciTech Awards Honorees Carolyn Giardina Oscar Statuettes
Seventeen scientific and technical developments representing 55 individuals including three women, which may be a first in a single season will be honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with Scientific and Technical Awards. The honorees and their work, which includes advancement in hair simulation and sound tech, will be recognized during a virtual presentation hosted by filmmaker Nia DaCosta (
Little Woods) on Feb. 13 starting at 1 p.m. PT on the Oscars’ website.
Science and technology for filmmaking is an area still largely dominated by men. In fact, since 1961, only 20 women have received Scientific and Technical Awards. This year three women will join that list: Hayley Iben, a simulation research engineer at Pixar Animation Studios, who will be honored as part of the Taz hair simulation tech team, as well as Kelly Ward Hammel,
You can count on one hand how many items the Shelby County Commissioners approved their Monday morning meeting.
They gave the go-ahead for BSM Groups to bore at 6187 N. 400 West in Fairland and for Highway Superintendent Kem Anderson to replace a culvert at 375 East north of 500 South.
Then they approved a fuel tank inspection for the Sheriffâs office. This inspection must be done every three years.
âItâs time for our fuel tank inspection,â Sheriff Louie Koch said. âItâs for our fuel tank behind the sheriffâs department for the generator.â
Commissioner Don Parker ended the meeting with comments about state lawmakers could impact the local solar situation.