Awards wrap up
Lynne Ireland, Richard Back, Kym Mavromatis, Mario Andreacchio, Richard Chataway ACS, Carol Chataway, Michael Cusack, Gold Winner Randy Larcombe and lots of wine!
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What a great night seventy five of us had at the National Wine Centre Adelaide for our 38th Annual SA & WA ACS Awards for Cinematography.
We started with pre dinner drinks and canapes on the Terrace with wonderful live music from Brendan Williams. This was followed by a sumptuous three course dinner, drinks and the Awards presentation in the Vines Room. Great food and delicious wines from the Lane Vineyard.
There were some inspirational speeches from National President Ron Johanson OAM ACS and our Special Guest Jim Frater ACS.
Our MC Eddie Bannon was a hoot and he "impersonated" several award acceptance speeches which were played during the Awards Presentation.
Eddie "accepts" another of Sam King's 3 Gold Awards watched by himself, Ernie Clark ACS and Maxx Corkindale.
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All this was followed by an entertaining door prize draw with some fabulous prizes. I reckon they were rigged as I didn't win a thing!
The top gong went to Denson Baker ACS NZCS from WA. He received The Milton Ingerson Award for the Best Entry for Victoria: Series II "Comfort & Joy" Ep 9
The Cliff Ellis Award for the Camera Crew Member Showing the most Potential went to Thomas Smeets from SA for Dean Lewis: Chemicals
The MRC Student Prize went to Jack Davis from SA for Language
A pdf of all the winners is available via the link below.
If you wish to see pictures from the awards click the other link below.
Jim Frater ACS Screening and Q&A of The Heights
On the Friday night before the Awards our Special Guest Jim Frater ACS ran an informative and educational screening & Q&A on the series he has just finished shooting called The Heights.
He filmed 30 x 30 minute episodes in just 15 weeks shooting simultaneously with a minimum of four cameras and sometimes five!
Our audience of 22 members were hanging on every word as he went through in great detail how he planned to shoot the series, his planning with the Art Dept for built in practicals and the careful crew and equipment selection.
The shoot certainly had it's challenges but it looked amazing, particularly considering the extremely tight schedule and also considering that each camera operator had to keep the three other operators out of shot. The camera gear and many solutions were provided by Daniel Charlton from ProAV Solutions.
In no time, 2 and half hours had flown past, this was one of our better Q&A events. Many thanks to Jim Frater ACS and our Major Sponsor the SAFC.
The Dark Arts of Video Village & DIT + Demo of Red Gemini 5K Camera
If you wish to check out Picture Hire's latest offering of the amazing Red Gemini camera with a 5k sensor click the link above to the DIT event.
This is a good chance to be hands on with this incredible camera. So come and catch up with your peers and members can enjoy a free drink on the ACS.
See Ophelia shot by Milty Award winner Denson Baker ACS NZCS
Denson Baker ACS NZCS who recently received The Milton Ingerson Award for the Best Entry for Victoria: Series II "Comfort & Joy" has let us know that his next film is screening in Adelaide in the next couple of weeks.
OPHELIA is a film that he shot in the Czech Republic last year. It is the story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, told through Ophelia’s perspective. I know he's very proud of the cinematography in it.
It is screening at Palace Nova Prospect:
Monday Nov 5 @ 8:50pm
Thursday Nov 8 @ 1:30pm
Tuesday Nov 13 @ 6:30pm
It's also screening at Palace Nova Eastend:
Thursday Nov 8 @ 8:50pm
Wednesday Nov 14 @ 1:15pm
Check out the trailer via the link below.
Aaron Fiora Profile
Hi Aaron, when did you first hear about the ACS?
A few months ago while chatting with a friend in the industry. They thought it was odd that I had worked in film production as long as I had and hadn't joined yet!
What inspired you to join and what do you hope to get out of being involved in the ACS?
I thought it would be a good place to get to know more people in the industry and I'm always keen to learn new things. I saw that the ACS often has events aimed at teaching new skills and introducing different equipment so thought it would be a good way to further my knowledge.
Aaron the actor on set.
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When did you first become interested in our industry and what was your first job?
I actually started the other side of the camera as an actor and still work in those roles today whenever I can. Over the years that I was training as an actor I found myself spending more time in writing/directing/producing roles for my own projects and others. Some of my first roles were in student films and lot of low budget horror short films. I got killed on-screen in just about any way you can imagine! (Stabbed, shot, choked, gassed, and even had all my teeth removed in one film!)
What did you do when you decide to further your career?
From the age of 12 I knew I would end up in film or public speaking but it wasn't until I was maybe 20 that I decided to make it my full time career.
Being relatively new to the industry, in what department do you think your future lies?
I love cinematography and being behind the camera and I will continue to do this work for the foreseeable future. Over the long term though I will almost certainly end up as a writer/director and actor in comedy projects as that's what I do best.
What’s your favourite film, TV show and industry person?
Favourite Films: V for Vendetta, Thankyou for Smoking, Ace Ventura, Happy Gilmore
Favourite TV Shows: The Office (US, Seasons 3-7), Carnivale, Dexter (Seasons 1-4), Southpark (Seasons 5-9), Skins (season 1).
As for a favourite industry person, I don't really have one but if I had to choose I think it would be hard to deny the genius of Trey Parker.
What has been your most interesting or rewarding project so far?
I produced a comedy TV Pilot mockumentary set in an Aussie backpackers resort called 'Sunshine Backpackers' back in late 2013. It was probably the first time a large team has got together to create something I wrote/directed. It was a really weird but amazing feeling to see the words I wrote being performed by talented people.
Aaron & Chelsea in the Party Room set on Sunshine Backpackers
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Tell us some of that challenges you faced doing that?
Casting was difficult as I somehow didn't get the role I wrote for myself! Getting a meeting with networks was very difficult too, even with a very well prepared and professional production. It's still on the back-burner to this day ready to be reignited.
What’s your next project?
I haven't locked anything in yet, whatever I do will be much bigger than my last projects though. I'll either re-do Sunshine Backpackers and create an entire season, produce a documentary series with an Aussie-based theme, or possibly do a comedy feature. In the meantime I'm just hitting the ground running with clients' projects and short online content projects.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
I occasionally invent words, one or two seem to have caught on in the wider population!
Aaron lines up a shot.
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Have you had any crazy or awkward work days?
I had one really odd job in Germany where I was contracted to film a 'Plastic Surgery Addict' who was injecting a 1 million year old bacteria into himself in the hope that it may be the fountain of youth! Pretty much everything about that shoot was weird, but it was a great experience! I've also had a lot of weird auditions as an actor, particularly the low/no budget stuff back in the day!
What motivates you everyday?
I think life is too short and too precious to spend all your time doing something you don't love. I have worked a lot of jobs in many different industries but at the end of the day if you aren't doing something you enjoy then you are probably doing a disservice to the people who hired you and to yourself. Many people don't get a chance in life to 'have a go' so if you can manage it, I think whether you reach your goal or not, you've already won by giving it a shot.
Do you have any favourite inspirational quotes?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take” - Wayne Gretzky
“I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all out of gum” - Duke Nukem
And any favourite Movie quotes?
"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh, Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof” Hugo Weaving as 'V' in V for Vendetta
“If you were me then I'd be you, and I'd use your body to get to the top. You can't stop me no matter who you are” - Jim Carrey as Ace Ventura
Bradley Cooper whenever he says the name “Carl”. Don't know why but I find it hilarious.
Aaron filming the webseries Dating Beyond Borders in Germany
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Thanks Aaron, great to hear about your journey so far.
Upcoming dates
November 5 Committee Meeting
Nov 12 Video Village and DIT night with demo of Red Gemini Camera @ Anifex
December 3 Committee Meeting
December 10 SA Branch Xmas Drinks
February 4 Committee Meeting
May 18 ACS National Awards for Cinematography in Melbourne
Why not visit your National HQ
If you are in Sydney drop into our ACS HQ, Level 2, 26 Ridge Street, North Sydney. The NSW committee will do their best to open up for you, contact David Lewis ACS dlewis@cinematographer.net.au or 0408 273 702
ACS online shop open
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