VES Summit and Honors and Hall of Fame Celebration

By NAOMI GOLDMAN

Summit keynote speaker Ava DuVernay flanked by her A Wrinkle in Time Visual Effects Supervisor Rich McBride and Deadline Hollywood Senior Editor Dominic Patten. (Photo by Marlon Rivas)

In October, the VES hosted a special recognition program at the 9th Annual VES Summit to honor distinguished individuals with the Founders Award, Fellows distinction, Honorary Membership and Lifetime Membership designations, and to celebrate the inaugural VES Hall of Fame inductees.

VES Lifetime Membership honoree Chuck Finance. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

VES Board Chair Mike Chambers introducing the 2017 VES Fellows – Joe Letteri, VES, John Richardson, VES and Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson, VES. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

From left: VES Executive Director Eric Roth, Summit Co-Chair Jeff Barnes, Founders Award recipient Toni Pace Carstensen, Summit Co-Chair Rita Cahill, VES Board Chair Mike Chambers. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

VES Honorary Membership recipient Bob Burns (second from the left) with VES Hall of Fame inductees Dennis Muren, VES, Phil Tippett, VES and Doug Trumbull, VES (Photo by Tony Ducret)

The Summit program concluded with introducing the inaugural members of the VES Hall of Fame.

“The VES Hall of Fame represents a class of exceptional artists and innovators who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” says Mike Chambers, VES Board Chair. “We are proud to pay homage to those who have helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”

Living legends Ed Catmull, VES, John Knoll, Syd Mead, Dennis Muren, VES, Phil Tippett, VES and Doug Trumbull, VES were on hand to receive their honors among the capacity industry crowd at the Sofitel Hotel Beverly Hills (unfortunately, honoree Roger Corman was unable to attend). Joining the celebration were dozens of proud family members enjoying recognition for Hall of Fame inductees who are no longer with us. VES Hall of Fame posthumous honorees include: Robert Abel, Linwood Dunn, ASC, Peter Ellenshaw, Jim Henson, Ub Iwerks, Grant McCune, Georges Méliès, Willis O’Brien, Carlo Rambaldi, Joe Viskocil, Petro Vlahos, Albert Whitlock, Stan Winston and Matthew Yuricich.

Hall of Fame honoree Syd Mead with VES Board Chair Mike Chambers. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honoree Dennis Muren, VES. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honoree John Knoll. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Three generations of family representing deceased Hall of Fame honoree Matthew Yuricich. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honoree Doug Trumbull, VES with with VES Board Chair Mike Chambers. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

VES Hall of Fame honorees from left: Brian Henson (accepting Hall of Fame on behalf of Jim Henson), Dennis Muren, VES, Honorary Member Bob Burns, Phil Tippett, VES, John Knoll, Doug Trumbull, VES, Ed Catmull, VES, Syd Mead and VES Board Chair Mike Chambers. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

VES Executive Director Eric Roth, VES Board member Brooke Breton, Hall of Fame honoree John Knoll, director John Landis, VES Board Chair Mike Chambers, VES Board 2nd Vice Chair Kim Lavery, VES and Board Secretary and Summit Co-Chair Rita Cahill. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honorees Doug Trumbull, VES and Syd Mead with VES Board member Richard Winn Taylor II, VES. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honoree Phil Tippett, VES. (Photo by Tony Ducret)

Hall of Fame honoree Ed Catmull, VES. (Photo by Tony Ducret)