Don Iwerks is a former Disney executive, a Disney Legend, an Oscar winner, and co-founder of Iwerks entertainment along with former Disney executive Stan Kinsy. He is son of legendary animator Ub Iwerks (Walt Disney's original business partner and designer of Mickey Mouse) and father of documentary film producer Leslie Iwerks.
Don Iwerks was born in 1929 and followed his father, the animator, special effect wizard and Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, to Disney, joining the Company in 1950 as a laboratory technician. He worked briefly for the Company before being drafted into the Korean War, where he served for two years in the Signal Photo Corps. When he returned to the U.S., he immediately went back to work at Disney, having decided to forgo formal education.
He soon transferred to the fabled Studio Machine Shop, where he was eventually offered a camera technician position and went to work on his first film for the Studio, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He eventually headed both the Machine Shop and Camera Service Department, as well as the Technical Engineering and Manufacturing Division, all along the way displaying his father's flair for technological innovation by developing cameras, projectors and other systems for Disneyland, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Among his many accomplishments were helping to develop the 360-degree Circle-Vision camera that was first used in Circarama, U.S.A.; building the film equipment used at the 1964 New York World's Fair; Captain Eo, a Disney park attraction featuring a 3-D film and in-theater effects; and the projection system for the wildly popular Star Tours attraction. Don also aided his father in the development of the sodium traveling matte process, including the creation of specialized cameras and optical printers that could combine painted backgrounds, traditional animation and live-action foregrounds to create the unforgettable cinematic experience that was the Academy Award-winning Mary Poppins.
For his part, Don often cited his work at the New York's World Fair and Epcot as defining moments in his career. "In my career, Epcot was most outstanding," he once said. "The theaters included two nine-screen Circle-Vision theaters plus the French Pavilion -- which was like Circle-Vision, except that it was a sit-down theater with five screens and a 200-degree wrap. The American Adventure was a huge rear-projection theater with set pieces in front of it. The film and scenics served as the background that helped to tell the story of America. It remains one of the most powerful experiences at Epcot."
In recognition of contributions to the movie industry made by his large-format and simulated film innovations, Don received the Gordon E. Sawyer Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' Board of Governors in 1997.
After a 35-year career at Disney, Don formed his own company, Iwerks Entertainment, Inc., in 1986. The maker of giant-screen theaters and 3D-projection-based theme park attractions was acquired by SimEx, Inc. in 2001.
On March 23, 1998, at the 70th Academy Awards show, Don received an Oscar. He was awarded the Gordonnn E. Sawyer Award, which is given each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to "an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry."
On March 21 1999, at the 71st Academy Awards show, an Oscar for Scientific and Technical Achievement was presented to Iwerks Entertainment for an innovation called the Iwerks 8/70 Linear Loop projection system.
Don credited Walt Disney and his father for the success he enjoyed throughout his career. From them, he learned that keeping a jeweler's keen eye on detail and quality is the key to success. "There was a 'can-do' attitude I learned from Walt and my father," he once said. "If you're doing a really first-class job, you don't need to worry about the money. It will come. Walt gave everyone a feeling that they were creating things that others had never thought of before, of being a part of history."
Don and his wife, Betty, have four children, sons Larry and John and daughters Tamara and Leslie.
The blog contains informational and educational material. The post enhance my thoughts and experience. So nice!
ReplyDeleteI've got to scramble to keep up with your prodigious output!