Message from ACS Tas Branch President
Hello ACS Tasmania members and supporters. Wow - December is here and Christmas is fast approaching. It seems 2018 shot through in the blink of an eye! For many Tasmanian ACS members the summer is no time for rest and relaxation. There are many News, Sport and Cultural Events for us to capture, plus plenty of films and commercials to be shot over the warmer months when Tasmania is bustling with activity and visitors. Happy shooting to those who are pushing through!
Yours truly will be enjoying a family Christmas before getting stuck into the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race finale and then in February it's a quick trip south to Antarctica. Nothing's quite as bracing as a week in sub-zero conditions during the peak of summer!
2018 was a pretty good one for our small branch of the ACS. We've run a number of well-attended events this year with a great variety of presenters and themes. As usual, Tasmanian members also did well at National and State ACS Awards for cinematography, further enhancing our reputation for producing some stand-out cinematographers across many cinematic genres. Congrats to all our winners. In this edition we reflect on what's happened in 2018. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely Festive Season, spent with your nearest and dearest - Peter Curtis ACS.
PS: There is a Christmas Sale at the ACS Online shop. Check the link at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Tom Waugh with his Insta 360 Pro camera.
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In April, we ran a 360 degree workshop to learn about how to shoot for VR projects. Fraser Johnston, along with Tom Waugh, Gene Miller and Doug Broomhall shared the knowledge and showed examples of work they're doing in the 360/VR world. Members donned the VR Goggles and experienced three films Fraser shot using a 360 camera rig in the Tarkine Wilderness. Locations included 110m up a giant eucalyptus and in a bubbling stream with a giant freshwater crayfish!
Tom and Chris accepting the Award.
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In May, the National Awards were held in Brisbane. It was a particularly successful event for Tasmanian members. Highlights included Tom Waugh and Chris Fox from
Ignite Digi winning the prestigious Bob Miller Innovation & Technical Achievement Award for their design, development and manufacture of various specialised components - to enable quick changeover between shooting modes when using high-end production rigs. The boys continue to kick goals and their products are constantly being shipped all over the world in ever increasing numbers.
Josh Lamont at work.
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Also at the National Awards, Hobart-based cinematographer, producer and director Josh Lamont received the Award of Distinction in the Corporate and Educational Category for one of his beautifully shot Macq01 Hotel 'Stories Behind Stories'. Josh was only just pipped for the Gold Tripod by Oscar Award winning cinematographer Dion Beebe ACS ASC!
Craig Pennington at work in America.
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It was a similar story for Washington DC based ACS Tas member Craig Pennington who won the Award of Distinction in the prestigious Documentary category for
The Poachers Pipeline (see Dec 2017 Tas eNews for details). Craig surprised us all by flying in from Washington DC to attend the Awards ceremony in person. Craig also took the opportunity to head to his home town of Launceston in the days after the Awards to visit his family and catch up with old workmates from WIN TV.
Peter Nearhos ACS, Nick Heyward, Simon Plowright and Damon Heather>
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In June we met four of the camera team behind
David Attenborough's Tasmania documentary. Nick Heyward, Simon Plowright, Damon Heather and Peter Nearhros ACS. It was a great evening as we worked through the longer British version of the program and discussed the various sequences and shooting techniques with the people behind the lens. We gained an insight into the dedication, expertise and endurance behind the making of such high-end nature documentaries.
Laszlo Baranyai ACS HSC
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Next was an 'In conversation with' event with veteran Melbourne based DOP Laszlo Baranyai ACS HSC. Laszlo was in Tasmania shooting an Indigenous short film for a series to air on the ABC next year. Laszlo spent an evening with us showing excerpts from some of the highly regarded Australian films he's shot over the last 3 decades. Laszlo is incredibly thoughtful, articulate and honest. He tells it like it is and the members attending really got a personal feel into the way Laszlo goes about his work, how he approaches the art of cinematography and how he feels about the way our industry is evolving.
Bonnie Elliot ACS at the State Cinema in Hobart.
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In August, we had a wonderful day with Bonnie Elliott ACS in Hobart. It was an honour to meet such an accomplished and versatile cinematographer. Bonnie's friendly manner and great communication skills meant we all got a real insight into her approach to cinematography and learned so much. In the morning we screened Episode 1 of her highly acclaimed TV drama series
Seven Types of Ambiguity at the State Cinema and Bonnie discussed the challenges of shooting TV drama and creating visual themes for each episode.
Dorothy Hallam receiving Honorary ACS Membership with Bonnie Elliot ACS
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In the afternoon, Bonnie discussed her career, her approach to our craft and how she collaborates with crews and directors. We also had the privilege of seeing excerpts from various documentaries and dramas she's shot over the years. A bonus was having 93-year-old former ABC 'stringer' cinematographer (1961 - 1983), Dorothy Hallam, at Bonnie's afternoon session, held at Wide Angle Tasmania. Over 22 years Dorothy shot more than 170 film assignments, capturing life and events on the Tasman Penninsula for ABC News and Current Affairs. The perfect occasion to present her with an ACS Honorary membership!
Sean Dooley presenting at the ARRI Tech Night
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Josh Lamont shooting with the ARRI Alexa LF in Tasmania
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September saw a particularly big turnout for a tech night with Sean Dooley from ARRI Australia as he showcased the 6K
ARRI Alexa LF camera and ARRI Signature Prime Lenses. A special thanks to Joshua Lamont for hosting the night at his office and sharing some of the footage he'd shot with this state-of-the-art ARRI LF camera in the lead up to the event. The results were really impressive and it was amazing to see Tasmanian scenery shot in such high resolution.
