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AI’s New Era in Storytelling Delves Deep at Engineering Emmys
AI revolutionizing the world of storytelling
Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally reshaping computing and is set to transform how stories are told, produced, and experienced. This captivating insight comes from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang during his acceptance speech for the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award at the 76th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards.
“It has been three decades since Pixar’s Toy Story revolutionized cinema with CGI. Now with AI, we have a new canvas for the next generation of storytelling, a renewed opportunity to wow and captivate audiences in new ways,” Huang stated passionately.
Adobe’s continuous innovation
During the same ceremony, held at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center, software developer Adobe was honored with the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award. Additionally, Adobe received an Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy for developing its Substance Painter.
Product manager Erica Schisler, accepting the Farnsworth Award on Adobe’s behalf, emphasized:
“Farnsworth had hoped and envisioned the television bringing everybody together… Adobe believes in that vision too. Our mission is to empower creators, filmmakers, artists, and storytellers, to amplify their voices and to connect audiences in new, meaningful ways.”
Honoring breakthroughs in engineering and technology
Trailblazing technologies awarded
During the ceremony, several groundbreaking technologies and their creators were celebrated:
- Avid Multicamera System: Innovators Tom Ohanian, Ken Goekjian, Joel Swan, and Victor Young received accolades for their contribution to this pioneering system.
- DJI Ronin camera stabilization systems: Developed by Paul Pan, Yanchong Zhao, Tie Su, and Shimeng Bei, these systems have set new standards in stable cinematography.
Contributions to film and restoration
Stuart Geman, Kevin Manbeck, John Mertus, and Michael Braca were recognized for developing MTI Film’s DRS Nova, a film and video restoration software. Manbeck movingly shared:
“Our tagline has always been, polish new releases and restore the classics… We’re really proud of that body of work, but we do have a special place in our hearts for the classics. Truly, this is this industry’s cultural legacy.”
He reminisced about witnessing two young girls laughing uncontrollably at an old episode of I Love Lucy, highlighting the timeless quality of well-preserved media.
Emphasizing industry collaboration and innovation
Bridging audio and visual excellence
Benjamin Graf was honored for his work on Accentize’s dxRevive Pro, a speech-restoration plugin, while Jeremy Hochman, Chris Byrne, Colin Cook, and Justin Nicolaides were awarded for Megapixel’s HELIOS processing platform for LED walls.
Advancements in digital distribution
Craig Seidel received recognition for his contributions to the MovieLabs Digital Distribution Framework, and The Tiffen Company was lauded for developing the Steadicam Volt camera stabilization technology.
Reflections on the spirit of innovation
Ohanian, co-inventor of the Avid Media Composer, shared his motivation in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible:
“Sometimes you just have to go with your instincts. You see an opportunity to develop something that you know is going to have a major impact. You just have to figure out a way to get your team to believe in that and then nothing can stop you. We had a saying back then — results, not reasons. That’s what drove us, and we think it’s the essence of invention and engineering excellence.”
Celebrating the community
Host Kirsten Vangsness opened the show with an engaging medley about the honorees, which garnered a standing ovation from the audience, celebrating the sense of community and shared purpose amongst these pioneers.
Celebrate the incredible advancements in technology and storytelling by sharing this story with your friends. Stay informed about the latest innovations and award-winning contributions in the film and television industry.
