ACS Short Ends E-News - JULY 2013

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National Awards Partners

National Supporters

In This Issue

  • From the President
  • SMPTE 2013
  • Milli Award Pins
  • Sponsor Spotlight: Fujinon at SMPTE 2013
  • Film Review
  • On Location with David Williams
  • ACS Laurels
  • ACS Accreditation 2013
  • A Postcard from Bonnie Elliott
  • SA Branch Opens Exhibition at Adelaide Airport
  • Dual ACS/AACTA Member Offer
  • Welcome Back CML
  • VALE: Dennis O'Rourke
  • Geoff Boyle Workshops Gallery
  • AFTRS OPEN: Cinematography Courses
  • Fox Studios Now providing digital screens and drapes for hire
  • Invitation to IMAGO Inspiration
  • ACS National HQ Report

From the President

Greetings ACS colleagues,

Tax time yet again, and the end of an incredibly busy month for the Society, which saw the ACS National Awards for Cinematography in Canberra and the completion of the Geoff Boyle RAW Workshops in Perth. I was fortunate enough to attend the Perth workshops with around 40 other participants, and the feedback I had was nothing but positive. I want to thank all the host Branches for making the events such a success, and for giving the members and other industry participants the opportunity to hear Geoff speak and to share his vast knowledge first hand. A huge thanks to Alexis Castagna who accompanied Geoff to all but the Adelaide workshop for giving of his time so generously.

To all our event sponsors, whose contributions both financially and with equipment and logistics ensured the success of the workshops overall. It was certainly great to see them in attendance and their support of not only this, but the ACS in general is most appreciated.

Congratulations to incoming ASC President, Richard Crudo ASC and thanks to Past President, Stephen Lighthill ASC for his support and wise counsel over the past year. I wish Richard well in his role, which is his second as ASC President, and look forward to continued collaboration between our two Societies.

ACS NSW member John Ogden ACS has just released a fantastic book that I recommend to you all. It’s entitled “Slightly Dangerous” and is truly a fantastic read
that many of you will relate to, given the time period and the subject matter. I loved this book and just couldn’t put it down, and I’m certain it will have the same effect on you.

Click here to find out more about Slightly Dangerous: »

Until next time…
Ron Johanson ACS
National President

SMPTE 2013

Once again the ACS will play an active role at SMPTE 2013 hosting six sessions that are sure to be of interest to you all, and our industry colleagues.
Come along and support the ACS and our friends at SMPTE, there will be much to see and to do over the time of the SMPTE 2013 Event at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Come see us at Stand AH01!!

Wednesday, July 24 @ 9.30am
PANEL #1: What Rules – Creativity or Technology?

Why doesn’t the Cinematographer have ultimate control over what tools they use?

Wednesday, July 24 @ 11.00am
SCREENING Q&A #1: “Show me the Magic”

The life and career of legendary Australian cinematographer, Don McAlpine

Wednesday, July 24 @ 2.00pm
PANEL #2: The Future Vision

What’s next for Cinematographers today and for tomorrow, what changes are happening for students, entry level and established cinematographers when creating imagery for future generations. Is there enough “on set” training?

Thursday, July 25 @ 9.30am
WORKSHOP #1: Shooting DSLR & more…Be Brave and push the boundaries.

The DSLR revolution is challenging the way we shoot and operate. Form factor, camera weight and camera shape, camera cost have become a complex area. Which camera for which job, forget about the budget, how do I have the most flexible kit with out owning 4 camera's and 5 rigs. In a hands-on workshop Kim Batterham ACS will explore this maze and come up with some answers.

Thursday, July 25 @ 2.00pm
PANEL #5: Discussion from The Ladies Lounge

Open discussion amongst the leading Australian female cinematographers about the role of women in today’s film & television industry, and into the future.

Thursday July 25 @ 3.45pm
PANEL #6: FURY ROAD – THE DUST CLEARS

Cinematographers John Seale ACS ASC, David Burr ACS and Camera Department co-ordinator Michelle Pizanis talk about their collaboration on the new MAD MAX: FURY ROAD film.

