Richard Portman Honored
At C.A.S. Banquetby Paul Huntsman
With more than five hundred people in attendance, the Cinema Audio Society presented their 34th Annual Awards on March 7th at the Universal Sheraton. C.A.S. President Stephen Hawk presided, with actor Robert Stack as MC.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award to Richard Portman. Currently living and working in Florida, the much loved and respected Mr. Portman reported that "the Denver dialogue is alive and well in Tallahassee."
The unique Richard Portman - this year's recipient of the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award. The C.A.S. awards for outstanding achievement in sound mixing are presented to re-recording mixers and production mixers in three categories: features; TV movies, mini-series or specials; and TV series. The competition is open to films and programs released or aired in the previous calendar year.
As is the custom, the first order of business was the recognition of the 1997 Emmy Award winners for Best Sound and the recognition of 1997's Academy Award nominees for Best Achievement in Sound. Presented with Certificates of Recognition, each of the honorees expressed their gratitude to C.A.S. as well as to the people at each of their facilities who make it possible for them to do such outstanding work.
The first award of the evening was presented to re-recording mixers Rusty Smith and William Freesh along with production mixer Russel Fager in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Series for the Brain Salad Surgery episode of Chicago Hope.
The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Movie of the Week, Mini-Series or Special was presented for Death on Everest: Into Thin Air to re-recording mixers Wayne Artman, Robert L. Harmon, and Frank Jones, and production mixer Jay Paterson.
The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture was presented to the sound crew of Titanic. The re-recording mixers were Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, and Gary Summers and the production mixer was Mark Ulano.
Beyond the obvious excitement surrounding the awards, this year's banquet was special in part because of the laudable choice of Mr. Richard Portman for the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award. Currently working as a Distinguished Filmmaker In Residence at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Mr. Portman has found new and fertile ground for his always stimulating and never ordinary approach to film sound. This new position is in keeping with the tradition Mr. Portman established in his career in Hollywood of teaching every day as he mixed. Several of the honorees had expressed their gratitude to Richard for his patience and generosity while they were working with him early in their careers.
Mr. Portman's career spans five decades and includes an Oscar for his work on The Deer Hunter and ten other nominations. His résumé is a reflection of a man whose talent is sought after and his contributions to a film maker's vision are many. A short list includes such cornerstone work as The God-father, Paper Moon, Young Frankenstein, Funny Lady, Nashville, Coal Miner's Daughter, On Golden Pond, Harold And Maud, Carnal Knowledge, Little Big Man, Body Heat, Star Wars, Splash and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.
Mr. Portman expressed his sincere thanks to the C.A.S. for his selection and for the elegant evening honoring his career. Those in attendance wished him well in his continuing endeavors teaching and practicing the artful craft of sound for motion pictures.
