IN THE PIPELINE:

Several weeks ago I wrote about Robert Burks, the legendary director of photography who worked on all the greatest Hitchcock classics (among other films). Tragically, Burks and his wife, Elizabeth, lost their lives in a 1968 house fire and are laid to rest here in Huntington Beach. A day after the article ran, I received an e-mail from a granddaughter of the Burkses’ who lives in Fountain Valley. She wrote, in part: “I read your article titled ‘Dial “H” for Hitchcock’ in the Huntington Beach Independent. ...Thank you for your exceptionally kind praises for Robert Burks, I am his granddaughter. I am moved by your knowledge of where he and my grandmother are laid to rest, I have often wondered if anyone besides family knew who he was and all that he did. Honoring him by laying a bouquet at their gravesides brought tears to my eyes.”

She went on to tell me that her mom, Roberta (Elizabeth’s youngest daughter), also live in Fountain Valley and that her aunt, Carole, the oldest of their two children, lives in San Diego. Later that day, this note arrived from Carole.

“Robert Burks was my father,” she wrote. “My niece e-mailed me a copy of your article in the Huntington Beach Independent. I have to tell you it made me cry. I have my fathers’ Oscar and many pictures. …I have a lot of happy memories with my dad, and I had the pleasure of working with him on many occasions, as he would hire me to be a stand-in or extra for the length of his pictures. I was very young then but it was a blast to work with him. My favorite movie with him was not a Hitchcock film, but a musical that flopped called, ‘The Music Man.’ My dad developed the ‘iris’ that closed to a circle around the barber-shop quartet, etc. It was magical to watch Robert Preston in person while filming that movie. I never hear the song ‘’Til there was you’ without thinking of my dad. He was a pretty awesome guy.”

Soon after, I spoke with both Carole and her sister, Roberta. They told me all about how their folks lived and boated in Huntington Harbour (the tragic accident took place off Pacific Coast Highway near Pete’s Landing). They filled in a few more of the blanks and made me believe now more than ever that any up-and-coming film student in Huntington Beach would be well-served to study the work of their dad.

On the subject of filmmaking, Wendy Haase, director of public relations at the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Center, wanted me to make others aware of something pretty cool. The Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau is hosting a “See My HB” video and photo contest in conjunction with National Tourism Week, May 10-18.

Huntington Beach residents can “capture their H.B.” via photograph or video to show the world that Huntington Beach is the ideal place to visit. Entries will be accepted until April 30. The contest is only open to Huntington Beach residents. Prizes include gift certificates to area businesses and events. The winning videos will be shown on www.surfcityusa.com.

All photo entrants will receive a sling pack to carry photography gear with a Surf City USA logo, or fun essentials to the beach (approximate retail value is $15; limit one sling pack per entrant). The top photos will be displayed at the Huntington Beach Central Library during National Tourism Week, and winners will be honored at a reception during the week in conjunction with Surf City Nights May 13. National Tourism Week is an opportunity to celebrate the importance of tourism to the local economy and encourage residents to be tourists in their own town. For all other details, visit www.surfcityusa.com/seemyhb/.

I’ll have a video of my own up there soon. I will let you all know when it’s ready. Meantime, what are you waiting for? Start sending in those entries. Maybe the next Alfred Hitchcock or Robert Burks will emerge.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 10 books including the forthcoming “Huntington Beach – Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected].