From the National President
|
|
|
Greetings and salutations to members, friends and sponsors,
May has been a very busy month in the President’s calendar. It began with the amazing 53rd National Awards night, with a capacity crowd celebrating the winners and the historic occasion of Mandy Walker AM ACS ASC being the first woman to win the Features over $2m category and the Milli Award. My very warm thanks to all our sponsors for your unwavering support and to ACS NSW for staging a brilliant event that was magical.
The following weekend I was proud and privileged to attend the NZCS Awards as their Guest of Honour. As well as giving the keynote address, I met earlier with the NZCS management team and participated in a very rich roundtable discussion and shared ways that NZCS and ACS are working to address diversity in our screen industries.
And I was also delighted and proud to recently attend the ACS Tasmania event “Women Behind the Lens”. It was a very successful night showcasing the impressive array of talented women in cinematography in Tasmania. Well over forty industry members attended including loacl producers and Screen Tasmania reps. Huge thanks to Peter Curtis ACS and Lara van Raay for all their hard work to stage this important and historical event.
A quick reminder to be getting ready now to enter your work in the upcoming Branch Awards. Entries close on 21st August, and also, make a note now that Accreditation applications close on 21st September, as per the below item.
All the best everyone and I look forward to catching up with you soon.
Erika Addis
ACS National President
|
|
|
Around 280 Cinematographers, sponsors, partners and friends came together for the highlight of our Society’s annual national awards. Held at Luna Park in Sydney, underneath the Harbour Bridge and overlooking the Opera House, it was an iconic Sydney location.
|
|
|
|
Russell Boyd AO ACS ASC and Mandy Walker AM ACS ASC after Mandy won the Milli present by Russel. Photos by Mikayla Grosse
|
|
|
It was also the first time that a female – Mandy Walker AM ACS ASC – won the Milli for Australia’s Best Cinematographer for the year for her work on 'Elvis'. Proudy presented by the legendary Russell Boyd AO ACS ASC.
|
|
|
|
National President Erika Addis and NSW Branch President Carolyn Constantine ACS. Photos by Mikayla Grosse
|
|
|
It was also a great weekend of satellite events. The ACS Open House on Friday evening provided an informal get together and allowed members from across the country to visit our ACS HQ in North Sydney.
|
|
|
|
At the Rosco / Leitz drinks following 'The Gray Man' screening and Q&A: Kiran Menon and Mark Brennan from ARRI (left), Steve F. Windon ACS ASC, Andy Taylor ACS and Robb Shaw-Velzen ACS.
|
|
|
This was followed at AFTRS by the screening of ‘The Gray Man,’ presented by Panavision with a Q&A with Stephen F. Windon ACS ASC. Then, it was onto an informal drinks evening presented by Rosco / Leitz.
|
|
|
|
Meet the Nominee Panel: Joel Egan, Susan Stitt ACS, Julian Panetta, Mandy Walker AM ACS ASC, Moderator Kim Batterham ACS, Sissy Reyes, Scott McCracken, Aaron Smith ACS, Simon Manzie, Jim Frater ACS and Jake Frazer.
|
|
On Saturday morning, the annual Meet the Nominees presented by ARRI Australia was held with Kim Batterham ACS in conversation with a bunch of fellow member Cinematographers nominated for awards taking part.
After this, we had a presentation from Rosco about the RDX LABS product and its use in virtual production.
|
|
|
Membership Fees increasing
|
|
|
After three years of Membership fees being the same and a free year of membership in 2020 due to the pandemic, prices will increase slightly for this year. As well, a new fee structure will be introduced with the joining fee removed to encourage new members.
|
|
|
Get Ready for Accreditation
|
|
If you are thinking of applying for ACS Accreditation this year, please be aware that the window for 2023 opens for three weeks only on September 1 and closes September 21.
This is the time to prepare: your submission and pass it by an ACS Accredited member who has been through the process for their advice.
The process of gaining accreditation involves a panel of ten ACS Accredited Cinematographers, who work across as many genres as possible, gathered to assess the work. The submitted works of the applying cinematographers are screened and assessed before voting on each submission by secret ballot. To gain Accreditation a minimum of 8 of the panel of 10 must vote in the positive. It's tough, but you should get through if the work is considered a high enough standard.
Visit the ACS Accreditation page on our website so you make sure you qualify to apply and read the guidelines.
|
|
The Tasmanian Branch last week celebrated the skills and quality of our amazing female Cinematographers with a networking event connecting the ACS with industry leaders in Tasmania with ‘Women Behind the Lens.’
ACS National President Erika Addis and the legendary Sandi Sissel ASC giving keynote addresses on the valuable contribution everyone can make, no matter your gender. This was followed by 9 cinematographers showcasing the work they do.
Tasmanina committee member Lara van Raay came up with the idea of the event supported by Screen Tasmania.
|
|
|
The Return of the Three Amigos
|
|
|
Three legends of Australian Cinematography, but more importantly three great mates, were last seen in Los Angeles recently catching up: Steve Mason ACS ASC, Dean Semler AM ACS ASC and John Seale AM ACS ASC.
|
|
|
Congratulations to Mark Bliss ACK
|
|
|
Congratulations to ACS Member Mark Bliss ACK.
Mark was nominated for the Portuguese Academy Awards for the film Restos Do Vento for Best Cinematography. The film was nominated for 10 Sophia Awards - including a nomination for Best Cinematography.
Unfortunately, Mark didn't take home the win but a solid effort of Australians doing well all over the globe.
|
|
|
Overseas Based Member Survey
|
|
|
The ACS is surveying those members based outside of Australia on holding online meetings. A survey has been sent and is seeking your thoughts and opinions on how and when these should be held.
|
|
|
Connect and follow the ACS on Social Media
|
|
|
|
|
