| |
Takuo "Tak" Miyagishima of Panavision Passed Away | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
| Written by: Bill
Hogan, Burbank, CA | Date:
06.08.2011 |
Panavision's
Tak Miyagishima and Danish cinematographer and director Mikael Salomon in
1994. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
It is with much sadness that I share the news that Takuo "Tak"
Miyagishima of Panavision died yesterday, Thursday Aug 4, 2011.
Tak was known by this nick name to everyone. Most did not even know he had a
longer name. Much less pronounce it.
For more than half a century starting in 1954 Tak was one of the most
esteemed design engineers in the motion picture industry. He made his first
mechanical drawing for Panavision in 1954. He worked there for over 50 years
and retired in 2009 as Senior Vice President of Engineering. But even in
retirement Tak continued to work in Woodland Hills documenting the
Panavision legacy and working with his colleagues.
A Motion Picture Academy program later this month is scheduled in honor of
Tak and notes the following:
During Miyagishima’s tenure, Panavision and its employees received more than
20 scientific and technical awards from the Academy for the design and
manufacture of motion picture equipment, especially advanced camera systems
and lenses.
Repeatedly over the years, Panavision’s designs established benchmarks that
became industry standards. Miyagishima came up with many of the ideas and
inventions that made Panavision successful, and even designed the iconic
Panavision logo itself. In the words of Richard Edlund, chair of the
Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards Committee: “Tak has been, and
continues to be, a leading design engineer. His work with Panavision, in
particular the technologies he has created, revolutionized the industry.”
| More in 70mm reading:
The Importance of Panavision
Super
Panavision 70
MGM
Camera 65 & Ultra Panavision 70
Ultra Panavision 70 Lens - Adjustment and lens modifications
Ultra Panavision 70,
Early lenses
"Where Eagles Dare" -
40th Anniversary 1969 - 2009
Internet link:
The Hollywood Reporter
creativecow.net
|
In
1999, Miyagishima received the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation for
dedicated service to the Academy; in 2004, he joined a select group of sci-tech
giants whose contributions to the industry have merited the Gordon E. Sawyer
Award, an Oscar statuette.
He will be missed by all his friends and industry colleagues.
| |
| | Go: back - top - back issues - news index Updated
28-07-24 | |
|