National E-News November 2013

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In this Issue:

  • From The President
  • Sponsor Spotlight: Fujinon Cabrio Offer
  • ACS HQ Opening Hours and Attractions
  • "Inspiration" IMAGO Forum in Vienna
  • Shadowcatchers Christmas YO HO HO!
  • Postcard: Joel Froome
  • Milli Award Pins
  • ACS Laurels
  • ACS Sponsors
  • Film Review: Gravity
  • AFTRS: Sydney & Melbourne Dates for Friday on My Mind
  • Adobe Presents: Red Obsession
  • Camerimage 2013

From The President

Greeting ACS Colleagues,

Here we are in November, Melbourne Cup month and on the ACS calendar, our ACS Awards for Cinematography presentations, held on every Saturday until the end of November.

If you haven’t already booked, please do so to support the work of our cinematographers and as a thanks to all the dedicated committee members who work tirelessly to organise and stage these prestigious Awards presentations.

Simply click on the link for information re bookings:
State & Territory Awards Information

The ACS Awards for cinematography as we know them today, were the brainchild of our ACS Historian and Past Federal & State President; Ron Windon ACS. As a Society we are justifiably proud to have an Award system that continues to evolve and covers all fields of cinematography, from Student to Feature films, along with the work of all those fine cinematographers that specialise in many other forms of cinematography; Wildlife & Nature, Virtual Cinematography, Experimental & Specialised as an example.

The most outstanding cinematography of the year earns the ACS Milli Award along with the title Cinematographer of the Year, which is presented at the National Awards, but must first qualify as a Gold Award winner at our State and Territory Awards. These Awards are important and vital for the growth of not only the Society, but also those cinematographers who enter to have their work judged by their peers.

I wish all the entrants well and look forward to seeing you all there at the various presentations, so please BOOK NOW!

Guests of Honour include; Director – Gillian Armstrong AM, John Seale AM ACS ASC and Peter James ACS ASC

ADG Speaks openly about Respect

In a recent issue of IF ONLINE, Kingston Anderson the Executive Director of the ADG spoke openly about the topic of TV directors lacking respect, along with other topics to be discussed at the ADG Conference this month, many of which are of great interest to the ACS.

The Society is in total agreement with Kingston’s view and that of the ADG, and to that end I have included part of the IF article here:

TV Directors lament lack of respect

[Tue 22/10/2013]

By Don Groves

Australian TV drama is being widely hailed for its excellence but many Directors are being treated badly by networks and production companies, according to Australian Directors Guild executive director Kingston Anderson.

This is one of the key issues to be addressed at the ADG’s conference this month. Among other topics to be canvassed are the ADG’s fight to ensure Directors get a share of the copyright, and the need to train new directors in how to work with actors.

Anderson will moderate a plenary session with the provocative title “Do We Really Need Directors”? with Producer - Brian Rosen, Director - Michael Thornhill and transmedia Director - Michaela Ledwidge. Anderson tells IF. “Many TV directors are badly treated and that’s reflected in their pay and conditions.They have less time and money to make projects. The money is there: the number of Producers (per project) seems to go up exponentially.”

Anderson says there has been less recognition and support for Directors from Screen Australia, with a few exceptions such as the ADG/Screen Australia Director’s Attachment Scheme.

Another session, “The Morality of Rights- How well do you know your rights”, will feature Screenrights CEO Simon Lake, lawyer Greg Duffy and writer-director Murray Fahey.

“We are fighting for Directors’ copyright and are in discussions with SPAA,” says Anderson, who indicated this is an issue primarily for TV drama directors who tend to be guns-for-hire. He estimates only 50% of TV directors get a share of copyright.

Among other important Conference sessions is SEEING EYE TO EYE: The Director/Cinematographer Relationship. Cinematographers should understand and embrace the director’s vision, and use their visual talent and technical knowledge to capture that vision on screen. Panellists discuss the importance of collaboration to achieve their goals.
Moderator: Ray Argall
Panel: Rowan Woods, Martin McGrath ACS, Mark Wareham ACS

Here’s the link for more information:
ADG Conference Information

I live in constant hope that perhaps one day soon, the discussion regarding copyright and intellectual property rights for Cinematographers will be on the agenda. Even the basic respect be afforded to them, to enable cinematographers to grade the final image. Surely that can’t be too much to ask.

