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Roman Kroitor

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Roman Kroitor
Born(1926-12-12)December 12, 1926
Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedSeptember 17, 2012(2012-09-17) (aged 85)[1]
Montreal
Occupation(s)Film director
Film producer
Screenwriter
Inventor
Years active1949 - 2012

Roman Kroitor (December 12, 1926 – September 17, 2012) was a Canadian filmmaker who was known as a pioneer of Cinéma vérité, as the co-founder of IMAX, and as the creator of the Sandde hand-drawn stereoscopic 3D animation system. He was also the original inspiration for The Force.[2][3] His prodigious output garnered numerous awards, including two BAFTA Awards, three Cannes Film Festival awards, and two Oscar nominations.

Early life

Roman Boghdan Kroitor was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to Ukrainian immigrants Peter and Tatiana (Shewchuk), both of whom were teachers. Peter died when Roman was four; Tatiana moved the family to Winnipeg and continued teaching. Roman attended the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1951 with a Master of Arts in Philosophy.

National Film Board of Canada

In 1949 and 1950, Kroitor attended the Summer Intern program at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in Ottawa. Upon graduation from university, he was hired full-time, working as a production assistant and later as a film editor.[4] His first film, 1953's Rescue Party[1] laid the foundation for his pioneering Cinéma vérité style, and he went on to produce influential films such as Lonely Boy, Glenn Gould: On the Record, Glenn Gould: Off the Record, and the concert film Stravinsky. By 1958, Kroiter was producing documentaries; by 1964, he was one of the producers leading the NFB into the production of fiction films.[5]

IMAX

After seeing the ground-breaking NFB documentary Universe (1960), Stanley Kubrick tried to recruit Kroiter and Colin Low to work on 2001: A Space Odyssey. They declined because, with Hugh O'Connor and Tom Daily, they were working on a large-scale multi-screen film. This was Labyrinth, which the NFB exhibited at Expo 67 in Montreal. The film caused a sensation and, in the same year Kroitor and his friend and colleague, the director Graeme Ferguson, left the NFB as employees, but physically stayed, founding Multi-Screen Corporation (later IMAX Corp.) in the NFB's Montreal studios (with two other friends, Robert Kerr and engineer Bill Shaw).[6] The Multi-Screen process involved a purpose-built camera, and 70mm film projected horizontally rather than vertically, with each frame the size of a postcard.[7]

In 1970, for Expo 70 in Osaka, Kroitor produced the first IMAX film, the 17-minute Tiger Child, directed by Donald Brittain. In 1973, he returned to the NFB as a producer in charge of the Drama department, but continued to make IMAX films until his retirement. In 1990, he co-directed the first IMAX feature film, Stones at the Max. He also produced the first IMAX stereoscopic (S3D) film, We Are Born of Stars (anaglyph, 1985), and co-produced the first full-color OMNIMAX (IMAX Dome) S3D film, Echoes of the Sun (alternate-eye, 1990).[1]

SANDDE

While working to create traditional (actuality) and early CG films in a stereoscopic format, Kroitor became frustrated with the lack of direct interaction between the desires of (right-brained) artists and the results on film, because everything had to pass through the (left-brained) mathematicians and programmers. He conceived of the SANDDE hardware and software system as a way to allow artists to directly draw, in full stereoscopic 3D, what they want the audience to see.[citation needed]

George Lucas and The Force

Kroitor was credited by Star Wars creator George Lucas, as being the origin of the concept of The Force, an important thematic element in the Star Wars films.[8] As reported by The Globe and Mail, Lucas first heard about "the force" in a conversation between Kroitor and Warren Sturgis McCulloch, an artificial intelligence guru, in 21-87, a 1963 collage film made by the NFB's Arthur Lipsett. Disagreeing with McCulloch's assertion that humans are nothing more than highly complex machines, Kroitor argued,: "Many people feel that in the contemplation of nature and in communication with other living things, they become aware of some kind of force, or something, behind this apparent mask which we see in front of us, and they call it God."[1]

Personal life and death

In 1955, Kroitor married (Graeme Ferguson's sister) Janet Ferguson; they had five children and lived in Montreal. On September 17, 2012, he died of a heart attack in his sleep at the age of 85.[1]

Filmography

National Film Board of Canada[9][10][11]

Awards

Paul Tomkowicz: Street-Railway Switchman (1953) [20]

Blood and Fire (1958)[22]

The Back-Breaking Leaf (1959)[23]

  • 1960 Cannes Film Festival, Cannes: Eurovision Grand Prize, Documentary Films, 1960
  • American Film and Video Festival, New York: Blue Ribbon Award, Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, 1961
  • International Labour and Industrial Film Festival, Antwerp: Diploma of Merit, Films Dealing with the Problems of People at Work, 1963

The Cars in Your Life (1960)[24]

  • American Film and Video Festival, New York: Blue Ribbon, Citizen, Government & City Planning, 1963

Universe (1960)[25]

The Days of Whiskey Gap (1961)[26]

Lonely Boy (1962)[27]

The Living Machine (1962)[28]

The Hutterites (1964)[29]

Above the Horizon (1964)[30]

Nobody Waved Goodbye (1964)[31]

Legault’s Place (1964)[32]

Stravinsky (1965)[33]

