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S.C.V. History
June 23
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies


Nafees Bin Zafar, Maryann Brandon, Bill Corso, Andrea Kalas, Ai-Ling Lee, Leon Silverman and Steve Yedlin have accepted invitations to join the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, bringing the Council’s 2017–2018 membership roster to 25.

Nafees Bin Zafar, a technology development supervisor at Digital Domain, has worked in live-action visual effects and feature animation for the past 17 years. He received a 2007 Academy Scientific and Engineering Award for his work on the development of Digital Domain’s fluid simulation system, and a 2014 Academy Technical Achievement Award for the development of large-scale destruction simulation systems.

His software has been used in a diverse set of films, including “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “2012,” “The Croods” and “Kung Fu Panda 3.” He also serves on the Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards Committee and the Digital Imaging Technology Subcommittee. He became a member of the Visual Effects Branch in 2017.

Film editor Maryann Brandon earned an Oscar nomination for her work on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Her credits include such films as “Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Passengers,” and she is currently working on the feature “The Darkest Minds” for 20th Century Fox. Brandon has been a member of the Academy since 1998, and also is active in the Directors Guild of America, American Cinema Editors and Women in Film. This month she appears in TCM’s “Trailblazing Women” series.

Bill Corso is an Oscar-winning makeup artist and designer, whose recent credits include “Deadpool,” “Kong: Skull Island,” “Bladerunner 2049” and the upcoming “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” His desire to bridge the gap between practical, on-set makeup and digital technology led him to create Digital Makeup Group, specializing in CG beauty work, age manipulation and makeup effects done from an expert makeup artist’s perspective.

Corso has been a member of the Academy since 2004 and has served as governor of the Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch and chair of its executive committee. He has also served on the Academy’s Preservation and History Board Committee.

Andrea Kalas, vice president of archives at Paramount Pictures, has restored or preserved more than 2,000 films and is a technical innovator in systems for digital preservation and archive-based analytics. She also is a public advocate for preservation and film history through the Association of Moving Image Archivists, where she currently serves as president. She recently joined the Academy as a Member-at-Large.

Born in Singapore, sound designer Ai-Ling Lee earned Oscar nominations for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing for “La La Land.” Her credits include “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Spider-Man 2,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “Godzilla,” “Wild,” “Deadpool” and “Battle of the Sexes.” She has been a member of the Academy’s Sound Branch since 2014.

As general manager, Digital Studio for the Walt Disney Studios, Leon Silverman oversees digital studio services, which provide post-production on-lot infrastructure, mastering, digital distribution services and workflow expertise. He is a past president and founder of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), a trade association focused on the professional media content creation industry.

He currently serves as governor-at-large of the Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers and is an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers and an affiliate member of ACE. He has been an Academy Member-at-Large since 2015 and serves on the Members-at-Large executive committee.

Steve Yedlin is a cinematographer best known for his collaboration with director Rian Johnson on his films “Brick,” “The Brothers Bloom,” “Looper” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” He has made ongoing contributions to industry technical awareness and education with his short film demos, papers and seminars. Yedlin has been a member of the ASC since 2015, a guest lecturer at the American Film Institute since 2011, and a member of the Academy’s Cinematographers Branch since 2016.

The returning Council co-chairs for 2017–2018 are two members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch: Academy governor Craig Barron, an Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor; and Paul Debevec, a senior staff engineer at Google VR, adjunct professor at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies and a lead developer of the Light Stage image capture and rendering technology, for which he received a Scientific and Engineering Award in 2009.

The Council’s 16 other returning members are Wendy Aylsworth, Academy president John Bailey, Rob Bredow, Annie Chang, Douglas Greenfield, Rob Hummel, Academy governor John Knoll, Beverly Pasterczyk, Cary Phillips, Joshua Pines, Douglas Roble, David Stump, Steve Sullivan, Bill Taylor, Academy vice president Michael Tronick and Beverly Wood.

Established in 2003 by the Academy’s Board of Governors, the Science and Technology Council provides a forum for the exchange of information, promotes cooperation among diverse technological interests within the industry, sponsors publications, fosters educational activities, and preserves the history of the science and technology of motion pictures.

About the Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 8,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is under construction in Los Angeles.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LINKS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Friday, Jun 20, 2025
For one weekend only, Matchbox Theatre Co. is bringing its inaugural production of Johnna Adams’ "World Builders" to The MAIN.
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2025
Escape Musical Theatre presents "The Music Man" at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. Performances will run June 19-22.
Monday, Jun 16, 2025
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Fairies, a new theatrical production by Phil Lantis, makes its world premiere, July 11-19 at The MAIN.
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William S. Hart Park has been a cherished part of the Santa Clarita community for nearly 70 years.
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The Regular Meeting of the Saugus-Castaic School Facilities Financing Authority will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at the Saugus Union School District, 24930 Avenue Stanford, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room.
June 24: Saugus-Castaic School Facilities Financing Authority to Meet
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in open session on Tuesday, June 24 at City Hall, with the first reading of an ordinance of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map of the city of Santa Clarita issued by CalFire.
June 24: Council Will Consider CalFire Hazard Map of City of Santa Clarita
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo submitted a formal budget request letter calling for comprehensive funding, beyond the $110 million currently allocated, to fully implement Proposition 36.
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California Credit Union Foundation has awarded a scholarship to Saugus High School Senior Nathan Lieber as part of its College Scholarship Program, recognizing exceptional students for their school and community activities.
California Credit Union Foundation Awards Scholarship to SCV Student
The county of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will host a "Pride at the Park" event, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at Castaic Regional Sports Complex.
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The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of seven productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, June 23 to Saturday, June 28.
June 23-28: Seven Productions Filming in SCV
A special meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
June 25: Hart District Governing Board Special Meeting
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear input on a number of topics during a public hearing on Tuesday, June 24, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Board Hearing Room 381B, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
June 24: L.A. County Supervisors’ Public Hearing
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies
1972 - Vasquez Rocks added to National Register of Historic Places [list]
Vasquez Rocks
The Agua Dulce Women's Club Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390.
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The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, June 24 beginning at 6:40 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
June 24: Saugus Union School District Board Regular Meeting
1941 - Ernie Hickson buys out Trem Carr's interest in their Monogram movie ranch, renames it "Placeritos" (later called Melody) [story]
Ernie Hickson
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a meeting Wednesday, June 25, beginning with a closed session at 2:30 p.m. The open session begins at 5 p.m.
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The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, the longest-running and largest food assistance organization in the SCV, has been selected by Albertsons Companies to receive a $30,000 makeover grant.
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The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center invites the community to the Third Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. at Lucky Luke Brewing Company.
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Calling all Los Angeles County artists and performers. If you're part of a dance, music, vocal, musical theater or circus group, you are encouraged to apply to be part of the 66th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration.
Performers Sought for Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
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Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day will be held Saturday, June 28, at Acton Park, noon to 9 p.m.
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For one weekend only, Matchbox Theatre Co. is bringing its inaugural production of Johnna Adams’ "World Builders" to The MAIN.
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Vasquez Rocks Natural Area will host its "Pride Outside," event 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 29.
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SCVNews.com