Until next time.
Ron Johanson ACS
National President

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: FUJINON CABRIO OFFER

ACS HQ Opening Hours

Just a reminder that there are no specified opening hours for the HQ, but our resident tenant Ashley Roan (God love him!) is there most days of the week Mon- Fri between 10.30am and 4.00pm to let you in.

On Saturdays and Sundays you will need to contact us on the numbers below.
HQ Manager - David Lewis ACS - Mobile: 0408273702
Asst HQ Manager - Anna Howard ACS - Mobile: 0419290065

ACS HQ Attractions

  • Meet fellow members for a chat in the very comfy surrounds of the lounge area.
  • Read a book in the very quiet reading room containing many books that have been donated by our members.
  • You can have a “Hands On” experience with the many cameras in the Archives, which has the feel of a Camera room and you will be surprised by the many cameras, donated and on loan that are available at your fingertips.
  • Play a movie on the “Big screen” utilizing the Sony digital projector and Panasonic surround sound in the theatre area. You can also bring your lap top and drives etc and play it on this excellent system.
  • Our high-powered Mac computer allows you to learn and practice your editing skills and download data cards etc.
  • A brand new Fujifilm XE1 Digital stills camera available to all members to use or try out while at HQ
  • Take the time to call in and utilise your ACS Headquarters, as it’s there for all ACS members and guests.

“INSPIRATION” - IMAGO IN VIENNA - 2013 by Dick Marks.

Russell Boyd ACS ASC, Peter Weir AM & Moderator; Dick Marks OAM

From Friday 18th October to Sunday the 20th, Vienna hosted the Imago Cinematographers Forum titled Inspiration. And what an inspiration it was. The theme for the Cinematographer/Director pairing was ‘collaboration’ and I believe that no two Australian film makers have consistently made better films together than Russell Boyd ACS ASC and Peter Weir OAM.

Peter and Russell chose to run clips from all six films that they have collaborated on. It was, for the audience and indeed myself, a riveting history lesson in Australian filmmaking. Not every day one gets to sit ringside on the making of wonderful films like Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli, The Last Wave, The Year of Living Dangerously, Master and Commander and The Way Back. Needless to say the audience response was very positive and extremely enthusiastic. I was surprised just how many Europeans were very familiar with their work. But they have always valued the still and moving image far more than we have and probably always will.

Both Russell and Peter were self-effacing and open and responded to every audience question with great honesty and humour. The audience loved them. It was a very accomplished line up. The event kicked off with Cinematographer John Toon NZCS ACS and partner Director Christine Jeffs, followed by Russell and Peter, then Michael Seresin BSC and Sir Alan Parker and finally Luca Bigazzi. So much experience and knowledge to share and no one held back. It was a great week-end.

Issue 61 of AC Magazine will carry an edited version of the Q&A with Russell and Peter and I’m sure that if you went to the Imago web site, very soon it will carry all the Q&A’s. Well worth watching, I can assure you. Sir Alan Parker was brilliant and very giving and well worth the admission price on his own.

My congratulations and sincere thanks go to the Imago Master class committee for inviting both the Australian and New Zealand participants, and to the ACS for playing such an important role in this IMAGO event. The ACS is proud of, and grateful for our association with this elite organisation.

“Hi Ron, I am very happy how the whole IMAGO Inspiration has turned out. We have had more then 120 participants from 20 different countries.
I have the feeling everybody had a good time which was the most important thing for me, and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback.”
Astrid Heubrandtner – Convenor and President AAC.

“Astrid said she had some great feedback from the participants about the whole experience. Alan Parker told some very funny anecdotes.
The audience had a broad range of questions to both directors and cinematographers”.
Russell Boyd ACS ASC.

