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Memorial for Ned Kopp
by Debbie Brubaker
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One of the Bay Area's premier assistant directors and production manager, Ned Kopp, hard at work. photo: courtesy N. Kopp ON TUESDAY, MAY 5th, 2020, NED KOPP,
a local producer, unit production manager and first assistant director, who also taught film production at San Jose State University, passed away at home after a battle with cancer.
He was 84 and is survived by his wife, Pat, daughter, Teri Anne, and son, Thomas.
A big bear of a guy with a bushy mustache and friendly manner, I got to know Ned in the late-1990s, and we became close friends.
Essentially Ned took me under his wing, had my back at every turn and was always a trustworthy and helpful guide. Indeed, he talked me into joining the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and shaped my career, earning my eternal gratitude as well as friendship.
We worked together on a number of projects and always had a blast, even—indeed, especially—on some tough shows when camaraderie and cooperation is crucial.
Ned was born Edward Kopp, Jr. on July 16th, 1935 and grew up in the Bay Area, attending the College of San Mateo and then SF State, where he graduated in 1962.
He found his way into the movie business as a camera assistant, which is the position he held on George Lucas’s first outing, “THX 1138”, in 1971.
Ned became a first assistant director and unit production manager, while still doing occasional camera assisting. He loved the movie business and, in 1973, founded his own piece of the pie, Ned Kopp and Company. His company served as a pass through for a number of projects, in addition to producing commercials and mentoring students.
Ned Kopp (right) with his student team at San Jose State University, 2009. photo: D. Blair Ned was also best known for working on many notable motion pictures, including as first assistant director on “American Graffiti” in 1972. If you have ever gone into a Mel’s Diner, there were wall murals featuring production photographs of the making of the film. Among them is a memorable one of Ned behind the bar, with some cast and crew.
Ned lamented on at least one occasion that he’d been offered points in the film in lieu of some pay. He took the pay and the rest is history.
Ned worked on many memorable pictures, such as “The Godfather” (1972), “Shoot the Moon” (1982), “The Black Stallion” (1979) and “The Black Stallion Returns” four years later. He was also the production supervisor on the Bond film “View to a Kill” (1985), which shot all over SF and produced a slew of interesting anecdotes.
"Everything was very first class," claimed Kopp, who hired the local crew, stunt people and caterers as well as arranged all the Bay Area locations, according to reporter G. Allen Johnson (SF Chronicle, 5/12/20).
"No yelling, no moaning or groaning or screaming. Everyone was very organized, very quiet, very matter of fact, whether it was a stunt scene involving car crashes or a dialogue scene."
"We shot 24 hours a day, the first unit shot during the day, and the second unit, which was most of the stunts—chase down Market Street, chase across the Lefty O'Doul Bridge—most of that happened at night… I'd take a nap during the day at various times.”
Then, when setting up for the fight between the stuntmen playing star Roger Moore and his nemesis (played by Christopher Walken) on the top of a tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, an equipment case fell down an elevator shaft. To get it back, a bridge worker had to be bribed.
"’There was an item in the petty cash for 'miscellaneous,' Kopp said. 'I later found out [it] was for a few cases of Heineken beer for the fellow who went down the shaft to get the case back.’"
In his later years Ned produced several indie features, notably “Swing” (2003), “Super Hero Party Clown” (2010) and “Brujo” (2019). Already in his late-70s, he production supervised the not-easy “Quest: The Truth Always Rises” (2017).
Ned was one of the founding members of the DGA’s San Francisco Coordinating Committee and an active member of the union.
Ned Kopp (center back) on the set of "American Graffiti', in 1973. photo: courtesy G. Lucas In addition to all his film and TV work, Ned taught part-time at San Jose State University, in their Film Production Department. He was easy going, a mentor to many, and accessible. Indeed, he was always happy to answer questions about “what to do?” when issues would arise for students and professionals alike.
In the summer, the school started running its own production company, South Bay Film Studios, which would shoot an entirely student-made feature, except with Ned as the line producer.
The films were so good their 2005 outing, “Drifting Elegant”, premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival, “GloryBoyDays” (2006) premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and they even got DVD distribution, with Cineplex and Cinematic Media buying films.
One of his best take-away mottos was, “If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.” He will be sorely missed. RIP Ned Kopp.
