Ron Diamond
{{Short description|American film producer (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ron Diamond
| image = Ron Diamond (14773347685).jpg
| alt = Ron Diamond, animation producer
| caption = Ron Diamond speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|07|30}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, US
| other_names = Ronald J. Diamond
| occupation = Executive producer, film distributor, speaker
| known_for = Founder of Acme Filmworks
| notable_works = Curator and producer of the Animation Show of Shows; executive producer of Drew Carey's Green Screen Show
}}
Ronald J. Diamond (born July 30, 1958) is an American film producer from Los Angeles, CA. He is the founder of Acme Filmworks, the Animation Show of Shows and the co-founder of Animation World Network.{{Cite web|date=2015-06-09|title=Ron Diamond's Animation Show of Shows goes non-profit|url=https://www.skwigly.co.uk/ron-diamonds-animation-show-of-shows-goes-non-profit/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Skwigly Animation Magazine}}{{Cite web|title=Short Interview with Ron Diamond at the ASOS 17 Toronto Screening|url=https://www.canadiananimationblog.com/2016/01/short-interview-with-ron-diamond-at.html|access-date=2020-08-07}}{{Cite web|date=2020-01-22|title=Animation films are Diamond's best friend|url=https://www.timesheraldonline.com/animation-films-are-diamonds-best-friend|access-date=2020-08-15|website=Vallejo Times Herald}}
Diamond has lectured at animation schools, served as a juror and a guest speaker at film festivals. He has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Shorts Films and Feature Animation{{Cite web|date=2014-09-04|title=Acme Filmworks Collection|url=https://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/acme-filmworks-collection|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}} branch since 2002, and is a collaborator with the LA Opera creative team.{{Cite web|last=beacon|first=berkeley|date=12 December 2012|title=Interview with Ron Diamond|url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/curators-show-pushes-animation-to-prominence-oscars/?print=true|access-date=2020-08-16|website=berkeleybeacon.com}}{{Cite web|title=Artist Talk - Ron Diamond, Film Producer|url=https://pcad.edu/event/artist-talk-ron-diamond-film-producer/|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Pennsylvania College of Art & Design {{!}} PCA&D}}{{Cite web|title=Academy Award-Nominees for Best Animated Short Film Showcase and Reception {{!}} The Walt Disney Family Museum|url=https://www.waltdisney.org/education/special-events/academy-awardr-nominees-best-animated-short-film-showcase-and-reception|access-date=2020-08-07|website=www.waltdisney.org}}
Diamond has contributed to the restoration and preservation efforts of films that are in the permanent collections of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy Film Archive, UCLA Film and Television Archive and Library of Congress.{{Cite web|last=Flores|first=Terry|date=2015-06-09|title=Animation Show of Shows Shorts Compilation Goes Non-Profit|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/animation-show-of-shows-shorts-compilation-goes-non-profit-1201515617/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Variety}}
Early life and education
Diamond was born in Covina, California and was raised in Ontario, California. He studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees.{{Cite web|last=Duckett|first=Richard|title=Collection of animated films opens Cinema 320 spring series March 6 in Worcester|url=https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20180303/collection-of-animated-films-opens-cinema-320-spring-series-march-6-in-worcester|access-date=2020-09-07|website=telegram.com}}
Career
Ron Diamond has had two primary producing, distributing and curating careers in live-action film making (1980–1990), and in animation film production (1990–present). Diamond spent nine years producing live action films including, The Chocolate War and The Dark Backward before refocusing his career towards animation.{{Cite web|last=LA Times|date=1988-11-23|title=MOVIE REVIEW : Probing the Darkness in 'The Chocolate War'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-23-ca-242-story.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web|date=2019-01-30|title=Jan. 31 Arts and Entertainment Source: Empress presents 15 animated shorts, including Oscar-nominees|url=https://www.timesheraldonline.com/jan-31-arts-and-entertainment-source-empress-presents-15-animated-shorts-including-oscar-nominees|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Vallejo Times Herald}}
In 1983, Diamond's first professional producing credit for The Disney Channel was one episode of a series entitled, Future Tense, The Disney Showcase Series.{{Cite web |title=List of TV series aired on Disney Channel – Nickandmore! |url=https://www.nickandmore.com/kids-tv-history/list-of-series-aired-on-disney-channel/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |language=en-US}} It was composed of two original short films: one film written by Ed Bryant, Prairie Sun and Ron Clements, Solitaire Creature.