“The OZ session was the best. I was worried we didn't have a lot to offer but we had great feedback that our films were "attainable", meaning they could see themselves actually shooting our kind of stuff. Russ and Peter are kind of stellar ... what a fabulous body of work”. John Toon ACS NZCS

Click on the links to see more: Imago News

The wonderful venue in Vienna with L-R on stage - Director; Christine Jeffs, John Toon ACS NZCS and Moderator; Richard Andry AFC

L-R; Michael Seresin BSC, Director – Sir Alan Parker and moderator

Peter Weir AM

Russell Boyd ACS ASC

Sir Alan Parker

Michael Seresin BSC

Director – Christine Jeffs

John Toon ACS NZCS

SHADOWCATCHERS CHRISTMAS – YO HO HO!!

It’s almost Christmas so as a special Christmas treat for ACS members, we are offering a Standard Edition copy of The Shadowcatchers along with an ACS Beanie in an ACS gift bag for $66.00. This would make an ideal gift for any member, sponsor or supporter. THIS CHRISTMAS OFFER CLOSES DECEMBER 20!!

Simply go to www.shadowcatchers.com.au

Nice looking Santa, who will happily sign your copy for you!

POSTCARD FROM NSW MEMBER JOEL FROOME IN SWEDEN

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 LAURELS

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 SPONSORS

The ACS has a fantastic roster of National and State & Territory sponsors, whose support and generosity is greatly appreciated. We welcome our new National Sponsor, Adobe and look forward to an ongoing collaboration with them, particularly in these rapidly evolving technological times.

ACS FILM REVIEW – “GRAVITY” by James Cunningham

Bullock and Clooney working things out!

There is nothing original about the simplicity of the ‘humans trapped in space’ movie - see John Sturges’ Marooned (1969) or Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 (1995) – however it is the numerous ground-breaking and cutting-edge technical elements which make up Gravity (2013) that not only make this film stand out from the pack, but also set the trend for the future of science fiction realism. Most of these elements are due to the vision of the film’s Director, Alfonso Cuaron, and the expertise of his five-time Academy Award nominated Cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki AMC ASC.
Gravity is Cuaron and Lubezki’s sixth cinematic collaboration together and their close working relationship is most evident here. Director James Cameron has gone on the record as calling Gravity “The best space film ever done”, and the filmmaker’s opinions aside, the reality is that the flawless technicality of the seventeen-minute opening shot is simply astounding… even to filmmakers. The crew developed a nine-by-fourteen foot ‘light box’ (nicknamed The Cage) which was lined by six huge panels composed of millions of LED lights that surrounded the actors. The actors (George Clooney, Sandra Bullock) were in turn held up by harnesses. Tracks were then built around The Cage where an automated vehicle containing the camera on an extendable remote control ‘arm’ would circumnavigate The Cage with the arm and it’s camera inserts itself into various moments. Wholly original, and refreshing in its boldness, in its outset the shot invokes the mood and sensation of an IMAX documentary. The shot isn’t long for the sake of showing-off. The camera immerses the audience into a space mission before disaster strikes - the camera then goes quickly from objective to an audience POV. The concept brilliantly puts the audience ‘in space’ as opposed to just watching the drama unfold.
This is a film made for the big screen; its dizzying yet delicate motion and sharp, perfect digital imaging come together to make Gravity a true ‘experience’. It’s unfortunate, however, that clunky dialogue, restrictive performances and an ambiguous, unnecessary hallucination scene support these visuals – however these components do not distract from the triumph of this film, and Gravity will remain to inspire young filmmakers and film students the way in which Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) inspired its own generation in the late 60s. One can only wonder what ‘giant leap’ will be next. Four-and-a-half stars.

SYDNEY: FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH! NEXT SESSION: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1

The final edition of Friday on My Mind, AFTRS' hour-long-free-talk with a leading screen arts practitioner wraps for the year on November 1. We will go out on a high with one of Australia's best filmmakers; the one and only Gillian Armstrong AM.

So on that note we do hope Friday on My Mind lovers, past and present, come along and soak up the mind food ...

