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List of Modern Inventors in Cinema Tech


Max Field

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Wanted to gather a list of the contemporary inventors in Cinematography. Whether it be gear or techniques.

Like for instance Steve Cardellini invented his self-titled clamp.
Shane Hurlbut created the booklight and man-cam (or at least the phrases for them)

I'd like to broaden my knowledge on the stories of people who created what I use everyday.
 

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Bill Tondreau - motion control pioneer. His Kuper Controls software is still used on set today, even though it's last version was released in 2004. Retired (I think).

Jaakko Kurhi - in business as JK Camera Engineering for 30 years (or more?). Maker of Bolex accesories for animation, low cost optical printers for students and professionals, and all kinds of other gismos for analog animation and vfx. Retired (but still tinkering).

Edited by Webster C
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1 hour ago, Albion Hockney said:

was shane hurlbut really the first to use a book light? seem dubious

 

For only $17.99 a month he'll answer that question and let you in on some other amazing filmmaking secrets!

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I'd put Howard Preston up as a technical innovator who has profoundly affected the industry. Starting with the Microforce controller which revolutionized zoom control with force sensors, then the FI+Z system which led the way to the now ubiquitous wireless lens and camera control landscape, to the Light Ranger 2 which takes focus assist technology to the next level, his company has consistently made high quality products that changed how the industry operated.

The Scientific and Technical Oscars database is a pretty exhaustive list of inventions and inventors that have made waves in this industry, though some are pretty obscure or specialised. Most of the big name lens and camera companies got a technical Oscar at some point. There have been a lot of inventions over the past 120 years to get us where we are now, the modern ones are more likely to be things like software, motion capture technologies or sophisticated multi-axis cranes. 

I don't think Shane Hurlbut has been awarded a technical Oscar yet.

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14 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

I'd put Howard Preston up as a technical innovator who has profoundly affected the industry. Starting with the Microforce controller which revolutionized zoom control with force sensors, then the FI+Z system which led the way to the now ubiquitous wireless lens and camera control landscape, to the Light Ranger 2 which takes focus assist technology to the next level, his company has consistently made high quality products that changed how the industry operated.

The Scientific and Technical Oscars database is a pretty exhaustive list of inventions and inventors that have made waves in this industry, though some are pretty obscure or specialised. Most of the big name lens and camera companies got a technical Oscar at some point. There have been a lot of inventions over the past 120 years to get us where we are now, the modern ones are more likely to be things like software, motion capture technologies or sophisticated multi-axis cranes. 

I don't think Shane Hurlbut has been awarded a technical Oscar yet.

I strongly agree!  Go Howard!!!  Great products from a great man!

I do think the one invention that has changed the way films are shot and staged (in the last 45 years) is Garrett Brown's Steadicam.  When this invention was first introduced, most filmmakers and especially cinematographers, would only use it for running shots, stairways, and certainly only when a dolly or crane could not be used.  But, over time, it's use has broadened to include all kinds of scenes and shots and has really changed the visual language of cinema, from simple scenes to the most complex staging, to the point... where we hardly notice it anymore.

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Modern Inventors? As in still alive?

  • Garrett Brown. The steadicam!
  • Johan Hellsten. The easy rig!
  • Howard Preston. Someone beat me to it, but nonetheless on the list!
  • Mark Roberts Motion Control. The Bolt Arm!
  • George Lucas. Digital editing. 3D animation. Digital cameras.
    • Did he actually invent these? Not entirely, but he ushered these tools into existence the same way Steve Jobs ushered in the iPod, iPhone, etc.
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21 hours ago, Albion Hockney said:

was shane hurlbut really the first to use a book light? seem dubious

 

There was an article saying he coined the phrase, but I seriously doubt he was physically the first guy to run bounce through diffusion.

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