As a long-time movie enthusiast and critic with a background in technology, I find the revamping of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science and Technology Council to be a welcome move. With Annie Chang, a seasoned professional from Universal’s creative technologies department, leading the charge, it seems that the academy is moving towards a more agile and forward-thinking approach.
In response to continuous reorganization, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is overhauling its Science and Technology Council to adopt a more flexible and strategically targeted structure. This transformation will be spearheaded by newly appointed council chair Annie Chang from the Production and Technology Branch, along with vice chair Rob Bredow from the Visual Effects Branch.
Five extra individuals are set to join the revamped council: Bill Baggelaar from the Production and Technology Branch (outgoing co-chair), JC Bond from the Film Editors Branch, Nick Cannon also from the Production and Technology Branch, Ellen Kuras representing the Cinematographers Branch as a governor, and Mark Stoeckinger hailing from the Sound Branch as a governor. This marks a substantial shift, as the previous 2023-24 council comprised 25 members. The new rules dictate that each member will serve for one year, with potential renewal at the president’s discretion for up to six years. Academy President Janet Yang has made this round of appointments.
As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that our SciTech Council has now transitioned to include me as a member, working directly with the Academy’s Membership Committee. This year, we decided to restructure the council to function more like a think tank, given the change in leadership. The goal is to ensure this council can contribute effectively to membership, awards, talent development, and numerous other initiatives within our organization, as stated by Meredith Shea, our Chief Membership, Impact, and Industry Officer.
Chang, Universal’s Vice President for Creative Technologies, has previously led and will continue to lead (alongside Baggelaar) the ACES project within the council he used to co-chair. Bredow, who held a similar position on the council in the past, is an Academy Award-nominated VFX supervisor currently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Industrial Light & Magic.
I’m stepping into a more strategic position within our council, where I’ll be directing, coordinating, and overseeing projects organization-wide. My areas of focus will be artificial intelligence, digital preservation efforts like those spearheaded by our Digital Preservation Forum, and the ongoing theater standards work in our sound department.
Shea affirmed that the council would persist in backing the Academy Museum this year, showcasing the iconic Dykstraflex camera system from “Star Wars” as part of its exhibit. Regarding the Academy Archive, which has been in the spotlight after recent layoffs, she mentioned that the SciTech Council’s efforts would involve scanning through materials with a focus on the “Academy 100,” referring to the Academy’s centennial celebration of the Oscars in 2028.
Regarding the updated structure, Chang pointed out that the goal is to make the council more connected to the Academy and collaborate more extensively with its Governors. “The main objective behind reducing the size of the council,” she explained, “is to encourage a greater number of Academy members to participate in this endeavor. Additionally, we plan to initiate projects that individuals not part of the Academy can also contribute to.” She commended the work done by the outgoing council members and suggested that they, along with other Academy members, could bring about more “variety in perspectives” within council activities.
In the updated setup, Alex Forsyth, a veteran employee at the Academy who has just been elevated to the position of senior director for science and technology, will persist in his role as the primary staff representative on the council.
As a cinephile, I’m excited to share that the Academy is planning to engage more of its members in the SciTech Awards this year. The awards ceremony for these technological innovations in filmmaking is scheduled for February 18th, right here at the Academy Museum.
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2024-12-02 22:17