Friday November 1: Australia's First Lady of Film - Gillian Armstrong
Gillian Armstrong first garnered attention for her debut feature My Brilliant Career (1979), adapted from the classic novel by Miles Franklin. At the film's release, Gillian held the distinction of being the first woman to direct a feature-length movie in Australia in almost 50 years. Her feature credits include: Star Struck, Mrs Soffel, High Tide, The Days of Chez Nous, Little Women, Oscar and Lucinda, Charlotte Gray, Unfolding Florence: The Many lives of Florence Broadhurst and Death Defying Acts. As a documentary filmmaker, Gillian has made a series of prolific films spanning 30 years following and recording the lives of Kerry, Diana and Josie (Love Lust and Lies). Gillian's films and documentaries have screened at numerous international film festivals including Berlin, Singapore, Sundance and Cannes. Her films have been nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Awards and received awards from the Australian Film Institute, the Film Critics Circle of Australia, the Houston Film Festival, Festival International de Creteil the US National Society of Film Critics, the British Critics Association and the British Academy. Gillian has received an AM for services to the Australian Film Industry, a Doctor of Letters from the University of NSW, an Honorary Doctorate in Film from Swinburne University and in 2008 the Women In Hollywood Icon Award in recognition of her contribution to the film industry. Gillian will share her thoughts on directing, working across the filmmaking landscape from documentaries to Hollywood productions and everything in between. Not to be missed.

• AFTRS Theatre 1
• 5:30pm sharp
• No need to RSVP. First in best dressed.
• Followed by light refreshments & mingling at 6:30pm

MELBOURNE: FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH! NEXT SESSION: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1

Friday November 1: Richard Keddie: Creative Producing in Australia

Producer, Richard Keddie has worked across feature film, television drama and documentary. His most recent feature film producing credit includes the musical comedy Goddess, staring Ronan Keating and Magda Szubanski. Prior to Goddess Richard produced a string of successful television dramas and features including Hawken (Richard Roxburgh, Rachael Blake, Asher Keddie) which won three AFI's including Best Telemovie/Mini-series and which critics described as, "The best Australian drama in a decade"; Little Fish (Cate Blanchett, Sam Neill & Hugo Weaving), winner of five AFI's & the IF Award for Highest Box Office in 2005 and Curtin (William McInnes, Noni Hazlehurst), which won the 2008 Logie for Best Television Drama. Richard has also written, produced and directed over 100 TV commercials including the WWF campaign to save the Great Barrier Reef in 2013; the South Australian campaign to save the Coorong and lower reaches of the Murray River and the influential Your Rights At Work Campaign for the ACTU. Richard will discuss what's involved in being a creative producer in film and television.

ACMI // 5:30PM NEW START TIME
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Hosted by: Sandra Sdraulig

FREE tickets for Friday on My Mind Melbourne can be picked up from the ACMI box office from 10:00 am each Friday. Places are limited: First in best dressed


ADOBE PRESENTS: RED OBSESSION

Presented by Adobe and in association with the ACS and Australian Screen Editors will be a screening of the documentary Red Obsession at 7pm on Wednesday November 6th at ACS HQ – Level 2, 26 Ridge St. North Sydney.
Chaired by Jon Barrie of Adobe Systems and ACS member Sidat de Silva, the screening of this highly acclaimed film will be followed by a Q&A with editor Paul Murphy and cinematographer Steve Arnold ACS.
To gain admission to this event an RSVP is essential and if for any reason you RSVP and subsequently can't attend please let Jon Barrie know so that others may take your place.
This promises to be a great evening - hope you can make it.
Click the link to RSVP.

RSVP - Red Obsession »

CAMERIMAGE 2013

The 21st EDITION OF CAMERIMAGE - THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY will take place from 16th - 23rd November 2013 once again in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
For more details click on tge link: http://www.camerimage.pl/?lang=en

ACS National Headquarters
Level 2, 26 Ridge Street,
North Sydney
NSW 2060
Ph: 02 8920 8535

HQ Manager: David Lewis ACS email
Assistant HQ Manager: Anna Howard ACS email

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