Jan Nickman
Encyclopedia
Jan Nickman is an American film and television director, producer, cinematographer and writer. As the co-founder of Miramar Images, Inc. and Sacred Earth Pictures, Nickman's career in film and television spans three decades. Known most notably for his films "The Mind's Eye" (Miramar Images, Inc., 1990), "Planetary Traveler" (Fox Lorber, 1997), and "Natural States" (Miramar Images, Inc., 1985), he is considered a computer generated imagery (CGI) pioneer and a master of long-form films that use music as the primary narrative. Nickman is the recipient of two Emmy Awards, and numerous other awards for both film and television productions.
Jan Nickman's career in film and television began as a studio camera person and editor with the ABC in Sydney, Australia. Upon returning to the U.S. and graduating with a degree in communications from Washington State University
, Nickman then produced and created stage and lighting designs for leading edge, live multi-media concerts combining rock bands with symphony orchestras along with his filmed images projected onto large screens above the performers. Most notably, "Leviticus" and "Trinity" performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. After directing and producing live productions, Nickman returned to television as a news photographer with NBC
affiliate KING T.V.
out of Seattle, Washington. He eventually became a senior producer and director in the production department and produced and directed the Emmy Award
winning television program "REV", an innovative rock and roll series featuring live music performances, music reviews and comedy sketches. The program was responsible for debuting many musical groups including Queensryche
and is commonly credited for catalyzing the Seattle music scene in the 1990s.
Nickman went on to co-found Miramar Images with the release of "Natural States" (1985) featuring the music of David Lanz
and Paul Speer
. The film was one of the largest selling, non-theatrical releases of its time and recognized as one of the top 10 videos by People Magazine. "Natural States" went double platinum
, selling more than 100,000 copies and launched the success of Miramar Images. Miramar then released two more of Nickman's films "Desert Vision", and "Canyon Dreams
" and earned Tangerine Dream
a Grammy nomination for their music score.
Nickman's film, "The Mind's Eye" was released in 1990 and was a double platinum
selling film considered to be a milestone in the field of computer animation
and reached #12 on Billboard's video hits chart
. Combining the artistry of numerous computer animators from around the world with a score by James Reynolds, "The Mind's Eye" is credited for giving rise to such films as "Toy Story
". Animation Magazine reviewer Karl Rathcke wrote the film was "... the type of audio-visual ‘head trip’ for the 90’s that Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey was for the 60’s.” Animation Magazine, Video Reviews, September/October 1991
Donald Liebenson of the Chicago Tribune
described Nickman's next release, "Planetary Traveler" as "boldly [going] where no computer animation video has gone before." At a time when computer animation (CGI) was created solely on dedicated computer graphics work stations, "Planetary Traveler" became the first original, full-length program ever created entirely on standard desk-top computers. The seminal work was the result of a two-year collaboration by Nickman with seven artists from five different states via the internet. Former Tangerine Dream
member Paul Haslinger
composed the music score. As a result, Nickman was invited to give the Keynote Address at the MacWorld Conference
in Düsseldorf, Germany in November 1997. The sequel to "Planetary Traveler" is titled "Infinity's Child" and was released by Sacred Earth Pictures in 2009.
Two of Nickman's most recent films, "Echoes of Creation" (Sacred Earth Pictures, 2010) and "Sacred Earth" (Sacred Earth Pictures, 2009) began airing on Public Television nationwide in 2010. Both films are true to his signature fusing of picture to music and were specifically designed as way for viewers to connect emotionally with the beauty of our planet, rather than intellectualize it through a discussion about it. Using music as the narrative, "Echoes of Creation" is a 40 minute journey through Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and as far south as California, featuring a soundtrack by Grammy nominated composer David Arkenstone
and spoken word by Karen Hutton. It's prequel "Sacred Earth" also follows Nickman's unique fusion of picture to music throughout the American Southwest, featuring music by Grammy nominated composer David Lanz
and spoken word by Academy Award winning actor Linda Hunt
.
Jan Nickman's career in film and television began as a studio camera person and editor with the ABC in Sydney, Australia. Upon returning to the U.S. and graduating with a degree in communications from Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, Nickman then produced and created stage and lighting designs for leading edge, live multi-media concerts combining rock bands with symphony orchestras along with his filmed images projected onto large screens above the performers. Most notably, "Leviticus" and "Trinity" performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. After directing and producing live productions, Nickman returned to television as a news photographer with NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate KING T.V.
KING-TV
KING-TV, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, affiliated with the NBC network. Owned by Belo Corporation, it broadcasts on UHF digital channel 48. Its offices and broadcasting center are located just east of Seattle Center...
out of Seattle, Washington. He eventually became a senior producer and director in the production department and produced and directed the Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winning television program "REV", an innovative rock and roll series featuring live music performances, music reviews and comedy sketches. The program was responsible for debuting many musical groups including Queensryche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
and is commonly credited for catalyzing the Seattle music scene in the 1990s.
