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MillimeterArthur Widmer, 91; Pioneer in Development of “Blue-Screen” and Film Special Effects
Jun 5, 2006 8:00 AM
J. Arthur Widmer, who was a pioneer in the technology of film special effects, has died at the age of 91. Widmer died of cancer on May 28 at his Hollywood, Calif. home.
On Feb. 12, 2005, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a special Award of Commendation to Widmer at the Scientific and Technical Awards. Widmer was honored for his lifelong achievements in the science and technology of motion pictures, in particular his significant contributions to the development of the Ultra Violet and "blue-screen" compositing processes.
"Art's pioneering work has had a profound impact on the film industry," says Richard Edlund, chair of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. "In fact, many of the films we hold dear would not have been possible without his contributions to image compositing technology."
Born in 1915 in Washington, D.C., Widmer entered the University of Michigan at 16, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry.
He started work at Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories in Rochester, N.Y. During World War II, he relocated to Oakridge, Tenn. and the Clinton Laboratories, later to be called the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which was established in 1943 to carry out a single, well-defined mission: the pilot-scale production and separation of plutonium for the World War II Manhattan Project. After the war, Kodak sent him west to Hollywood, Calif. where he made his home for more than 50 years.
Throughout his career, Widmer continuously explored new techniques to further enhance the quality of images on film. During his tenure at Eastman Kodak, Widmer researched a variety of new methods of color photography, including Kodachrome. In the late 1940s, he was involved with the introduction of Eastman Color Negative and Color Positive to the motion picture industry.
Widmer began his work with the Ultra Violet Traveling Matte process while at Warner Bros., where he also developed and refined technologies for other motion picture processes including 3-D and wide screen.
In 1964, he was hired by Universal Studios to design and build an optical department, where he researched many developments in "blue-screen" technology and optical printing, and made improvements to the Color Difference System. He retired in 1979.
Widmer is survived by his sister, Barbara Dinwoodie and three nieces.
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