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ACS South Australian Branch

[Kinemagraphe]

February 2021

 
From the Pres incl New Camera Night
Anifex Leaves the Building
Lighting Course Wrap Up
Our 80th Profile - Pete Hall
From the Pres

Apologies for the lateness of the February Newsletter but we've had a bit on recently.

As I mentioned in our last newsletter Anifex have sold their building in Kent Town after 27 years of operating their studio there.  On Tuesday Feb 23 they are having an auction of Scale Character Models, Sculptures, Miniatures, Armatures, Artwork, Props, Workshop, Tools, Office Furniture and much more. Why not check out some of the lots via this link.  If you are interested in bidding on anything you will need to Register with the auction company using the link on that page, bidding begins on Tuesday Feb 16.
 I take this opportunity to thank Michael & Richard for allowing the SA branch to have our monthly committee meetings at Anifex over many, many years, also for letting us hold numerous events there and for their continued valuable support as a SA branch sponsor.

On Tuesday night March 2 Daniel Charlton, from Gold Sponsor ProAV Solutions, will be presenting a New Camera Night so put the date in your diary. Some of the cameras to be presented include: Sony A7s MK3, Sony FX6, Canon C70 & Canon R5.  This will be a free event not to be missed. More details will come soon re venue, time, booking link, etc.

Our Lighting 101 course was sold out in a couple of days and it proved to be a great success, check out more about it in the next article, sorry to those who missed out.

COVID-19 willing the National Awards for Cinematography judging is happening here in Adelaide in the AMPCO theatrette on Feb 26, 27 & 28. I will be the Chair of Judges, National President Ron Johanson OAM ACS will judge and we are making up the rest of the panel as I write this. David Tang is looking after all things tech and Mylene and Mal looking after the rest of things. If you won Gold at the 2020 State Awards then you are automatically entered into this years National Awards for Cinematography, so good luck!
Wrap up of our Lighting Course


Geoffrey talks through table top set up watched on by Best Boy Dave Smith and some of the students and below Geoffrey discussing lighting cars using an Anifex miniature.

Our two day educational course on some of the complexities of lighting was held at the Anifex studio in Kent Town. Three time Milton Ingerson ACS Best Entry winner the very talented Geoffrey Hall ACS was our ain presenter.

Geoffrey was supported by other superb SA ACS committee  cinematographers including Maxx Corkindale, Michael Tessari & David Gregan as well as Gaffer Graeme Shelton, Best Boy Dave Smith, Key Grip John Smith, Assistant Grips Mike Smith and Justin Eckert. Thanks team, you did very well!

Camera & lenses were supplied by SA Gold Sponsor Picture Hire. Thanks to Mosaic AV with their assistance in supplying the large screen monitor.

We limited the course participants to a maximum of 12 so they could get the most information and interaction with the course presenters and we hired two actors so we could have them walk through set ups and stand in for different lighting set ups. It was really handy having some Anifex miniatures to demonstrate lighting including a miniature barn which was great for demonstrating moon lighting. 

Pix: Gaffer Graeme Shelton discusses the differences between different lights.

Here's some comments from a few of the course participants:

Thanks again for organising such an incredible event, I really learnt so much. It was very useful seeing how to light all different kinds of scenarios - a favourite of mine was how to light when the script says there’s no light! I look forward to attending more ACS events in the future. BT

An amazing opportunity to learn from cinematographers with a wealth of experience. I can't wait to apply the things I have learnt on my next shoot. AN

 
The lighting Masterclass with Geoffrey Hall ACS was fantastic. Over the course of the two days we covered many lighting setups and techniques, I personally learnt so much. For me, the highlight was the sim trav setup, It was awesome. Geoff’s knowledge of lighting and cinematography is incredibly vast and It was privilege to watch Geoff work and learn from him. MK

To Geoff and your team of DOP ‘s Maxx, Michael and Dave, thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a humble and open way with us all. It really felt like such a safe space to be able to ask questions and I’m so appreciative of the way in which you all gave us the advantage of your shared knowledge, IP and experience. It will go such a long way to informing me when I next go to line up a shot. MB


Maxx adjusts the angle of the bounce board whilst gaffer Graeme Shelton adjusts a backlight on our actress Shabana.

 
Profile Pete Hall

Hi Pete, tell me how did it come about that you ended up working in this industry?
I was always the creative type but didn’t fully realise it until I left High School.  This was such a waste because I thought art classes were a bludge!  Actually, I never took school seriously which to this day I regret. Eventually I worked out I’d better start applying myself so I studied Commercial Art (today’s Graphic Design), Photography, Advanced Photography, even Cartooning at one point, all after hours.  The plan was to work in an Ad Agency.

