Edgar Lloyd Brokaw Jr.

Brokaw, Edgar Lloyd Jr.,
Professor Emeritus of the UCLA Film School, passed away peacefully in Santa Monica, December 9, at age eighty five. Born New York City, July 14, 1917, to Edgar Lloyd Brokaw and Edna MacDonald Brokaw, Ed's early interest was photography. Served WWII, Army Signal Corps, Burma; honorably discharged, 1945. Married to Beatrice B. Tenney from 1947 until her death after long illness in 1954. Brokaw received B.A. degree, UCLA Film School , 1952 ; faculty member from 1952-1954 and 1961-1988 . Colleagues consider him a major creative force in the formation of the UCLA Film School, known for technical expertise and advocacy of student rights; long recognized as one of UCLA Film School's most able teachers. Ed believed that to learn filmmaking, a student had to make films. He proposed the "project system" of teaching from which UCLA's great film school grew. Many of his former students, now working in film and television have reason to be very grateful for the wisdom he passed along. After his retirement in 1988, Ed continued to study film, believing it to be a form of poetry. He traveled extensively in Europe, serving as a guest lecturer at, British Film School, London, enjoyed the solitude of Switzerland. Brokaw was preceded in death by his parents, older sister, Marian Brokaw Benmore and niece, Soleil Benmore. He is survived by nephew, William C. Benmore, and great niece, Lisa M. Benmore.