Jack Beckett is one of the most respected names in the field of motion picture and television innovative technologies and production.
More than four decades ago Beckett’s lighting and camera systems designs became industry staples and lead to the formation of noted Hollywood companies like: Beckett Motion Picture equipment Company, Masterlite Cine rentals, Mobile production Systems, Inc. and the Vine Street Video Center. Beckett ran all of these companies successfully for many years and continues to act in an executive and advisory capacity to a number of high tech Hollywood Studio and broadcast entities.
Early in his career, Jack joined up with Bob Hope and was instrumental in the production of Hope’s famed Christmas with the troops TV specials for 6 years; Korea, Viet Nam, the Middle East, Europe, etc.
Returning full time to Hollywood, Beckett was hired on the prestigious position of Director of Photography on motion pictures or numerous studios including; “Metro Squad”, “Millennium Countdown”, “The Stepmother”, “Booby Trap”, “US Cowboy”, “Husbands”, “Legacy of Blood” “Super Carrier”, “Husbands”, “Vicious Harbor” and many more. His vast TV credits include: “Kids say the Darndest Things”, “March of Dimes”, “Hard Copy”, “Lohman and Barkley”, Danny Thomas, Bill Cosby, etc.
Beckett’s Vine Street Video Center pioneered new filming technologies. Together with Thom Keith in 1972, Beckett shot the first movie ever produced without film, “The Boob Tube”, which became a cult classic and set the stage for today’s digital movie making. Beckett currently holds a patent in digital imaging for an advanced digital cinema camera.
Beckett’s innovative style brought him scores of national commercial accounts including; Sparkletts, Plymouth, Xerox, Canes Coffee, Subaru, Hertz, Busch Beer, IBM, Ford, Clorox, DuPont, Bank of America and more.
Government accounts include: US Navy, US Air Force, Dept. of State “Head Start”, Dept. of Underwater Warfare and The Atomic Energy Commission.
Beckett continues to interface with numerous agencies in matters of video imaging, broadcast modalities and technical innovations. This includes: JPL, Lockheed Martin, Phillips Semiconductor, Honeywell and the European Southern Observatory.
MARTY STARK International Management Consultant E-Mail: starkconsultancy@aol.com
Marty was recruited, immediately out of law school, by Columbia Artists Management (CAMI), the world’s largest and oldest classical music, dance, and theater management firm. This nearly 80 year old firm can boast that is has managed the careers of some of the world’s foremost singers, pianists, instrumentalists, conductors, stage directors, chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras, classical dance companies, modern dance companies, ethnic dance companies, jazz ensembles and touring Broadway theater productions.
He began as a sales representative, selling CAMI’s artist roster throughout the western United States, booking their artists with opera companies, symphony orchestras, university concert series, oratorio societies, and private promoters. Two years later, CAMI moved Marty to New York City where he took over their bookings for the entire Midwest and central Canada, tripling the sales in this territory; within the next three years, he was promoted to sales manager and handled bookings for half the country, including Hawaii, and half of Canada. Seven years after hiring him, CAMI promoted Marty to Vice President of the corporation. He remained with CAMI an additional five years.
Desiring greater career challenges, Marty resigned his position at CAMI and immediately became Director of Corporate Affairs for Kolmar-Luth Entertainment and the Edgewood Agency. These joint companies managed pop and jazz artists and attractions and produced musicals and shows which appeared not only on Broadway, but also on nationwide tours.
After two years in this position, Marty left the entertainment business to become a Founder and President of Oryx Corporation, a trend setting company that designed and manufactured the world’s fastest supercomputer, one of only six such companies in the world. His company was the first high-tech company in the history of New York City. Through his ingenuity, he managed to attract the attention of Eastman Kodak, Martin Marietta Aerospace, and Grumman Aerospace, all whom became major supporters, investors and business partners. Concurrently, Marty was contacted by the mayor’s office to consult on a project luring high-tech firms into the city to bolster tax revenue and establish a tech savvy community within New York City. Marty’s efforts laid the foundation for the eventual creation of Silicon Alley, (a play on words for Silicon Valley), which still exists today.
Desiring to return to Los Angeles, he resigned his Presidency with Oryx and returned to L.A. creating a consulting practice which helped failing companies return to profitability. While working as an International Consultant, he began negotiating the selling of U.S. military jet aircraft engine components to friendly and State Department approved foreign governments. He was the middleman who negotiated the contracts between the U.S. manufacturers and the military within the eighteen foreign governments with which he dealt.
A few years ago, he purchased a failing retail operation, and in sixteen years, it enjoyed double digit sales increases each year. The business became rated amongst the top 300 centers, in sales, out of a total of 4500 centers in the U.S.
Marty was invited to become an Advisor to the Thornton Protégé Program at the Thornton School of Music at USC. The first program of its type, its intent is to expose and train music students on preparing for a professional career in music beyond the artistic considerations. Marty has also served on the Board of Trustees for Providence Holy Cross Hospital in the San Fernando Valley, in recognition of his business acumen. In addition, he was also a member of their Strategic Planning Committee to help raise funds for multi million dollar advanced equipment for the facility.
Marty’s current plans include being invited to be on the Board of Directors of “The Nations only Environmental Rental Car Company”. In business since December 1998, this “all green” company has already rented cars to 200,000 customers and has saved the U.S. economy 500,000 gallons of gasoline and has saved our environment from 1 million pounds of airborne pollutants normally associated with gasoline only vehicles. With seven locations at west coast airports already in place, the company plans to expand nationwide in dramatic fashion.
Marty has been honored and his biography appears in the following publications: Directory of Distinguished Americans; Men of Achievement; Who’s Who in Finance and Industry; Who’s Who in the World; Who’s Who in America; Who’s Who in the East; Who’s Who in the West; Who’s Who in California; Who’s Who Worldwide Registry; and Noted Personalities of the World.
In addition, two New York City newspapers featured articles detailing Marty’s accomplishments, while he resided and worked in the city.