For more detailed information regarding all the SMPTE activities, exhibitors and to book your places click here: »

MILLI AWARD PINS

At the recent National Awards it was announced that there is now a special Milli Award winners pin. So if you’ve been the recipient of the Milli please contact Ron Johanson ACS and we’ll send one to you.

ACS SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: FUJIFILM FOCUSES ON FUJINON LENSES AT SMPTE 2013

Something that will be of interest to all ACS members is that our Major National Sponsor Fujifilm Fujinon will be placing its focus on its ever-expanding range of Fujinon Cabrio and broadcast box lenses at this year’s SMPTE exhibition. (There will also be free barista coffee for ACS members on the Fujifilm stand but more of that later) The Fujinon PL 19-90 and 85-300 Cabrio lenses feature an exclusive detachable servo drive unit, making them suitable for use as a standard PL lens. The Cabrios also feature flange focal distance adjustment, macro function, and are LDS (Lens Data System) and /i metadata compatible. With 19-90mm and 85-300mm focal ranges and weighting only 2.7kg and 3.3kg respectively including servo motors, these lenses have the longest focal range available in lightweight zooms. The company will also be releasing its new 14-35mm wide angle Cabrio zoom lens, only just announced at this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. The new Premier PL 14-35mm Cabrio wide angle lens is the third lens in the expanding Cabrio range alongside the PL 19-90 and PL 85-300. Designed using the latest optical simulation technology, the PL 14-35mm wide angle Cabrio lens offers exceptional optical performance in the centre of the image as well as in the corners of the frame. The digital servo’s 16-bit encoding assures operators that all lens data output—such as the position of the zoom, iris, and focus—is extremely accurate and the lens supports Lens Data System (LDS) and / i metadata formats.

Keeping the NAB theme very much alive the company will also have a live demo of its Fujinon HK 18-85 4K premier zoom lens mounted on a Sony F65 4K camera, similar to the set up Claudio Miranda ASC used recently on the Tom Cruise sci-fi blockbuster Oblivion about which Miranda said, “For lenses, on exteriors we used Fujinon Premier zooms. They are ridiculously sharp. They’re sharper than our primes. A zoom sharper than a prime? That’s incredible. Those Premier zooms are expensive but worth it.” Finally, for those who were at the previous two SMPTE exhibitions Fujifilm will again have a classically trained Barista on its stand serving its clients with the best coffee at the show and in what can only be described as a masterstroke in generosity, ACS members can pick up a coffee voucher from the ACS stand and enjoy this coffee for free all week long.

So please support our ACS Major sponsor by visiting them on stand C23 at SMPTE 2013 from 23-26 July at the Darling Harbour Exhibition and Convention Centre, having a demonstration of their Cabrio lenses and of course enjoying a great coffee.

ACS FILM REVIEW: MAN OF STEEL (2013) – by James Cunningham

More science fiction that action adventure, this ambitious franchise reboot is slick to the point of near flawless in it’s visuals. The film does not disappoint in the way of spectacle, what it lacks however is a sense of romanticism.

Director Zack Snyder (300, The Watchmen) brings major elements of science fiction to this action/adventure film. Along with Iranian born DOP, Amir Mokri (Fast & Furious, The Wolverine) Snyder manages to pull off perfection with near seamless visuals. While the CG used for the action taking place in outer space is truly dazzling, it is Snyder’s clever use of angles and zoom which brings a welcome sense of ‘being there’ to the action, as oppose to simple observation. Not new, these techniques were deployed in The Dark Knight Rises (2013), the third installment of the trilogy directed by Man of Steel producer Chistopher Nolan. Most of Snyder and Mokri’s earth-based sequences resemble slick music videos and commercials, which sometimes brings a logic of distance to some of the films more violent moments. Each and every major sequence, and there are many in the film, is flawlessly planned, executed, and assembled. In praising the film technically, digital converts should take note with this visual and visceral feast shot entirely on a beautiful 35mm Kodak Vision stock (or 70mm DMR blow-up for IMAX). Film is still king, and this film is proof.

