Engineer Bill Vinten OBE (1920 - 2015) was the son of William Vinten who founded the now world leading manufacturer of manual and robotic camera supports. Bill worked as a cinematographer during World War II with the Royal Navy Film Unit and following the war, he joined J. Arthur Rank’s Gate Studios before returning to the family firm.
Like his father, Bill was a keen inventor and he was responsible for designing the first camera pedestal that allowed a cameraman to track and jib simultaneously without losing sight of the viewfinder. He also designed the Vinten MKIII. Launched in 1958, it was the first pan and tilt head to meet the BBC’s specifications for manoeuvrability. Bill received the first annual award from the GTC in 1974, and also the 'Technical Achievement Award' from the Society of Camera Operators, for his work on the Fulmar pedestal.
Bill Vinten was a long time supporter of the GTC (Guild of Television Camera Professionals). His desire to encourage camera craft skills and young people in television led to the creation of the Bill Vinten GTC University Awards. These film Awards, originally sponsored by Vinten, a Vitec company, the GTC and the Television and Camera Craft Educational Trust, are now in their eighth year.
With high fees and unease about media-type degrees, potential students are becoming more and more discerning about their choice of university. The Bill Vinten GTC University Trophy represents a prestigious mark of quality and useful recruiting tool for the winning faculty, college or university.
Student finalists winning the Bill Vinten Award find the paid work experience provided by camera professionals invaluable, while any GTC member who volunteers to arrange the work experience will know that they are employing the very best of the future generation of camera professionals.
The winning faculty, college or university will be awarded the Bill Vinten University Trophy.
The winning student will receive work experience (subject to availability), paid with expenses, equivalent to £2,500.00, plus 1 year's Associate Membership of the GTC.
Two runners-up will receive work experience (subject to availability), paid with expenses, equivalent to £750.00 each, plus 1 year's associate membership of the GTC.