Debbie Brubaker is a Bay Area-based producer/unit production manager and member of the Directors Guild of America, who also teaches a class in the Cinema Dept. at City College of San Francisco, see her IMDb page or reach her .
Posted on May 14, 2020 - 09:07 PM
by Debbie Brubaker
Please support our stories by liking articles—thanks!
One of the Bay Area's premier assistant directors and production manager, Ned Kopp, hard at work. photo: courtesy N. Kopp a local producer, unit production manager and first assistant director, who also taught film production at San Jose State University, passed away at home after a battle with cancer.
He was 84 and is survived by his wife, Pat, daughter, Teri Anne, and son, Thomas.
A big bear of a guy with a bushy mustache and friendly manner, I got to know Ned in the late-1990s, and we became close friends.
Essentially Ned took me under his wing, had my back at every turn and was always a trustworthy and helpful guide. Indeed, he talked me into joining the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and shaped my career, earning my eternal gratitude as well as friendship.
We worked together on a number of projects and always had a blast, even—indeed, especially—on some tough shows when camaraderie and cooperation is crucial.
Ned was born Edward Kopp, Jr. on July 16th, 1935 and grew up in the Bay Area, attending the College of San Mateo and then SF State, where he graduated in 1962.
He found his way into the movie business as a camera assistant, which is the position he held on George Lucas’s first outing, “THX 1138”, in 1971.
Ned became a first assistant director and unit production manager, while still doing occasional camera assisting. He loved the movie business and, in 1973, founded his own piece of the pie, Ned Kopp and Company. His company served as a pass through for a number of projects, in addition to producing commercials and mentoring students.
Ned Kopp (right) with his student team at San Jose State University, 2009. photo: D. Blair Ned lamented on at least one occasion that he’d been offered points in the film in lieu of some pay. He took the pay and the rest is history.
Ned worked on many memorable pictures, such as “The Godfather” (1972), “Shoot the Moon” (1982), “The Black Stallion” (1979) and “The Black Stallion Returns” four years later. He was also the production supervisor on the Bond film “View to a Kill” (1985), which shot all over SF and produced a slew of interesting anecdotes.
"Everything was very first class," claimed Kopp, who hired the local crew, stunt people and caterers as well as arranged all the Bay Area locations, according to reporter G. Allen Johnson (SF Chronicle, 5/12/20).
"No yelling, no moaning or groaning or screaming. Everyone was very organized, very quiet, very matter of fact, whether it was a stunt scene involving car crashes or a dialogue scene."
"We shot 24 hours a day, the first unit shot during the day, and the second unit, which was most of the stunts—chase down Market Street, chase across the Lefty O'Doul Bridge—most of that happened at night… I'd take a nap during the day at various times.”
Then, when setting up for the fight between the stuntmen playing star Roger Moore and his nemesis (played by Christopher Walken) on the top of a tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, an equipment case fell down an elevator shaft. To get it back, a bridge worker had to be bribed.
"’There was an item in the petty cash for 'miscellaneous,' Kopp said. 'I later found out [it] was for a few cases of Heineken beer for the fellow who went down the shaft to get the case back.’"
In his later years Ned produced several indie features, notably “Swing” (2003), “Super Hero Party Clown” (2010) and “Brujo” (2019). Already in his late-70s, he production supervised the not-easy “Quest: The Truth Always Rises” (2017).
Ned was one of the founding members of the DGA’s San Francisco Coordinating Committee and an active member of the union.
Ned Kopp (center back) on the set of "American Graffiti', in 1973. photo: courtesy G. Lucas In the summer, the school started running its own production company, South Bay Film Studios, which would shoot an entirely student-made feature, except with Ned as the line producer.
The films were so good their 2005 outing, “Drifting Elegant”, premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival, “GloryBoyDays” (2006) premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and they even got DVD distribution, with Cineplex and Cinematic Media buying films.
One of his best take-away mottos was, “If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.” He will be sorely missed. RIP Ned Kopp.
Debbie Brubaker is a Bay Area-based producer/unit production manager and member of the Directors Guild of America, who also teaches a class in the Cinema Dept. at City College of San Francisco, see her IMDb page or reach her .
Posted on May 14, 2020 - 09:07 PM
