CineMontage

September 2014

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50 CINEMONTAGE / SEP-OCT 14 JAMES E. CHOICE III LAB FILM TECHNICIAN FORMER LOCAL 683 PRESIDENT AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 1947 – JUNE 11, 2014 James Edward Choice III was born on September 1, 1947 in Los Angeles to Josephine and James Choice II. He attended Hamilton United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, where he was actively involved in many areas of the ministry throughout his childhood and youth. As an adult, he attended Glory Christian Fellowship International, where he was actively involved in many areas of the ministry, including ordained staff minister and Director of the Marriage Ministry with his wife. He is a 1965 graduate of Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles and attended Cal State Los Angeles, where he became active in student government. Along with two other students, he successfully lobbied the Board of State College Trustees, the Department of Finance, state legislators and the governor for retention of the year-round quarter system throughout the California State Colleges. In 1975, James met his future wife Rebecca, and they were united in marriage in 1978. James' career as a film technician in the motion picture industry spanned 41 years. His employers included MGM, Warner Bros., Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) and Technicolor, from which he retired in January 2014. He was also a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). In 1972, he began his career in film as assistant to director, producer, writer and actor Melvin Van Peebles, in the movie titled Don't Play Us Cheap. This opportunity led to his employment in the motion picture film laboratories and, in 1973, he joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 683 (which merged into Local 700 in 2010). In 1977, he worked as a production assistant and actor in the movie titled Greased Lighting starring Richard Pryor, Pam Grier and Beau Bridges. In 1988, James was elected shop steward while employed by Consolidated Film Industries. In 1993, he was elected President of Local 683 and served two terms. He was the first African-American to serve in this position in the history of Local 683. In 1997, he was elected Business Representative of Local 683, again the first African-American to hold that position since the local's inception in 1929. While serving as Business Representative, he was also appointed as a Trustee on the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan Board by IATSE International President Thomas PASSAGES C. Short. As a member of the Board, James chaired the Finance Committee and co-chaired the Administrative Committee. James mentored and trained numerous newly employed lab technicians. He was a knowledgeable and skilled technician and was frequently consulted by colleagues to explain laboratory work procedures and Local 683 policies, as well as to interpret the union contract because of his in-depth knowledge regarding specific articles and terms. He also held 12 certifications in his job classification as motion picture film engineer. He was a gentle giant, a loyal and committed family man, employee, leader and friend. While employed by CFI and Technicolor, he made several recommendations to improve and enhance employee work conditions. Throughout his life, James had varied interests and hobbies. He liked classic automobiles and frequented classic car shows. He delighted in maintaining his own classic cars, which included a 1959 GMC pickup truck and a 1954 Cadillac. Some of his other hobbies were cycling, photography, woodwork, gourmet cooking and traveling to countries on both the African and European continents. James departed this life on June 11, 2014 in the home that he occupied with his wife and sons for the last 28 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Ishmael James Choice (2005). He leaves behind many who cherish his memory: his devoted wife of 36 years, Rebecca Choice; two children, Tambudzai Blake-Choice and Isaac Joseph Choice; grandson, Nwabudike Washington; two younger siblings, Kenneth Choice and Kathy Choice; three godsons, Desmond Thompson II, Malachi De Bose and Reginald Scott II; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of dear friends. Memorial services were held June 21 at Glory Christian Fellowship International in Carson, California. GARRET GILES GERLICH FILM EDITOR FEBRUARY 11, 1933 – JUNE 25, 2014 Garret "Gary" Gerlich, a film editor best known as a post- production executive at 20th Century Fox, United Artists, Columbia Pictures and MGM who worked in the industry for nearly 50 years, died June 25 at his home in Agua Dulce, California He was 81. Gerlich served as post- production supervisor at Columbia from 1965 to 1967, at National General Pictures from 1967 to 1969 and at Metromedia Producers Corp. from 1969 to 1974. He was vice president of post-production at United Artists from 1974-79, senior

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