Jim Rodnunsky

James Lewis Rodnunsky (July 18, 1956 – June 10, 2011) was a Canadian-born technician, cinematographer, and inventor of the Cablecam system. Cablecam consists of cable-suspended, remote control cameras to film overhead shots. Rodnunsky's Cablecam is now widely used in sporting events, film and television.^[1][2] Rodnunsky's Cablecam is a direct competitor of the Skycam system, which was invented by Garrett Brown.^[1]

Rodnunsky was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.^[1] He moved to the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, as a teen with his parents.^[1] He earned bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After college, Rodnunsky further studied both filmmaking and acting.^[1]

Rodnunsky first used an early Cablecam prototype to film skiers in the Blackcomb Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, in 1989.^[1] Cablecam has since evolved into an "industry standard" for sporting events, according to Variety.

The operator of Cablecam used a joystick to move the camera approximately twelve feet above players at sporting events, such as football games, allowing the camera to film from nearly any angle needed by the director.^[1] Variety Magazine called Rodnunsky's Cablecam as one of the technological inventions which permanently changed television coverage of sports events, along instant replays and handheld cameras.^[1]

Rodnunsky won several Emmy Awards and three Academy Scientific and Technical Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during his career.^[1]

Jim Rodnunsky died from brain cancer on June 10, 2011, at the age of 54. A resident of Granada Hills, Los Angeles, he was survived by his wife, Lisa; three children - Tatiana, Daniel and Alexandra; and two brothers, Serge and Pierre.^[2]

• Jim Rodnunsky at IMDb