The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to bestow the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation upon Mark Kimball, a computer scientist and motion picture technologist with more than 28 years experience in the movie industry. Kimball’s feature credits include Tron, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Dinosaur and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The medallion will be presented at the Scientific and Technical Awards dinner on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles.
Named in honor of the late director of special projects at Warner Hollywood Studios, the John A. Bonner Medal is awarded for ‘outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.’
‘For three decades, Mark has been at the forefront of technological advancements in motion pictures,’ says Academy President Sid Ganis. ‘His dedication to his craft and service to the Academy are both highly regarded in the industry.’
Kimball shared a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1991 for the design and development of the ‘CAPS’ production system for feature film animation.
His career began in 1978 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a system engineer with the Deep Space Network. In 1980 he moved to Walt Disney Productions, transferring in 1985 to Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he spent nearly two decades as the CAPS logistics system lead, a senior software systems specialist, a consulting engineer and finally as chief technologist. From 2004 through 2007, Kimball was director of digital production for The Walt Disney Co. He currently works as an independent media technology systems expert.
An Academy member since 1996, Kimball has served on the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee for 13 years, and in 2006 was asked to join the Science and Technology Council.
Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentations will be incorporated into the Oscar ceremony and broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The ABC Television Network will carry the feed in the U.S..