Bargain Basement (1976)[34]

For Gentlemen Only (1976)[36]

One Man (1977)[37]

  • ACTRA Awards, Montreal: Film of the Year, 1978
  • Film Festival Antwerpen, Antwerp: Second Best Film of the Festival, 1978
  • Film Festival Antwerpen, Antwerp: Honorable Mention by the Press Jury, 1978

Henry Ford's America (1977)[38]

  • International Emmy Awards, New York: Best Non-Fiction Television Film, 1977
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival, San Francisco: Special Jury Award for Outstanding Achievement - Film as Communication, 1977
  • Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, Columbus, Ohio: Chris Bronze Plaque, Social Studies, 1978
  • HEMISFILM, San Antonio TX: Bronze Medallion for the Best Film, Documentary Over 27 Minutes, 1978
  • American Film and Video Festival, New York: Red Ribbon, Features: History & Economics, 1978
  • U.S. Industrial Film Festival, Elmhurst, Illinois: Silver Screen Award for Outstanding Creativity in the Production of Audio-Visual Communications in International Competition, 1978
  • Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago: Certificate of Merit, 1977
  • APGA Film Festival, Washington, DC: Honorable Mention, 1977

Voice of the Fugitive (1978)[39]

Teach Me to Dance (1978)[40]

  • Child of our Time Festival, Milan: Diploma of Honor, 1979

Revolution's Orphans (1979)[41]

Why Men Rape (1979)[42]

  • American Film and Video Festival, New York: Red Ribbon, Mental Health, 1981

Bravery in the Field (1979)[43]

Challenger: An Industrial Romance (1980)[44]

  • Grierson Awards, Toronto: Grierson Award for Outstanding Documentary, 1981
  • Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, Columbus, Ohio: Chris Bronze Plaque, 1981
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival, San Francisco: Silver Award for Second-Best Film of the Festival, 1980
  • Golden Gate International Film Festival, San Francisco: Best in Category: Promotion, Commercial Sales and Public Relations, 1980
  • Information Film Producers of America, Los Angeles: Gold Cindy Award, Best of Show, 1981
  • U.S. Industrial Film Festival, Elmhurst, Illinois: First Place, Gold Camera Award, 1981
  • Bijou Awards, Toronto: Best Documentary, 1981
  • Festival of Technical Films and Films on Industrial Design, Budapest: Special Prize, Informatory and Product-Propaganda Films, 1982
  • American Film and Video Festival, New York: Honorable Mention, Management Training Films, 1982

Nose and Tina (1980)[45]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e Martin, Sandra (5 October 2012). "Roman Kroitor, 85, revolutionized the film world". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Roman Kroitor, 85, revolutionized the film world". Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  3. ^ Falk, Dan. "The Forgotten Director Who Gave Us the Force". arstechnica.com. ARS Technica. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ Canadian Film Encyclopedia Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine (accessed Aug 5, 2007)
  5. ^ Weldon, Carolyne. "Death of Roman Kroitor". nfb.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  6. ^ Weldon, Carolyne. "Death of Roman Kroitor". nfb.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ Youngblood, Gene: Expanded Cinema, London: Studio Vista, 1970.
  8. ^ Wired 13.05: Life After Darth
  9. ^ "Directors: Roman Kroitor". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Producers: Roman Kroitor". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Production Personnel: Roman Kroitor". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Circus World". giantscreencinema.com. Giant Screen Cinema Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Skyward". giantscreencinema.com. Giant Screen Cinema Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  14. ^ "A Freedom to Move". mubi.com. MUBI. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  15. ^ "We Are Born of Stars". giantscreencinema.com. Giant Screen Cinema Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Heart Land". tribute.ca. Tribute Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Echoes of the Sun". giantscreencinema.com. Giant Screen Cinema Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Imagine". giantscreencinema.com. Giant Screen Cinema Association. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  19. ^ Gurewitsch, Matthew. "Film: The Next Wave?". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Paul Tomkowicz: Street-railway Switchman". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  21. ^ "IFFMH Chronicle, 1958". iffmh.de. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Blood and Fire". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  23. ^ "The Back-Breaking Leaf". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  24. ^ "The Cars in Your Life". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Universe". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  26. ^ "The Days of Whiskey Gap". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Lonely Boy". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  28. ^ "The Living Machine". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  29. ^ "The Hutterites". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Above the Horizon". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Nobody Waved Good-Bye". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Legault's Place". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Stravinksy". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Bargain Basement". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  35. ^ "IFFMH Chronicle 1976". iffmh.de. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  36. ^ "For Gentlemen Only". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  37. ^ "One Man". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  38. ^ "Henry Ford's America". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  39. ^ "Voice of the Fugitive". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Teach Me to Dance". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Bord of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  41. ^ "Revolution's Orphans". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Why Men Rape". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  43. ^ "Bravery in the Field". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  44. ^ "Challenger: An Industrial Romance". nfb.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  45. ^ "Nose and Tina". onf-nfb.gc.ca. National Film Board of Canada.
  46. ^ "Past Winners: 1981" (PDF). yorktonfilm.com. Yorkton Film Festival. Retrieved 7 March 2023.

References

  • Life After Darth, Steve Silberman, Wired Magazine, May 2005
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