Baylor University Professor to Receive Honor from Motion Picture Industry

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Dr. Michael Korpi, professor of film and digital media at Baylor University, has been named a Fellow in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

Korpi will be one of 13 individuals honored Thursday, Oct. 29, at the society's Annual Tech Conference & Expo in Hollywood.

"This is beyond what I ever thought would happen," Korpi said. "I'm not an engineer. Most of the people in the organization have engineering degrees. I've worked with technology and production and innovations with the new HDTV and editing on computers. I've been there on the edge doing that.

"But when you look at the list of people who are Fellows, it's hard to talk about without feeling unworthy," he said.

Among the first people to be honored by the society on its honor roll was inventor Thomas Alva Edison. The "Fellow" distinction is another way the society honors key individuals, said Dr. Corey Carbonara, Baylor University professor of film and digital media.

"This is a very prestigious honor because it's given to you by peers in your field," he said. "They look at what you've contributed to the industry over many years."

Korpi's achievement means Baylor now has two professors who are Fellows in the society. Carbonara was selected in 2007.

It is uncommon for Fellows to be named from universities, Carbonara said.

"We're honored by the tremendous recognition of Michael's stellar work," he said.

Korpi has been involved in producing, directing, shooting and editing films and documentaries on diverse topics, among them teen anger, automobile racing, famine in Haiti and reconstruction following the 1976 Guatemalan earthquake.

He is a member of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers and has done research on the consumer's media environment, especially in the home; video games, simulations and interactive media; and on human-computer interface in media production and post-production tools.

Korpi also has led seminars on the video game industry, media technology, cable television, Japanese animation and religious broadcasting.

He earned his master's degree and doctorate in broadcasting and film from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, and his bachelor's degree in English from Lynchburg Baptist College in Lynchburg, Va.

The society, founded in 1916, is the industry's leading nonprofit association providing technology education and information to the motion picture imaging industry.

Contact: Terry Goodrich, Assistant Director of Media Communications, (254) 710-3321