Posted by Jenna Sieker in Ralph Winter Wins 2010 Spirit of Windrider Award
“Ralph Winter is the dean of hands-on producers in Hollywood. He serves the film, the studio and the stars in selfless ways. In an industry laden with rejection, Ralph consistently invests in the next generation.”
- Craig Detweiler, Director
The Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture
Pepperdine University
http://www.pepperdine.edu/emc
Ralph Winter
by John Priddy
On behalf of the selection committee, I am honored to announce that producer Ralph Winter has won the 2010 Spirit of Windrider award. He will be with us Jan. 30, 2010, at Windrider Forum in Park City, Utah, to receive it.
My personal connection to our honoree goes back a few years. I’d like to share it with you so you can get just a small glimpse of his amazing, generous spirit.
In 2002, while my brother Ed and I were launching our production company and finishing our first feature film, 39 Pounds of Love, Ed announced that he was heading to Vancouver, B.C., to spend time with Ralph Winter on the set of X2: X-Men United.
Ralph with Angelus filmmakers Svetzor Theatre Prague
Mutual friends had introduced Ed to Ralph, who agreed to host my brother on the set and spend time chatting about the industry. I couldn’t imagine someone at Ralph’s level so willingly carving time from an extraordinarily busy schedule — in the midst of a multimillion dollar film project — to hang out with a “fledgling” film producer like young Edward. But that’s exactly what he did.
Ed came back from the visit encouraged, motivated and a bit wiser for having spent quality time with such an accomplished producer. Ralph even screened 39 Pounds of Love and sent us an encouraging e-mail full of appreciation for the film.
Since then, I have run into more than a few people who have had experiences with Ralph that are similar to Ed’s. Repeatedly, this accomplished producer says yes and makes time, despite a hectic and pressured schedule, to mentor and dialogue with aspiring film folks.
It wasn’t very long after Ed’s visit with Ralph before I felt that I was the only one who hadn’t met the man, so I called him and asked if he would speak with me about the development of the Windrider Institute. He readily agreed, and we met at his office near Hollywood. The content of that meeting is so utterly top secret that I am not able to share it with you. … OK, he gave me advice and direction, and I asked him to join us for an upcoming Windrider event. He was just completing X-Men: The Last Stand on location, and was unable to join us. But last year, when we invited him to be our special guest at Windrider/Angelus in Prague, Czech Republic, he was willing and available.
Leading After the Storm Q&A at the American Embassy in Prague - Ralph with Hilla Medalia and John Priddy
The jointly organized seminars, master’s classes and screenings in Prague were centered on a timely, wonderful topic: “Cinema: Going Beyond the Barriers.” Ralph Winter was the perfect person to lead multiple panel discussions and Q&A sessions.
One highlight of the week was watching him teach a master’s film class at the National Academy of Film and Television (FAMU). He was joined by more than 150 film students and renowned directors Krzysztof Zanussi of Poland and Petr Zelenka of the Czech Republic.
But then, in Prague’s National Library before an audience of 400, Ralph made an indelible impression on me. Several Angelus films had screened (with Czech subtitles), and the filmmakers were heading to the stage for the Q&A. Angelus Director Monika Moreno realized there wasn’t an English-speaking moderator, and none of our Angelus filmmakers spoke Czech. Ralph calmly walked to the stage and sat with the Czech moderator … acting as a security blanket “just in case.” The Q&A went well, and Ralph was not really needed.
Then the Czech moderator (through an interpreter) asked Ralph if he would comment on each film and give his opinion about the writing, directing and so forth. My mouth opened … I muttered a few “inspiring” words, and waited with bated breath. Ralph had just seen these films for the first time, and had not been asked to prepare any comments. But my worrying was for nothing. He spoke effortlessly about each film with insight and eloquence. He called each one by its title and its filmmaker by his or her name, addressing to each an intimate, enthusiastic personalized message. They beamed!
Each of them — and all of us in that room — were “encouraged, motivated and a bit wiser” for having spent quality time with Ralph Winter. We know you will be too, so please join us Jan. 30, in Park City, for an unforgettable award ceremony.