= Animation Show of Shows =
In the 1980s, Diamond produced and post-produced numerous compilations of short films for festivals such as: the International Tournées of Animation, The Animation Celebration. The Outrageous Animation Show, The Computer Animation Show, Streams of Consciousness: New American Animation, Liquid Television, The Oscar Showcase Tour, and Will Vinton's Festival of Claymation.{{Cite web|title=Second Animation Celebration: The Movie, The (1989) - Overview - TCM.com|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/442652/the-second-animation-celebration-the-movie|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Turner Classic Movies}}{{Cite web|last=Steinmetz|first=Johanna|title='THE SECOND ANIMATION CELEBRATION' A NEAT, TRITE PACKAGE|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-09-22-8901150131-story.html|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite web|date=2008-02-24|title=Red carpet for animators|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2008/02/24/red_carpet_for_animators.html|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Toronto Star}}
In 1998, Diamond founded the Animation Show of Shows (ASOS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit. He recognized an absence of animated short films in the theatrical circuit, "so he set out to curate a collection of new, significant, artistic, narrative and experimental animated shorts from those he had seen during the past year at major animation festivals."{{Cite web|last=Kaylor|first=Lisa|date=2019-09-11|title=Producer Ron Diamond brings his Animation Show of Shows to Lyceum Series|url=https://jagwire.augusta.edu/producer-ron-diamond-brings-his-animation-show-of-shows-to-lyceum-series/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Jagwire}}{{Cite web|last=Alston|first=Dana|title=The 18th Animation Show of Shows gives animators a chance at the spotlight|url=https://www.dailyemerald.com/arts-culture/the-18th-animation-show-of-shows-gives-animators-a-chance-at-the-spotlight/article_dfeeeb45-d659-5872-8ce8-841459797591.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Daily Emerald}}{{Cite web|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=2020-01-27|title=Animation Show Of Shows Heads to the Bay Area with Ron Diamond|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/animation-show-of-shows-heads-to-the-bay-area-with-ron-diamond/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Animation Magazine}}
Diamond has presented ASOS and his annual Oscar Showcase Tour to students and industry professionals alike at venues such as Harvard University, DreamWorks, Pixar, and the Walt Disney Family Museum. As of 2020, 41 films featured in the ASOS have gone on to receive Academy Award Nominations with 11 Oscar wins.{{Cite web|last=McLean|first=Tom|date=2015-06-10|title=Animation Show of Shows Goes Nonprofit|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/events/animation-show-of-shows-goes-nonprofit/|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Animation Magazine}}{{Cite web|last=Schindel|first=Daniel|date=2015-09-23|title=11 Reasons to See All 11 Shorts at the Animation Show of Shows|url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/11-reasons-to-see-all-11-shorts-at-the-animation-show-of-shows/|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Los Angeles Magazine}}{{Cite web|last=Harvard|title=Animation Show of Shows {{!}} Harvard Art Museums|url=https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/calendar/animation-show-of-shows|access-date=2020-08-08|website=www.harvardartmuseums.org}}{{Cite web|title=The 20th Annual Animation Show of Shows Returns with a New Crop of Gems|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/20th-annual-animation-show-shows-returns-new-crop-gems|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Animation World Network}}
= Acme Filmworks =
Diamond founded the commercial animation company Acme Filmworks in 1990. It has produced animated commercials for companies including: Levi's Jeans for Women, United Airlines, AT&T, Microsoft, Charmin, Ad Council and the Alzheimer's Association. Acme Filmworks has produced logos and main title sequences including: the Scott Free Productions logo, Universal Pictures' Robin Hood, Disney's The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, The Path, and Ken Follet's Pillars of The Earth.{{Cite web|title=Pillars of the Earth CASE – BrosFX {{!}} Animation Studio|url=http://brosfx.com/pillars-of-the-earth-case/|access-date=2020-08-08|language=pl-PL}}{{Cite web|title=Classic Spot of the Week: Trading Secrets|url=http://www.luerzersarchive.com/en/classic-spot-of-the-week/2019-39.html|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Luerzer's Archive - Advertising worldwide}}{{Cite web|title=The Ad Council Animates Real Stories in Artful Alzheimer's PSAs|url=http://musebycl.io/index.php/health/ad-council-animates-real-stories-artful-alzheimers-psas|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Muse by Clio}}{{Cite web|title=Adeevee {{!}} Only selected creativity - Agency Acme Filmworks, Hollywood, USA|url=https://www.adeevee.com/agencies/show/acme-filmworks-hollywood-usa/|access-date=2020-08-08|website=www.adeevee.com}}{{Cite web|title=A comic occasion|url=https://www.jpost.com/arts-and-culture/entertainment/a-comic-occasion|access-date=2020-08-09|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com}}{{Cite web|title=The Path Title Sequence – BrosFX {{!}} Animation Studio|url=http://brosfx.com/the-path-title-sequence/|access-date=2020-08-08|language=pl-PL}}