Nickman went on to co-found Miramar Images with the release of "Natural States" (1985) featuring the music of David Lanz
David Lanz
David Lanz is a Grammy-nominated New Age pianist. His most popular album, Cristofori's Dream, topped the New Age charts in 1988, which was No. 1 on Billboard's first adult alternative/New Age chart for 27 weeks and eventually sold platinum. Natural States peaked at No...
and Paul Speer
Paul Speer
Paul Speer is a Grammy nominated guitarist, composer, and record producer. He has released several solo albums, music video albums, and collaborations with other artists such as pianist David Lanz, drummer Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche, UK musician Paul Lawler and French vocalist/musician...
. The film was one of the largest selling, non-theatrical releases of its time and recognized as one of the top 10 videos by People Magazine. "Natural States" went double platinum
Double Platinum
Double Platinum is a 1999 musical telefilm starring Diana Ross and Brandy.-Plot:The story begins with a scene featuring star singer Olivia King leaving her daughter Kayla, who was an infant at the time. It is revealed that Kayla was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but in her later years, she would move...
, selling more than 100,000 copies and launched the success of Miramar Images. Miramar then released two more of Nickman's films "Desert Vision", and "Canyon Dreams
Canyon Dreams
Canyon Dreams is an album by Tangerine Dream, recorded in 1987 and released in 1991 on Compact Disc and Compact Cassette. The music is written as a sound accompaniment for the different scenic video scenes about the Grand Canyon in the film "Canyon Dreams" by Jan Nickman released by Miramar...
" and earned Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
a Grammy nomination for their music score.
Nickman's film, "The Mind's Eye" was released in 1990 and was a double platinum
Double Platinum
Double Platinum is a 1999 musical telefilm starring Diana Ross and Brandy.-Plot:The story begins with a scene featuring star singer Olivia King leaving her daughter Kayla, who was an infant at the time. It is revealed that Kayla was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but in her later years, she would move...
selling film considered to be a milestone in the field of computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
and reached #12 on Billboard's video hits chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. Combining the artistry of numerous computer animators from around the world with a score by James Reynolds, "The Mind's Eye" is credited for giving rise to such films as "Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
". Animation Magazine reviewer Karl Rathcke wrote the film was "... the type of audio-visual ‘head trip’ for the 90’s that Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey was for the 60’s.” Animation Magazine, Video Reviews, September/October 1991
Donald Liebenson of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
described Nickman's next release, "Planetary Traveler" as "boldly [going] where no computer animation video has gone before." At a time when computer animation (CGI) was created solely on dedicated computer graphics work stations, "Planetary Traveler" became the first original, full-length program ever created entirely on standard desk-top computers. The seminal work was the result of a two-year collaboration by Nickman with seven artists from five different states via the internet. Former Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
member Paul Haslinger
Paul Haslinger
Paul Haslinger is an Austrian-born composer and musician currently based in Los Angeles, California.- Life and career :...
composed the music score. As a result, Nickman was invited to give the Keynote Address at the MacWorld Conference
Macworld Conference & Expo
Produced by Boston-based IDG World Expo, Macworld | iWorld is a trade-show with conference tracks dedicated to the Apple Macintosh platform. It is held annually in the United States, usually during the second week of January...
in Düsseldorf, Germany in November 1997. The sequel to "Planetary Traveler" is titled "Infinity's Child" and was released by Sacred Earth Pictures in 2009.
Two of Nickman's most recent films, "Echoes of Creation" (Sacred Earth Pictures, 2010) and "Sacred Earth" (Sacred Earth Pictures, 2009) began airing on Public Television nationwide in 2010. Both films are true to his signature fusing of picture to music and were specifically designed as way for viewers to connect emotionally with the beauty of our planet, rather than intellectualize it through a discussion about it. Using music as the narrative, "Echoes of Creation" is a 40 minute journey through Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and as far south as California, featuring a soundtrack by Grammy nominated composer David Arkenstone
David Arkenstone
David Arkenstone is an American New Age musician. His music is primarily instrumental, with occasional vocalizations. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 1, 1952. He has three children—Quillon, Dashiell and Valinor—with his first wife, Julie...
and spoken word by Karen Hutton. It's prequel "Sacred Earth" also follows Nickman's unique fusion of picture to music throughout the American Southwest, featuring music by Grammy nominated composer David Lanz
David Lanz
David Lanz is a Grammy-nominated New Age pianist. His most popular album, Cristofori's Dream, topped the New Age charts in 1988, which was No. 1 on Billboard's first adult alternative/New Age chart for 27 weeks and eventually sold platinum. Natural States peaked at No...
and spoken word by Academy Award winning actor Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt
Linda Hunt is an American film, stage and television actress. After making her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye , Hunt portrayed Billy Kwan, her breakthrough performance in The Year of Living Dangerously...
.