The films narrative is admirable, with back story and emotion battling the action for screen time. For those who remember Superman: The Movie (1978), the relationship between then Superman (Christopher Reeves) and Louis Lane (Margot Kidder) was delicate yet prominent, featuring beautiful moments of romance, comedy, and audience involvement. None of this exists between the two leads in Man of Steel. Louis Lane (Amy Adams) is near-pointless in character and cardboard-like in performance. Sadly for Adams it is only Lane character who embodies all of the bad genre stereotypes like “girl in trouble” or “wait, how did she get there so quick?”. The three C’s in the film (Cavill, Crowe, and Costner) bring to the film perfect realism in their performances, and a fittingly powerful score by now regular Nolan collaborator Hanz Zimmer provides an incredible harmony to the juxtaposition of the story.

Perhaps lacking a sense of history with it’s scarcity of references to earlier incantations of Superman, the film is forward thinking in it’s subtle references to an already confirmed sequel (look out for the LexCorp company logo). Impressive, energetic and cool, Man of Steel is a thoroughly entertaining roller-coaster ride that will leave you wanting more - and to borrow a tagline from 1978, you will believe a man can fly.

The verdict: 3 ¾ stars.

ON LOCATION

Picture courtesy John Stokes ACS

Seen in Northern New South Wales shooting US television series are new ACS member David Williamson and ACS Honorary member; Jack Thompson.

ACS LAURELS NOW AVAILABLE

If you’ve been successful at any of our ACS Awards from 2012 and you’d like a way to make people aware of it, we now have available our ACS Laurels. Contact Ron Johanson ACS with a formal request listing the Awards you’ve received and we’ll send them to you for your use. (NB: Examples above)

ACS Accreditation 2013

If you are considering applying for Accreditation this year, now is the time to get your submission together. The absolute deadline is August 30 and more information about Accreditation and submission guidelines are available on the ACS website. Click the link below, and contact either National President; Ron Johanson or your Branch President for an Accreditation application form.

Click to get info re applying for ACS accreditation »

A Postcard from Bonnie Elliott

Hi guys,
Just on my way home from Phnom Penh after wrapping up on movie called “The Last Reel.” It’s the debut feature of a Cambodian woman, Kulikar Sotho, who has previously worked as a line producer on Wish You Were Here and Tomb Raider, amongst other things.
She also has a tourism business - some of her tour guides came to work on the crew as it was off season so we had some very informative times in the mini bus on the way to set! The crew was mostly Cambodian, but with some Irish, English, Canadian, American and Australian imports in various roles. I was lucky enough to bring focus puller Gerard Maher over with me, who really did a sterling job under some tough conditions. May is the hottest time of year to film over there – just before the wet season – which well and truly arrived on our last day of shooting, the streets of Phnom Penh were suddenly small rivers!
My Cambodian lighting and grip team were lovely guys, and they worked very hard and sang karaoke very well on a Friday night! It has been an amazing adventure, full of chaos and fun, and some of the most beautiful locations I’ve ever filmed in – including the amazing Angkor Wat.
Look forward to catching up back in Australia sometime soon.
All the best,
Bonnie

Bonnie Elliott and crew in Cambodia, focus puller Gerard Maher standing behind Bonnie.

SA BRANCH OPENS EXHIBITION AT ADELAIDE AIRPORT

Ron, Allan Collins ACS and JoAnne Bouzianis–Sellick in front of their exhibited works.

The very popular ACS Exhibition; Directors of Photography – Personal Works opened at Adelaide airport and will be there for another month. Enjoy the works of several of our ACS members if you’re passing through Adelaide. See if you can find our National President’s mother.

Dual ACS/AACTA Member Offer

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) along with AACTA President, Geoffrey Rush, invites all ACS members to join AACTA - one of Australia's most prestigious film and television member bodies.

As a member of ACS, joining AACTA is simple and cost effective.

