Lighting strikes

By Carolyn Giardina

Appropriately enough, the American Society of Cinematographers paid close attention to the lighting at its annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards kickoff dinner, held Saturday night at the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood. Participating in the county's "Lights Out LA" energy conservation event, the ASC softly lit its venue by candlelight.
"Lucky the lights are down, so you can't see me blushing," said visual effects veteran Richard Edlund (pictured), who was introduced by ASC president Daryn Okada as this year’s ASC Presidents Award recipient.
Past ASC president Richard Crudo introduced Stephen H. Burum, who had been previously announced as the recipient of the ASC 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award; and ASC vp Michael Goi presented George Spiro Dibie, who will be honored with the 2008 ASC Career Achievement in Television Award.
"I'm the luckiest guy in the world," Burum told the group. "I got to do my hobby as a career."
Edlund has earned four Academy Awards for his visual effects work on "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Return of the Jedi," as well as six additional nominations for "Poltergeist," "2010," "Ghostbusters," "Poltergeist II: The Other Side," "Die Hard" and "Alien 3." He has also earned three Scientific and Engineering Awards. Earlier this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation to Edlund in recognition of his significant contributions to the organization.
Edlund has also earned an Emmy for creating visual effects for the original television miniseries “Battlestar Galactica,” and an additional nomination for Mike Nichols' "Angels in America." He's working again with Nichols on Universal Picture's upcoming "Charlie Wilson's War."
Said ASC president Daryn Okada: "Richard Edlund is an ASC member who continues to contribute to the progress of visual effects from purely photographic methods to today’s digital techniques. He uses his cinematographer’s eye in the creation of his work. He has earned the respect of our members for his artistic achievements, role in developing new technologies, generosity with knowledge, and collaborative spirit."
Roughly 50 attended Saturday night's dinner. The 22nd Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards will be presented Jan. 26 at the Hollywood & Highland Grand Ballroom.