Sean Dooley from ARRI with Josh Lamont and Tom Waugh
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There was also an Alexa Mini from
Ignite Digi plus Josh's ARRI Amira camera for us to play with, while catching up with colleagues and enjoying some of the hospitality laid on by ARRI and the ACS.
Sean ran us through the amazing history of the ARRI company and then screened some stunning vision captured in recent months around the world using the LF and Signature Primes. At around $35,000 per lens the full kit is going to set you back a bit, but WOW what incredible results!
Wide Angle Tasmania Hosting Septembers ACS Tas event with Frederique Olivier
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Over 40 people turned out for the next ACS presentation by Tasmanian-based adventure cinematographer Frederique Olivier, held at Wide Angle Tasmania in late September. Fred discussed the challenges of filming an Expedition as it traversed the Greenland icecap.
Frederique sharing a lighter moment as she discusses Expedition documentary cinematography.
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Frederique also talked us through another recent documentary she filmed on sustainable fishing in Vanuatu. Filming self-supported Expeditions necessitates lightweight equipment, plus dealing with stringent power, weight and time limitations. Fred's talk gave us a great insight into the challenges of working in these unusual environments, keeping gear safe and dry, how many batteries to take and what compromises you make on the technical side that can help you tell a better story.
Tom Waugh explains the rear mounted camera rig.
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As the days grew longer, ACS Tas dared to host an event outdoors. Of course it turned out to be a wild, wet and wintry day in early November as we fired up a BBQ at the Water Works. It didn't dampen the spirits of those who came along. A hot burger, snag or kebab, accompanied with a suitable beverage were at hand to warm us through. Tom Waugh from
Ignite-Digi brought along the new Sony Venice camera, complete with Angenieux EZ2 zoom lens. After lunch, Tom mounted the rig on the rear of Ignite-Digi's camera-car and we got to take turns remotely operating the Ronin 2 Gimbal system and lens functions from the back seat, as Tom drove us around the many winding corners in the foothills of Mount Wellington. It quickly became apparent why professionals like Tom and Chris are required to shoot quality coverage using such specialised camera rigs!
ACS Tas Members gather for a closer look.
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David Brill AM ACS with his Australian Media Hall of Fame Certificate.
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Also in November David Brill AM ACS was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame in recognition of a lifetime of bringing the world to our TV screens. David is well-known to most of us. He is a serial attendee at all ACS Tasmania events and is still very passionate about our craft. David has book-ended his illustrious international career at home in Tasmania. David first came to everyone's attention with his shocking but unforgettable coverage of the 1967 Bushfires around Hobart. He went on to cover events and conflicts around the world including the Vietnam War. There is barely a corner of the planet David hasn't visited and photographed - he is still going and we love him!
No doubt David was thrilled to receive this honour at the same time as another legendary Tasmanian cinematographer - the late Neil Davis, who's coverage of the Vietnam War was unsurpassed. Sadly Neil died in 1985 from shrapnel wounds when filming a coupe in Thailand in 1985.
Finally - 2018 has finished with some worthy recognition for Tasmanian ACS members at the Vic/Tas ACS Awards. Our winners were .....
Joe Shemesh in the Experimental and Specialised Category. Silver Award for
I go Further Under.
Josh Lamont in the Corporate and Educational category. Bronze Award for
Ride Tassies West Coast, PLUS a Silver Award in the Advertising - Local and Regional for
JMC - Start Your Search.
Jordan Young in the News - Local and National category. Silver Award for his Southern Cross News story
Hobart Floods
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Damon Heather in the Wildlife and Nature Category. Bronze Award for
David Attenborough's Tasmania.
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Pawel Achtel ACS in the Wildlife and Nature Category. Silver Award for
Ocean - Cradle of Life.
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Simon Riera NZSC in the Serial TV and Comedy Category. Gold Award for
Rosehaven Series II. Award collected by Peter Curtis ACS on Simons behalf.
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Is this the best gift idea ever?
ACS is offering a special sale on selected merchandise ahead of Christmas and Holiday celebrations. If you want to get that ACS T Shirt or Cap you've been thinking of, now is the best time.
Been stumped for a great gift idea for your crew? ACS Shop has some great choices. Our classic ACS Caps and T Shirts are always a winner. Or you could choose a Beanie and a Women's Vest.
And SAVE at the same time.
If you buy 2 or more of our selected products in a single transaction, you will get 25% off each item at the Checkout.
Our Sale Items are:
ACS Classic T Shirts
ACS Windon T Shirts
ACS CineKids T shirts
ACS Women's Vests
ACS Caps
ACS Beanies
Simply enter the code
25%SALE
at the checkout to receive your discount.
ACS brand merchandise is for sale at ACS Shop, 24/7. Conveniently search our range of products and buy items through our online shop with ease and security. Purchases can be shipped straight to your door or collected for free in person from South Melbourne.
Products include jackets, hoodies, caps, tees, beanies, coffee mugs, pens, note pads, publications and more. You can also order duplicates of your ACS awards. We aim to bring more products to the store in the future.
Shop in confidence, knowing that every cent of your purchase goes towards supporting our Society.
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