Prove your passion for the film industry and responsible outdoor water use and you could earn a chance to meet and mingle with an outstanding panel of judges with academic, professional, industrial or governmental expertise in the film industry and/or water conservation.
2009 Judges
Gary McVey,
Executive Director, American Cinema Foundation
ACF Executive Director Gary McVey is a former New Yorker, a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Gary took over the helm of the ACF in 1997, bringing the specialized world of documentary and foreign films together with one of Hollywood’s pioneering “talking shops” for public policy, and introducing programs that re-examine moments and movements in film and television history, including the nearly sixty year history of public television.
Gary was an executive at Filmex, the original and legendary Los Angeles film festival, and became one of the founding directors of its successor, AFI FEST, the American Film Institute Los Angeles International Film Festival in 1987. Under his leadership the festival held its first annual Latino, Independent, and Hong Kong film weeks, and focused on the great change sweeping socialist Europe in those years. AFI FEST revived long popular L.A. traditions like the all-night movie marathon (1995’s “All Night: Left Wing vs. Right Wing” was a particular success). Video and information technology transformed the festival circuit in the nineties, with AFI playing a major role, and the festival was often the occasion of public introduction of new ideas.
Timothy Brick,
Chairman, Metropolitan Water District
Brick served 14 years on the Pasadena Utility Advisory Commission, which directs the municipal water and power department, including four terms as chair. He is a member of the Colorado River Water Users Associations, National Water Resources Association and a member of the board of POWER (Public Officials for Water & Environmental Reform). He also belongs to the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Society for Ecological Restoration.
Brick was vice-chair of the MWD board from 1998-2000 and chaired the Water Planning & Resources Committee (1995-1998) as well as the Headquarters Committee, which developed MWD’s Union Station Headquarters. He has also chaired the Water Education Committee, the Water Quality Committee, and the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee. This spring Brick attended the World Water Forum in Mexico City and delivered a presentation on Southern California conservation and integrated planning efforts at a panel on the “Challenges and Perspectives of Megacities.” Brick also played an important role in the development of MWD’s World Water Forum program, which provides grants to Southern California colleges for educational efforts addressing world water problems.
Amanda Pope,
Professor, USC School of Cinematic Arts
Amanda Pope has an extensive 20-year background in writing, producing, directing and editing documentary, dramatic, and advocacy programs. She teaches graduate documentary and fiction directing as well as courses in developing documentary concepts and the individual creative voice.
Her hour-long public television documentaries that include Jackson Pollock Portrait, a classic in its genre, Stages: Houseman Directs Lear; and Cities For People, were all broadcast nationally on PBS. Recently, her program series Faces of Change, documented grassroots reformers and emerging leaders in seven countries of the former Soviet Union. Currently she is partnering with two former students and recent alumni on two films – Art Rescuers of Nukus on an endangered world class collection of 50,000 artworks secreted away in the desert of Uzbekistan; and Pancho Barnes! a biography of a pioneer woman aviator with a Mae Westian lifestyle.
Pope received her B.A. from Wellesley College.
Philip Sokoloski,
Manager of Communications, FilmL.A.
Philip Sokoloski, manager of communications at FilmL.A., is responsible for the planning, execution and measurement of the nonprofit’s strategic communication initiatives. Since joining FilmL.A. in 2002, Sokoloski has held several positions in administration and communication management. He now focuses on expanding the company’s reach and reputation while helping to demystify the film permit process for filmmakers and community members in Los Angeles. Sokoloski holds a M.A. in Strategic Public Relations from University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication. He and his family reside in Glendale, California.
Larry Aylward,
Editor-in-Chief, Golfdom
Larry Aylward joined the staff of Golfdom in 1998 as managing editor and helped launch the magazine. He was named editor in 2000. Aylward, who graduated with a degree in mass media communications from the University of Akron in 1985, was editor of the university’s campus newspaper. That year, he began his professional career as a sports writer for daily newspapers and has also worked as an arts/entertainment editor. For the last 12 years, Aylward has written and edited business-to-business publications, distinguishing himself as an award-winning writer, columnist and editor.
Aylward strives to engage golf course superintendents through the magazine’s compelling design, bold and entertaining approach, challenging content and clear editorial voice.