I really wasn’t enjoying my job at the time.  Dad pulled a few strings & got me a junior position within the company he worked at, the CMI/CMV Group.  I worked in Spare Parts, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, then Volvo Trucks!  A big contrast to this industry hey?!  My Mum’s partner was a TV Camera Tech at the ABC Adelaide.  He suggested I contact a company called Blackwell.  That later became Pro Image Studios. I applied & instantly got a job as a cameraman, bang!  At one point Pro Image employed over 50 people.  We covered lots of live sport, SANFL, Motoring Racing, Baseball, Soccer, & bloody Horse & Dog Racing!!  Thousands of races I filmed. For me the fun started when I got the opportunity to work in the studios, one big enough to shoot a bus, which we did!  We produced tons of TVC’s, Corporate Videos, even TV Show Pilots.  I learnt so much about single camera shooting & lighting.  I got a chance to work with some of the best guys around.  The pix is of Pete sitting on his wallet in his very early days at Pro Image.
 
Has anyone had an influence on your career?
Two people instantly come to mind, the first is Mark Evans.  As Pro Image was growing Mark was employed as a Director/DoP.  His influence on me was massive, he shaped the Cinematographer I’ve become there’s no doubt.  I worked with Mark closely for more than a decade.  I still recall moments he’d push for that perfect take.  He was very particular & very disciplined.  As we shot a lot of TVC’s timing was everything, ½ sec here, ½ sec there!  I remember him saying “we’re so close, just a Bee’s Whisker!”

This pix is Mark and I on set in the Pro Image studio when we both had more hair!

The second person influenced my career in a different way.  Aaron Gully was employed at Pro Image just two weeks before me, he was 18 & I was 20.  We became great mates & were 2 of the cameramen who were plucked from the pool to work in “production”.  We hung out camera assisting, painting studios, making props for big shoots etc.

Even back then he was so damn good, & that drove me to become better.  I hated coming second but I had to get used to it!  

What’s the best advice you ever received?
I don’t recall a single moment in time, there are many people in my life that contributed.

Hey Pete, I've still got heaps of questions to go so I'm going to put a link up to your full profile so our members can hear your whole story. Thanks for being our 80th SA member Profile.

Click here for Pete Hall's complete Profile.

ACS Facebook Group

 
All current financial ACS members can join our Facebook group. Members can post their work, connect across states, link to events, ask for advice, and put up equipment for sale, etc. To join, simply follow the link below and request to join, and one of your local committee members will approve your request. Of course, if you're not a member please don't apply as rejection is not really in our DNA.

Upcoming Dates


2021

February 26, 27 & 28 2021 National Awards judging in Adelaide
March 1 Committee Meeting
March 2 Pro AV Solutions New Camera Night
April 5 Committee Meeting
May 3 Committee Meeting

May 7 National AGM in ACT
May 1 The prestigious 50th National ACS Awards for Cinematography in ACT plus Meet the Nominees on Saturday morning
May 30 Membership Invoices
June 1 Membership fees Due
June 7 Committee Meeting
July 5 Committee Meeting
August 1 - 21 Awards Entry Window
August 16 SA AGM
September 1 Accreditation Window Opens
September 6 Committee Meeting
September 30 Accreditation Window Closes

South Australia Major Sponsor
South Australian Film Corporation logo

South Australia Gold Sponsors
AADC logo        AMPCO Studios logo        Kojo logo        Pro AV Solutions logo

South Australia Silver Sponsors
Anifex logo        Best FX logo        Digital Pigeon logo        Media Resource Centre logo        Picture Hire Australia logo

South Australia Bronze Sponsor
Websters logo

National Major Sponsor
Fujifilm Australia logo

National Platinum Sponsors
Black Magic Design logo        Canon logo        Panasonic logo        Panavision logo        Silver Track Digital logo
Sony logo        The Post Lounge logo

National Gold Sponsors
AFTRS logo        ARRI Australia logo        C R Kennedy logo        Kayell Australia logo        Leitz Cine Wetzlar logo
Lemac logo        Lighthouse Rentals logo        Miller Australia logo        Showreel Finder logo        SUNSTUDIOS logo
VA Hire logo        Well Above logo

National ACS CineKids Sponsor
Videocraft logo

National Bronze Sponsors
Blonde Robot logo        Camerahire logo        Dragon Image logo        RED logo        Rosco logo
Rotor Head logo        Sura logo        Vimo Cine logo

National Supporters
AACTA logo        Black Bishop logo        MPIBS logo        NFSA logo        Stage & Screen logo

                                                
South Australian Branch
Australian Cinematographers Society
PO Box 212, KENT TOWN, SA 5071

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