“Taylor students have benefited greatly from Mr. Winter’s generosity. He spoke at the 2008 Heartland Film Festival Institute, encouraging our aspiring filmmakers and demonstrating genuine interest in the next generation of storytellers. We can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
- Kathy Bruner, Co-chair
Media Communication program
Ralph Winter Bio
Ralph teaching at FAMU-Czech National Film School
Ralph Winter is a successful movie producer who is has produced some of the largest tent pole movies for 20th Century Fox Studios in the last 10 years: four XMEN movies, two FANTASTIC FOUR movies, and Tim Burton’s PLANET OF THE APES. The latest of these is WOLVERINE: XMEN ORIGINS, which was released May 1, 2009. All of these movies have set box office records, and his cumulative career total is close to $2BB in world wide theatrical box office.
Currently Ralph has formed a new partnership, 1019 Pictures, with Terry Botwick, in order to raise a slate of $300MM to co-finance movies with the studios. With over 25 pictures on the slate, 1019 is currently in pre-production on an environmental documentary with activist Bjorn Lomborg, and Ondi Timoner directing (the only director to win the Govenor’s Sundance award twice). In active development: Paul Verhoven will be directing THE SURROGATE, and the thriller MAN AND WIFE. This project was selected by Peter Chernin to partner with Ralph, as Peter launches his new venture in Hollywood.
Other notable pictures in development are SCREWTAPE LETTERS, based on a best selling work by C. S. Lewis. SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME, from a NY Times best selling book, and FRANKENSTEIN, again based a the best selling book by Dean Koontz.
Before going to 20th Century Fox in 1999, Ralph executive produced INSPECTOR GADGET, for Walt Disney Pictures, a $100MM box office hit for that summer. Along with Tom Jacobson, he produced Disney’s remake of the 1949 RKO classic, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, directed by Ron Underwood (CITY SLICKERS). Additionally he produced the movie HACKERS for United Artists, directed by the critically acclaimed Ian Softley (BACKBEAT, K-PAX). He produced the ABC-TV series “High Incident” for Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks in ‘95-’96. This led to his directorial debut on the special Halloween episode, “Masquerade”. In the fall of ’96 he headed to Warner Brothers to work with director Sam Raimi. He has also produced an award winning short film entitled: OPIE GONE MAD that year.
Ralph produced STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, nominated for two Academy Awards and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, which was nominated for four Academy Awards.
Mr. Winter is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
Ralph with Wife Judy
Having met while attending Glendale High School together, Ralph and Judy Winter have been and continue to be an active part of the local community. As a RN, Judy works in several of the Glendale area schools and with at-risk students. She also volunteers at the local church working with college students. Their children are graduates of Whitworth College in Spokane; daughter Beth is married, living and working in La Canada, CA; son, Benjamin, also married, lives and works in Columbus, Ohio.
Ralph is one of the founders of the City of Angeles Film Festival, now in its 14th year, celebrating urban films that encourage theological dialogue. Ralph is also one of the founders of Reel Spirituality, an outgrowth of that film festival, and in conjunction with Fuller Seminary, provides an in depth conference each year on theology and the arts. Ralph also teaches for Act One, a ministry to developing Christians as writers and producers within the Hollywood community. Ralph is on the Board of Compass Arts, a small film school based in Grand Rapids, MI.
Ralph also sits on the Board of Advisors for Heartland Film Festival, co-chair of Biola University’s Studio Task Force, and the Board of the 168 Film Project. Ralph is a past member and Chairman of the Alex Regional Theatre Board, serving Glendale and the performing arts community.
Leading After the Storm Q&A at the American Embassy in Prague - Ralph with Hilla Medalia and John Priddy
“Ralph Winter has given so much to the next generation of aspiring filmmakers and has done it with absolute generosity. What a priveledge to have Ralph as our special guest for Windrider/Angelus in Prague 2008.”
- Mary Cass
Event Director, Windrider Europe
Co-Director, Cinema/TV at NetOne, the Focolare communications center
http://net-one.org/