Through Acme, Diamond produced the Academy Award-nominated short film Nibbles, and the animated feature film for PBS' American Playhouse Drawn From Memory. He was also the executive producer of Drew Carey's Green Screen Show and has produced segments for the following Simpsons episodes: The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby, Orange Is the New Yellow, What to Expect When Bart's Expecting.{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Tony|date=1995-10-30|title=American Playhouse Drawn from Memory|url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/reviews/american-playhouse-drawn-from-memory-1200443249/|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Variety}}{{Cite web|last=Gallo|first=Phil|date=2004-10-06|title=Drew Carey's Green Screen Show|url=https://variety.com/2004/tv/reviews/drew-carey-s-green-screen-show-1200530482/|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Variety}}
As an executive producer through Acme, Diamond has been nominated for a BAFTA, an Emmy, and an Academy Award. He has won awards including a Clio and an Annie Award, and has earned Annecy honors.{{Cite web|title=2004 Film Short Animation Film {{!}} BAFTA Awards|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/film/short-animation-film|access-date=2020-08-18|website=awards.bafta.org}}{{Cite web|title=Interview - United Airlines|url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/interview-united-airlines|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Television Academy}}{{Cite web|title=47th Annual Annie Awards|url=http://annieawards.org/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=annieawards.org}}{{Cite web|title=Shoot - Annie award for Spanish lottery commercial|url=http://animationhome.net/blog/pt_press/1745/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=Yuval and Merav - Animation Home}}
= Animation World Network =
In 1995 Diamond partnered with Dan Sarto and founded the Animation World Network. AWN is an online magazine that covers animator profiles, film distribution, animation studio activities, licensing, CGI and other animation technologies, as well as current events in all fields of animation.
A year after Toy Story debuted, Sarto and Diamond produced their first issue.{{Cite web|title=Drawing 'Em In {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2008/sep/22/drawing-em-in/|access-date=2020-08-08|website=labusinessjournal.com|date=21 September 2008 }}
Film restoration
Diamond has contributed to film restoration and preservation through Acme Filmworks and the Animation Show of Shows.{{Cite web|title=National Film Preservation Foundation64 Films To Be Saved Through the NFPF's 2016 Preservation Grants|url=https://www.filmpreservation.org/blog/2016/5/18/64-films-to-be-saved-through-the-nfpf-s-2016-preservation-grants|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.filmpreservation.org}} Most of the films he's restored are at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy Film Archive, and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. The entire Acme Filmworks digital archive is at the Library of Congress.{{Cite web|date=2013-07-18|title=Cinelicious Provides 4K Restoration to the AMPAS Animation Showcase "The Giants First Steps" Curated By Acme Filmworks|url=https://www.studiodaily.com/2013/07/cinelicious-provides-4k-restoration-to-the-ampas-animation-showcase-the-giants-first-steps-curated-by-acme-filmworks/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Studio Daily}}{{Cite web|date=2017-06-13|title=Crowdfunding to Help Animated Short Movies to Reach Broader Audience|url=https://arikovani.com/blog/en/crowdfunding-to-help-animated-short-movies-to-reach-broader-audience/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Arıkovanı}}
Credits
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |
| colspan="3" |Feature productions |
|---|
| Title
!Type !Role |
| The Strange Case of Mr. Donnybrook's Boredom
|Short film |Post-production supervisor |
| Sorority House Massacre
|Feature film |Producer and unit production manager |
| The Chocolate War
|Feature film |Line producer and production manager |
| The Dark Backward
|Feature film |Producer and unit production manager |
| Robin Hood{{Cite web|title=Acme Filmworks|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b99f4e976|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123231800/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b99f4e976|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2020|access-date=2020-08-11|website=BFI}}
|Feature film, main titles |Producer |
| The Motel Life
|Feature film |Executive producer and special effects administrator |
Publications
- {{cite book|last=Diamond|first=Ronald|title=On Animation: The Director's Perspective, Volume 1|publisher=CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group|location=Boca Raton, FL|pages=|year=2019|isbn=9781138066533}}
- {{cite book|last=Diamond|first=Ronald|title=On Animation: The Director's Perspective, Volume 2|publisher=CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group|location=Boca Raton, FL|pages=|year=2019|isbn=9781138066564}}
- Diamond, Ronald (2007-2013). The Animation Show of Shows 9 DVD Boxed Sets, Volumes 1-54. Hollywood, CA: Acme Filmworks, Inc.
- Diamond, Ronald (2016-2019). The Annual Animation Show of Shows DVD compilations, Volumes 17- 20. Los Angeles, CA: Animation Show of Shows, Inc.
{{portal|Animation|Film|Companies|Greater Los Angeles|Arts|Cartoon|Visual arts}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|id=0DwbPx1NLHU|title=ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS (ft. Ron Diamond) {{!}} Film Threat Podcast Ep. 130}}
- {{YouTube|id=XRACzBQimQA|title=Oscar Showcase 2018 Hosted by Ron Diamond}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond, Ron}}
Category:Animators from California
Category:Film producers from Los Angeles