FotoKem, the venerable post-production company in Burbank, will receive an award from the Hollywood Professional Association at its annual awards ceremony in November.
The 61-year-old business will receive the Charles S. Swartz Award at the HPA Awards gala taking place on Nov. 7 at the Wolfe Theater at the Television Academy in North Hollywood.
The Swartz Award is given at the discretion of the HPA Awards Committee to recognize a company or individual’s lasting contributions to the media content ecosystem. The award was last given in 2018 when Victoria Alonso, a producer and now former executive vice president, production for Marvel Studios, received it.
FotoKem was founded in 1963 by Gerald Brodersen as an independent black-and-white film lab, located on Cahuenga Boulevard, only a couple of blocks from Universal and Warner Bros. studios.
It supports filmmakers, studios, cinematographers and artists across diverse film and media landscapes.
Among other projects, the company has worked on productions like “Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood,” “Better Call Saul” and the third season of “The Mandalorian” for Disney+.
In addition to FotoKem’s main campus in Burbank on Alameda Avenue, their other Los Angeles area facilities include an editorial facility in Hollywood; Keep Me Posted, an episodic TV post-production house in Burbank; LA Studios, a voiceover and ADR facility in Hollywood; and Margarita Mix sound and audio in Hollywood and Santa Monica.
Bill Brodersen, chief executive of the company, said he was “deeply honored” for the company to be recognized with the Swartz Award and thanked the HPA.
“From the time my father started FotoKem until today, we have remained dedicated to serving the filmmakers who entrust us with their work,” Brodersen said in a statement. “This award shines a light on our teams who work so diligently on behalf of our clients, and the community of artists and technologists who tell stories and share their vision.”
HPA President Seth Hallen said that the HPA Awards Committee and the board of directors were unanimous in their desire to honor FotoKem with the award.
They have played a role in keeping film alive as a tool for filmmakers and receiving the Swartz Award is “a thanks to its team that includes some of the most talented, creative, technical and operational individuals in the (entertainment) industry,” he added.
“The impact of their unwavering support of film along with their non-stop innovation in many aspects of the post-production processes and the talent and skill with which they serve their clients, eloquently illustrate their impact,” Hallen said in a statement. “From dailies to the meticulous restoration of classic films, and outstanding work for picture and sound to mind-blowing 70mm workflows, FotoKem brings an unparalleled level of talent.”
The Swartz Award is named in honor of the late Charles S. Swartz, who led the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California from 2002 until 2006 and helped to build it into the industry’s premiere test bed for new digital cinema technologies. Swartz died in 2007 and the award was established to honor his legacy and contributions to our industry. In addition to a long and successful career as producer, educator and consultant, Swartz served on the board of directors of the HPA.
A team from FotoKem will accept the award.
