|
Hey Ernie,
I just wanted to drop you and the ACS a line to say hello. Its been quite a while since I’ve been home. I’ve just wrapped on a very long and extremely cold shoot in Hungary, UK and France - an action film entitled SAS: RED NOTICE, starring Outlander’s brilliant Sam Heughan and the irrepressible and amazing Ruby Rose. Also starring is Andy Serkis and Tom Wilkinson.
We had our last shoot day overlooking the Eiffel Tower in the Shangri La Hotel in Paris..certainly a welcome bit of luxury after the icy slopes of Hungary (pictured above)
I hope these are busy times in SA!
All the best,
Nick
Don't forget to send us a postcard of what you have been shooting recently
Paul, when did you first become interested in the film industry & what was your first project?
I have always been interested in the film industry ever since I was small, pre-internet, mobile phone and closed captions era, I would enjoy immensely watching films especially at the cinema, and while watching them I would try and figure out how they made things in the films such as sets, props, models etc. I would try and reverse engineer in theory and in my mind how filmmakers made those scene creations. This is what excited and motivated me to attend college and study the arts later.
As technology developed and became more accessible, especially DSLRs, I bought a T2i for photography as a hobby and for personal development, this led me to discover further the capabilities of fully manual digital cameras and their potential in film making and cinematography, that was a big ‘wow’ for me and I was hooked, and I’m still there!
Film making, cinematography and lighting are huge subjects to learn and I’m still learning! I love it! I had made a personal first short film based on a poem with that T2i, and later attended a Screen and Media course creating a few more ‘first films’ but this time under industry standard practices taught by the course. My first professional job was working on ‘A Long Day’ as a small crew/camera assistant.
What did you do when you decide to further your career?
First I attended and completed the Advanced Diploma Screen and Media course at the Adelaide College of the Arts, became a member of the ACS, and did some on set work during and after the course, then eventually settling into and focusing more in the work roles of gaffers assistant and camera crew/camera assistant.
I currently remain flexible with my choices to work in these two roles which I feel is important at this stage in my career. I have undertaken camera crew work on a TV series as part of the South Australian Film Corporation attachment program, that was excellent!
Being based in Adelaide did you find it hard to get started in our industry?
Yes, not only as it is hard and competitive for everyone to get started and to get work in this industry, I am profoundly deaf and rely on visual rather than audio cues to be able to communicate and work effectively, that has its own set of numerous barriers to face and overcome, internally and externally.
I do not know of many other profoundly deaf people working as part of the mainstream film/TV industry, there may be a deaf cinematographer in the US. Indeed, I am very appreciative of the film industry opportunities that I have had and have. I think this is due to the very wonderful and supportive film industry community and family of South Australia, and Australia!
What has been your most interesting project so far?
The most interesting project I have worked on so far was working as part of the amazing Mark Wareham ACS’s camera crew team on the ‘Wanted Season 3’ production filmed around South Australia.
Tell us some of that challenges you faced doing that?
There were a number of challenges during the filming of ‘Wanted S3’ especially the moving around quickly from shot to shot and scene to scene, where I had to use visual cues as a whole and within my work role, with effective and clear communication among everyone to ensure that any work, within my role or otherwise is being carried out, completed, effectively and with foresight to ensure the whole production runs smoothly. And of course, there were the challenges of the weather, the wind and the rain! All in all, an amazing experience!
Your reputation for being enthusiastic at work in the industry is growing around town, so where you think your future lies?
I think my future lies in the visuals of film making, in the camera and/or lighting departments, pre-visualisation, all within the broad field that is cinematography.
And what is your next project?
The next project I am working on is a docutainment with 57 Films, SAFC and SBS.
What’s your favourite film, TV show, pet, food and place?
Ahaa that’s easy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977, dog, steak and the Australian Outback!
Thanks Paul, may I take this opportunity to complement you on your enthusiasm for all things camera. I know how regularly you attend our events, you are always a willing participant. Well done.
March 4 Committee Meeting
April 1 Committee Meeting
May 6 Committee Meeting
May 18 ACS National Awards for Cinematography in Melbourne
May 30 Send Membership Invoices & 2019 Sponsorship Proposals
June 1 Think about getting your Accreditation Submission together
June 3 Committee Meeting
June 30 Membership fees due
July 1 Committee Meeting
August 1 - 21 39th SA & WA Annual Awards for Cinematography entry window
August 12 SA AGM
August 30 - Sept 1 SA & WA Awards Judging
Sept 1 - 30 Accreditation Applications Window
September 2 Committee Meeting
September 6 Sponsors Deadline for Awards Assets
October 7 Committee Meeting
October 26 39th SA & WA Annual Awards for Cinematography
November 4 Committee Meeting
December 2 Committee Meeting
December 13 SA Branch Xmas Drinks
ACS Shop » |
Join the ACS SA Branch on Facebook » |
Join the ACS SA Branch on Facebook » |
Website Members Login » | |
http://www.facebook.com/austcine » |
© 2019 Australian Cinematographers Society
|