Your accreditation with ACS means that AACTA can automatically accredit you for AACTA membership, which eliminates the need to supply supporting documentation such as your filmography. You will also benefit from the discounted dual screen craft Guild/AACTA membership rate of $80.

Join by 30 June to enable a host of member benefits, including voting rights for the 3rd AACTA Awards, and to go into the draw to win two tickets to the 3rd AACTA Awards Ceremony & Official After Party. Five winners to be drawn.

Join now: www.aacta.org/membership/aacta-membership.aspx

WELCOME BACK CML

Copy any of the links below to enjoy highlights from CML kindly provided by WA member David Walpole. Thanks to CML founder Geoff Boyle for his support of the ACS and to David Walpole for compiling these articles for us.

http://www.cinematography.net/10_Books_Students_Should_Read.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/18_Pantone.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/1922_Kodak_Color_Motion_Picture_Film_Test.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Advice_For_Cleaning_Damaged_Film_Stems.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Antique_Orthochromatic_Look.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Cheap_Nightclub_Flash_Effect.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Creating_A_Visible_Shaft_of_Light_With_Limited_Resources.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Eyelines.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Track_With_Moving_Subject__How_To_Keep_It_Sharp.htm
http://www.cinematography.net/Macro_Moves.htm

VALE: Dennis O’Rourke - 14 August 1945 - 15 June 2013

The friends and colleagues of Dennis O’Rourke are deeply saddened by the death of one of the greatest documentary makers of his generation. Dennis died of cancer on June 15 in his home in Cairns surrounded by his partner Tracey Spring and his five children, Bill, Davy, Celia, Xavier and Sophie.

His unique cinematic style defied conventional narrative and notions of objective reality in pursuit of larger truths about the human condition. As an artist with exceptional vision, he was passionate, argumentative and courageous and his documentaries were provocative and often controversial.

Dennis was born in Brisbane in 1945. For most of his childhood, he lived in a small Queensland country town until he was sent to a Catholic boarding school for his secondary education. In the late 1960s, after two years of fruitless university studies, he went travelling in outback Australia, the Pacific Islands and South East Asia, working variously as a farm hand, station hand, seaman, and on oil rigs. He also taught himself photography and moved to Sydney with the dream of making documentary films, eventually becoming a cinematographer in the ABC.
From 1974 until 1979 he lived in Papua New Guinea, which was in the process of decolonisation, teaching documentary filmmaking skills to Papua New Guineans. In 1976 he completed his first film, the widely acclaimed Yumi Yet - Independence for Papua New Guinea.
Dennis shot, directed and in more recent times also recorded sound for his documentaries, achieving high technical standards with relatively simple equipment. Half Life, Yap: How Did You Know We’d Like TV, Shark Callers of Kontu, Cannibal Tours, The Good Woman of Bangkok, Cunnamulla, and Landmines: A Love Story are all imbued with exceptional insight, wry humour and a deep love of his subjects.

His films, especially The Good Woman of Bangkok and Cunnamulla generated huge discussion and are studied in film courses around the world. For Dennis, making documentary films was an intuitive process of discovery. He encouraged younger filmmakers to follow their own muses and resist pressure from television broadcasters looking for reality TV and other formats that he said had nothing to do with documentary or the pursuit of truth.

He was a man of great compassion and a deeply loving father who will be greatly missed by many.

by Stefan Moore, Ruth Cullen, Tracey Spring, Martha Ansara

GEOFF BOYLE WORKSHOP GALLERY

Melbourne full house at Swinburne Film School studio

Brisbane group watching on. Matt Cook incognito wearing nice glasses and Nick Paton ACS.

Sydney workshop at Sunstudios.

Is that an exposure meter, or are you just happy to see me?

NSW President, David Lewis ACS presents Geoff with Honorary membership to the Society. Nice jacket Spider!

Part of the large Sydney group at Sunstudios.

Alexis Castagna, Geoff’s new right hand man. Love the braces Alexis!

Then there was the Adelaide session at the Anifex Studio

The final Workshop was held in ABC Studios, Perth.

