The Louma Crane was awarded in Los Angeles beginning of February with the "Award of Merit" by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.
The Oscar Statuettes were given to the French Jean-Marie Lavalou and Alain Masseron and to the British David Samuelson for engineering and developing of the Louma Camera Crane and remote system for motion picture production.
The Louma Crane with its articulated arm and remote head at its hand allows all kind of different moves.
It began to be developed by the three engineers in the 1970’s. The two French men developed a first prototype in 1970 to make an institutional film for the ECPA (Etablissement Cinématographique et Photographique des Armées). After this first successful experience the two inventors introduced it to Albert Viguier a senior cameraman and manager of Samuelson Alga in Paris who has foreseen the future for such invention. It didn’t take long time to develop along the Samuelson Group the remote head crane that would change the industry.
In London the Samuelson Film Service a department for development had in 1973 - 1974 in the group Joe Dunton, Peter Hobson and Derek Lee whom have worked with Jean Marie Lavalou and Alain Masseron. The Louma Crane development had other important contributions like from Guy Tournerie and the electronic engineer Hervé Theys in developing the remote control for focusing.
It was first introduced in the USA in 1980’s and used by Steven Spielberg in the motion picture "1941" and afterwards with the same director on "Riders of the Lost Arch". Its appearance has given to the film industry a great contribution in giving the possibility to make camera moves and positions that were impossible before.
During the same ceremony of awards Horst Burbulla received an Oscar for the creation and development of the Technocrane.
The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards was presented at a gala black tie dinner on Saturday evening, February 12, 2005, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.
"Scientific and Technical Awards are given for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures that also have a proven history of use in the motion picture industry.
Awards may be granted in any of three classifications: Academy Award of Merit (Oscar statuette), for basic achievements that have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry; Scientific and Engineering Award (Academy plaque), for those achievements that exhibit a high level of engineering and are important to the progress of the industry; and Technical Achievement Award (Academy certificate), for those accomplishments that contribute to the progress of the industry."