IMAX a technique of widescreen cinematography that produces an image approximately ten times larger than that from standard 35 mm film.

Quote:
“We have new tools that can give the audience a sense of not only being there, which is the key element in an IMAX film, but also seeing things in a way that they won't see on television or in feature films.
Greg MacGillivray” (Brainy Quote)

"It all began when a small group of Canadian experimental filmmakers came together to produce a multi-screen film installation at EXPO ‘67 in Montreal. The installation was part of a competition to create the first truly large-screen film experience. The filmmakers did it by syncing nine projectors together. It was a huge technological challenge. And as they pulled it off, the ambitious team that would one day start the company to be known as IMAX." (IMAX)

“IMAX is an entertainment experience so real you feel it in your bones, so magical it takes you places you have never been; so all-encompassing you’re not just peeking through the window, but part of the action. Behind it is a world of high technology – proprietary software, architecture and equipment pioneered by IMAX. IMAX is unique – not an entertainment or technology or distribution company but all three at once: an innovator with patented technology; a Hollywood insider that partners with the world’s most celebrated moviemakers to enhance their biggest blockbusters and documentaries; and a global enterprise with more than 837 theatres in 57 countries. There’s only one IMAX, and once experienced there’s no going back.” (IMAX)

Mr. Ferguson was born Ivan Graeme Ferguson. He was born on October 7th, 1929 in Toronto, ON, Canada.

Job = He is a producer and director.

Education = He was in Victoria College at the U of T from 1948 to 1952, studying political science and economics.

Family = Roman Kroitor is Graeme Ferguson’s brother in law.

“Ferguson has been the recipient of numerous awards and acclaim for his contributions to the film industry, both in Canada and internationally. Notable distinctions include a Genie Special Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the Canadian Film Industry in 1986, and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Medal in 1990. He was named a member of the ORDER OF CANADA in 1993 and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford in 1994. In 2005 he was the recipient of the Kodak Vision Award from the Large Format Cinema Association. “ (The Canadian Encyclopedia)

“Ivan Graeme Ferguson was selected as a summer student in 1950 by the NATIONAL FILM BOARD of Canada, where he received his early training as a filmmaker. For much of the 1950s and '60s, Ferguson worked as a freelance filmmaker, mostly in the US. Following the presentation of his multi-screen production Polar Life, produced with Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr at EXPO 67 in Montréal, the collaborators, along with engineer William Shaw, began developing what would become the IMAX (an adaptation of the term "maximum image") film format. The format had its premiere at the World's Fair in Osaka, Japan, in 1970, and Ferguson served as president of the newly formed IMAX company until 1990. There are now over 250 IMAX theatres operating in 36 countries.” (The Canadian Encyclopedia)

“Roman and I were both filmmakers, and didn’t know much about business, so we recruited a high school friend of mine, Robert Kerr, a successful business man. Then we needed an engineer, so we brought in Bill Shaw, who had also been in our high school class and was a U of T grad. By then he was head of engineering for CCM and had co-invented the first hockey helmet. Although he had never been in a projection room Bill was a brilliant engineer – just the man to design a revolutionary projector."(UToronto)

Even though our first permanent theatre – at Ontario Place – was extremely popular, skeptical financiers pointed out that because admission to that theatre was free, we hadn’t yet proven that people would pay for the experience. We then built a theatre in the Smithsonian Institution that broke box office records, but next we were told that IMAX features would be impossible because nobody could stand the intensity of the medium for 90 minutes. In order to answer that, we made successful feature films on the Rolling Stones and the Titanic. theatres." (UToronto)

"The financiers were unconvinced; we still hadn’t demonstrated that IMAX was suitable for drama. The company then invented a method of converting Hollywood features, like Harry Potter, to the resolution demanded for IMAX, and that enabled the installation of many more theatres. However, it was only the enormous success of Avatar in IMAX 3D that finally silenced the doubters, and now a great many major features play in our theatres. All this took many years.”(U Toronto)

Biography of Roman Kroitor:

Mr. Roman Kroitor was born on December 12th, 1926 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. He passed away on September 16th, 2012.

Job = He was a filmmaker and a NFB Documentary producer.

Family = Roman is survived by his wife Janet and children Paul, Tanya, Lesia, Stephanie and Yvanna.

“Kroitor was a leading light in direct cinema and the new documentary approaches that would put the NFB and Canada at the forefront of a revolution in audiovisual storytelling, with works such as Paul Tomkowicz: Street-railway Switchman and the Candid Eyeseries.” (NFB)

Movies and Documentaries that Kroiter worked on/produced were:
- Bravery In The Field
- First Winter
- In The Labyrinth
- 21-87
- Nobody Waved Goodbye
- Universe
- Stravinsky
- Lonely Boy
- Glenn Gould – On And Off The Record
- Candid Eye Series
- Paul Tomcowicz: Street-railway Swithman Series

“Roman Kroitor was a remarkable man who has made out-sized contributions to cinema as a filmmaker, producer and creative and technical innovator. He was a legend whose relentless pace of inventiveness continued throughout a long and productive career. His death is a terrific loss to the NFB, Canada and the world of cinema,” said NFB head Tom Perlmutter.” (NFB)

“One of the key hurdles was the challenge of designing a transport mechanism through a projector for significantly larger-sized film (in order to match standard film speed of 24 frames per second, three times the length of film must move through an IMAX projector). To solve this, the team turned to Bob Kerr, who had worked for several years as an engineer with Ford Motor Company and, later, with CCM, a Canadian bicycle manufacturer, a bicycle being another device to which locomotion using chains and sprockets is central. The Japanese project turned out to be the launching pad for a commercially successful IMAX system.” (DWW)

“Shaw joined Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr in 1968 to design and develop the IMAX projection system. The engineer responsible for the development of the original system, Shaw also led the engineering team which subsequently developed IMAX Dome (OMNIMAX(R)), IMAX 3D, IMAX Solido(R), IMAX Magic Carpet(R) and IMAX HD. Shaw had a number of patents to his credit relating to the development of the rolling loop mechanism fundamental to the IMAX system as well as to subsequent developments for IMAX projectors,
cameras and peripherals.” (in70mm)

It is sad that these notable people who have contributed so much to today's society are hardly known. It was extremely difficult to find hardcore information about them, which was quite surprising and disappointing. If a person offers you something, it is only society's rule that you give something back to them. I felt that these significant people need to be recognized and honoured. I have learnt a lot about the people behind IMAX and its great credibility. I also learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes of the theater room. It was a great experience and I am glad you all were here to join me. Thank you.

[1] "Graeme Ferguson." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 5 May 2015. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/graeme-ferguson/

[2] "Greg MacGillivray Quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[3] "The Passing of Bill Shaw - IMAX Pioneer." The Passing of Bill Shaw - IMAX Pioneer. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[4] "Death of Roman Kroitor: Canada and the Film World Lose a Pioneer - NFB/blog." NFBblog. 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[5] "IMAX Systems Corporation." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[6] "Deeth Williams Wall." Deeth Williams Wall. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[7] "Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[8] "Meet Alumnus Graeme Ferguson, a Creator of IMAX." Meet Alumnus Graeme Ferguson, a Creator of IMAX. Web. 5 May 2015. .

[9] Web. 5 May 2015. .