Perth workshop.

CINEMATOGRAPHY COURSES - AFTRS OPEN

Upcoming cinematography courses include: Data Wrangling On Set: File Based Cameras (20 July), Modern Cinematography with Ellery Ryan (7 - 8 Sept) and Camera Assistants Workshop (23 - 27 Sept). Discounts of 10% apply to all ACS members.

Data Wrangling On Set: File Based Cameras (20 July) http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/course/C540
Modern Cinematography (7 - 8 Sept) http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/course/C538
Camera Assistants Workshop (23 - 27 Sept) http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/course/C504

For details of all AFTRS Open courses visit the website: www.open.aftrs.edu.au

FOX STUDIOS NOW PROVIDING DIGITAL SCREENS & DRAPES FOR HIRE

Fox Textiles stock a wide range of products, including Digital and Veltex green and blue screens as well as black wool and velveteen drapes. Dutchmen are included on all green and blue screen hire.
20 x 20 and 12 x12 frames and outriggers are also available. Easy location for pick up for external jobs or if you are shooting at FOX STUDIOS, the screens will be delivered to your stage.

Contact: Joe Petty
joe.petty@foxaus.com
02 9383 4131
http://www.foxstudiosaustralia.com/

INVITATION: IMAGO Cinematographers Forum

An inspirational meeting and exchange of ideas and experiences
A 3-day forum aimed at professional cinematographers
Friday October 18th – Sunday October 20th, 2013 in Vienna

We are inviting 3 to 4 great cinematographers (some) together with the director, they share a long term collaboration with. Artists, who have shown such a degree of creativity and personal expression that we simply have to meet them, have a talk, and a chance to be mutually inspired.

“Inspiration” Cinematographers Forum will be structured like a dialogue between the guest speakers and the audience – with discussions, exchange of views and experience, and screening of clips from the guest’s films, giving them the opportunity to explain their artistic choices.
All based on the assumption that the cinematographic expression is the pivotal starting point.

The admission fee is 130 EUR.
Location: Metro Kino, Johannesgasse 4, 1040 Vienna Austria
Begin: Friday October 18th at 2 pm.
End: on Sunday October 20th at 4 pm.

Please apply online with the following link:
http://www.aacamera.org/J25/index.php/de/kontakt0/inspiration-2013-application

You will receive an answer with acceptance of attendance, your personal registration number, full information and details about travel, payment, alternative lodgings etc. Please note the final reservation will be definitely confirmed after receiving the full amount into the account.

We will offer a limited number of 10 free admissions for IMAGO members for cinematographers with little or no chance of obtaining support or grants to attend the IMAGO “Inspiration” Forum or who have to pay more than average travel costs. To apply for a free admission please send us a letter of recommendation from your national society of cinematographers.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Vienna,

The IMAGO Master Class Committee/AAC
Ines Carvahlo AIP/Astrid Heubrandtner, AAC /Ron Johanson ACS /Herman Verschuur, NSC /Jan Weincke, DFF
For futher questions please do not hesitate to contact us under inspiration2013@aacamera.org

ACS National Headquarters Report

Looking very smart in his new ACS hoodie is Allan Collins ACS. Good look Allan!! Hoodies are available from ACS HQ.

The month of June has been fairly quiet one for the HQ. Ian Nicholson has concluded his short film training classes and will resume them again throughout July. Piet De Vries continues his very successful classes as well as conducting some intensive testing on the Sony PMW F-55 camera. At the NSW branch “Drop In” National sponsor Videocraft and Avid presented their new editing program Avid Media Composer 7 to a very receptive audience.


Next month writer Alison Nancye will hold a night to promote her new book “Note to Self” on Tuesday 30 July. See www.facebook.com/austcine for more information

Catalyst on ABC on Thursday, 4th July

Mark Horstman meets cinematographer Pawel Achtel, who has combined lens technology with an innovative titanium housing to bring ultra high definition underwater images to the big screen…

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3791231.htm

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