Hi David,
Here in France the PhD I would do seeks projects mixing Arts and Science. I would be working with:
- la Fémis (responsible for the artistic side)
- ENS Louis-Lumière (because my director is a teacher there)
- ENS Ulm (referent for the scientific part).
My background is maths and physics (MS in one of the very best French grande-école: ENS Lyon).
I invented special lenses (think a much better version of Panavision-Hylen mixed with tilt), I created a company around this, patent pending.
The PhD is for me a way to go back to research, while working on the company at the same time.
My French director is the main teacher in optics for Cinematographers and Photographers both at la Fémis and Louis-Lumière. He would direct the technical part of the thesis, including precise technical analysis of the lenses I will focus on (Lensbaby, Panavision Hylen, Anamorphic, Soft Focus, zone plate, light-field -although it's not a lens-...).
I am looking for another director for my thesis who would be based in California and teaching Cinematography there, more on the artistic side. If the school they teach at grants a PhD, I would like to do two or three semesters there.
I will come to California for my company anyway, starting with next April. 1 week in SF, 1 week in Las Vegas for NAB show, 10 days in Los Angeles to meet with potential PhD directors and hopefully potential clients for my company). And then Cinegear in June, where I plan on renting a booth to showcase my lenses.