Dear Members and Friends,
Apologies I cannot attend the AGM this evening as I’m currently shooting away from home and we have a late finish tonight.
A big Thank you to our outgoing NSW committee. Thank you so much to Calvin Gardiner ACS in particular, who after many years serving on the NSW committee and also serving in the past as a NSW President has decided to step down from the committee.
A big welcome to our new committee. We have a lot to do and I look forward to working with you all:
President: Carolyn Constantine ACS
VPs; Velinda Wardell ACS and Kevin Hudson ACS
Secretary: Aleksei Vanamois
Treasurer: Sidat de Silva
Asst Treasurer: David Wakeley ACS
Committee Members; Sissy Reyes, Anna Howard ACS, Ben Allan ACS, Lizz Vernon, Simeon Bryan, Chris Bland ACS, Susan Lumsdon, Erika Addis, Andy Taylor ACS, Kathryn Millis ACS, Molly Sutherland and Matthew Ryan.
The ACS NSW branch currently has 688 active members with 66 new members in the last year. Breakdown of active members:
Accredited: 154
Full: 313
Active: 102
Associate: 64
Student: 30
CineKids: 6
Honorary: 19
Breakdown of new members;
Full: 25
Student: 18
Active: 16
Associate: 5
CineKids: 2
The NSW Branch would like to acknowledge the changing of the National President and give a heartfelt thank you to Ron Johanson OAM ACS and warmly welcome our new president Erika Addis.
The ACS is a voluntary organization, so the fantastic support from all our sponsors is invaluable. After a decade as our sponsors, we say goodbye and a huge thank you to our major NSW sponsor Rotorhead and Silver sponsor Adept Turnkey.
A huge welcome to our new major Platinum sponsor TDC and new Diamond Sponsor, Georges Cameras, your support of the ACS is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to all our valued continuing NSW sponsors, Gold sponsors: Cinoptix and Southern Cross Cameras and our Silver Sponsors, Macquarie Commercial Finance, Spectrum Films, Blue Post, AJK Grips and Film Graphics and welcome back PDV Digital. Please keep our sponsors in mind next time you require new pieces of equipment, rentals or services.
Our Drop Ins for 2021/22 have been a combination of webinars and in person gatherings returning in March this year. I thank all participants for sharing their experiences so generously, this really is what the ACS is all about. It’s great to be holding events back face to face. Here is a summary of all the fantastic events we have hosted this past year;
September – DOP, Earle Dresner ACS and steadicam operator, Simon Harding SOC talked about their work on the tv drama,“The Newsreader.”
Oct - Lachlan Milne ACS NZCS presented his work on the award winning feature film “Minari”
Nov - Josh Flavell ACS took us behind the shooting of the documentary “A Fire Inside”
Dec - We held our annual Xmas party at the spectacular Coal loader sponsored by ACS and ARRI Australia
Feb -Dale Bremner ACS spoke to Anna Howard ACS about his recent work overseas in Morocco, Cairo and Lebanon.
March - Tim Myers ACS, who spent the last few years posted in Washington and the US shooting international news showcased his work and experience.
April - Tania Lambert ACS took us behind the scenes on the powerful feature “Here Out West”.
May - We held a Special event with Sony and Lemac presenting the new Sony Venice 2.
May - Our May Drop In was a double bill with the HDR workshop outline along with guest DP Casmir Dickson, Director Storm Ashwood and Mark Naidoo from Creamsource Lighting showcasing the new Vortex4.
June - Liam Brennan talked through the tech and the creative planning behind his one shot mind bending piece work. We were also delighted to be joined by Pawel Achtel ACS who was the 2022 winner of the Bob Miller ACS Technical & Innovation Achievement Award.
July - Cinematographer, Mark Hobz presented a fascinating session on working overseas in Europe and the UAE.
August - Tonight we have our AGM and Pieter De Vries ACS demonstrating the new Aputure Lights at ACS HQ for use by members.
In March 2022 we held two online workshops tailored specifically for creatives in a freelance industry. The first, “Being Well” addressed mental health in a creative industry and the second,“Money Is Not a Dirty Word” addressed all things financial when working freelance, contract or in a small business.
Early in the year we held our HDR Test Day, organized by the ACS technical committee led by Tom Gleeson with guest DOP Toby Oliver ACS. The final film and findings will be presented at our September Drop In.
Our HDR Workshop:shoot to screen organised by the ACS & CSI was full to capacity. A big thank you to Ben Allan ACS CSI, Warren Eagles and all the sponsors for pulling the workshop weekend together.
NSW members have spoken on a variety of guild panels and industry panels including: International Womens Day 2022, Sydney Film Festival 2022 and Camera Image 2021.
Cinekids is gearing up again, thank you to David Lewis ACS for your years of leading this programme and welcome to our new Cinekids coordinator Elena de Brujne who will be holding her first workshop on Sept 25th 2022. Our past graduates have done really well, including a film in Cannes. We encourage members to encourage all aspiring young cines to join up.
Bus Stop Films have again brought their students to enjoy a tour of our HQ kindly hosted by David Lewis ACS and David Wakeley ACS.
A Wider Lens, a world first report on the Australian Camera Workforce commissioned by the ACS in partnership with Deakin University was recently launched at AFTRS on July 28th. This report belongs to all our members who so generously shared their stories and experiences. The report has already received much industry attention which the ACS will use to help create intiatives and reforms to improve our industry culture, diversity and sustainability.
NSW members enjoyed the hospitality of the SA branch at this years National Awards.
Congratulations to all our Gold Tripod winners and our new ACS Life Members which included NSW member and ACS ambassador, David Brill AM ACS and our NSW Vice President, Velinda Wardell ACS. Kim Batterham ACS was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Pawel Achtel ACS took out the Bob Miller- ACS Technical & Innovation Achievement Award.
The deadline for this years NSW ACS awards entry is next weekend August 21st. I’m delighted that this years NSW awards will be held face to face on Sat Nov 5th at The Art Gallery of NSW so save the date as we hope to see you there as it will be a wonderful night celebrating with friends and colleagues.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed this past year, its been another big one and I look forward to leading the NSW Branch as it continues to grow as we share our common passion for cinematography and a healthy, diverse and sustainable film industry.
