Ford Photomedia and The Twiggy

When it came to industrial video and film in the late 1970s, the Ford Photomedia Department, located in the basement of Word Headquarters, took the prize. The Detroit Producer's Association (DPA) ran an awards contest that was judged by our peers in the industry but from outside of Detroit. The Twiggy statues, as they were called, were our answer to Hollywood's Oscars. What made them special was that not that many were given out, only one for the best in each category, not one for every film or video that met minimum standards like some corporate or industrial contests.

One year, in an effort to show support for the industry, our manager, Wil Moellman decided that we should participate. He was also trying to elevate the department's statute within the corporation. So, in 1978 we began to compete. That first year we won four Twiggies. Will was so pleased he had this picture take of Bob Kreipke and I for our haul.

(L-R) Will Moellman (Mgr), congratulates Ford Producer-Directors Stan Williams,
and Bob Kreipke for their 1978 Detroit Academy of Video Communication
 Awards affectionally nicknamed THE TWIGGY

But Bob and I knew that we could not take all the credit. There was a team behind us all along each project's journey. The next year the department won five Twiggies, and many showed up for the  banquet. I think Bob and I each (again) won two, but for the picture we weren't allowed to hold more than one. Bob, gentleman that he was and still is, stepped out and took the picture below. Today, Bob is the Chief Historian for Ford Motor Company, even as he continues to produce award winning films.

(L-R) CHUCK ROSSIE, (writer); KATI FLYN (secretary); WIL MOELLMAN (manager); PAT TURNER (Bob Kreipke's coordinator and asst. producer), BILL RIGSTAD (section supervisor), LIN ALBERTSON (account representative); JIM MUNSIE (unit supervisor); STAN WILLIAMS (producer-director).  Not pictured but very much a part of the group (BOB KREIPKE (producer-director), AL MURDOCK (producer-director), BEN ADAMS (filmmaker), FRED STRICKLAND (writer), DICK GAMBLE (account representative). Also on staff were an excellent cache of engineers, technicians, camera operators, laboratory personnel, and of course, our clients who funded everything we did. 

Robert Kreipke, Ford Historian
and Filmmaker

We participated in the AVC awards for the next few years, and won our share of Twiggies, but I left in 1981 to start Full Circle Productions.

Here's a picture of Bob taken for his current position at Ford. So, serious and academic looking. He's actually a pretty funny guy and given to smiling a lot. But a great filmmaker he is.