From the Pres
Well this is exciting, our 38th Annual SA & WA ACS Awards for Cinematography to be held at the National Wine Centre Adelaide are almost here, so book now!
We have pre dinner drinks and canapes on the Terrace with live music from Brendan Williams starting at 5pm.
Followed at 6pm by a sumptuous three course dinner, drinks and the Awards presentation in the Vines Room.
Our Special Guest is Jim Frater ACS and our MC is comedian and ABC film reviewer Eddie Bannon.
We have a special earlybird booking price of $110 inc GST, this special will cease at Close of Business October 8. The ticket price will then revert to the full price of $120 inc GST until CoB October 19.
So get in very soon, book for your Awards tickets via the link below.
We also have a screening and Q&A with our Special Guest Jim Frater ACS on the Friday night October 26 at the SAFC theatre.
6pm for 6:30 start, bookings essential via the screening link below. ACS members free, other Guilds $5, General Public $10. Entry includes a complimentary welcome drink.
Book for the Jim Frater ACS screening and Q&A via the other link below. Enter the SAFC via the rear doors.
Vale Ian Linton
Ian demonstrating a light at an ACS event.
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Sadly, long time SA branch member and industry stalwart, Ian Linton passed away well before his time just over a week ago.
Ian's own description of his experience included: Lighting Director, Gaffer, Grip, Rental Company - Psycholites - Cameras, Lights, Expendables, Panasonic, Rental, Sales, Service. Suppliers to the Photographic, Video, Film & TV Industries.
A very diverse and broad career!
Ian was a talented Head TV Lighting Director for many years, firstly at Channel 7 which later became Channel 10.
All this while he also ran his lighting sales and hire business Psycholites, most recently located in King Street, Norwood. Unfortunately Ian was in the middle of renovating his building by adding a second storey to it.
He has supplied heaps of gear, expert advice and service to so many in our industry. He helped so many as he knew so much about so much!
The Industry has lost a true bright light, he will be greatly missed by our SA ACS Members and our thoughts are with his Family and Friends at this time.
Friends of Ian are invited to attend his Funeral Service, which will be conducted on Wednesday, October 10, at 2pm in Christ Church, 62-72 Jeffcot St, Nth Adelaide.
Ian (at bottom left) posing with his team at our recent AGM in August.
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Recently SA ACS Member Chris Herzfeld sent me this:
"I first met Ian in the early 80’s when I had just taken over the lighting dept at ADS. Everybody told me that if you wanted an answer to a lighting equipment question ask Ian & if he didn’t know the answer there probably wasn’t one.
This began almost a 40 year association. As well as being a client of Pschyolites while I was the lighting director at ADS 7, I worked with Ian for 8 years at SAS 7 in the lighting department. After we both left full time employment in TV I freelanced for him on sporting OB’s. During this time if I needed an obscure question answered or to source the latest lighting gear Ian was the go to man.
Not only was his knowledge vast on a wide variety of lighting and lighting related topics but he also was more than happy to listen and share his knowledge. He also loved to talk .... and talk. When Ian rang you knew you should stop what you were doing because you were going to be on the phone for a while. You also knew that at the end of the conversation you’d have gained some new insight and enjoyed laughing along with a few ‘Ian-isms’. Somehow it always felt like a small victory if you managed to tell Ian something he didn’t know.
My lasting memory of Ian will be that off a genuine bloke, what you saw is what you got, someone who was very passionate about creating quality images through lighting. I know I'll miss Ian and the industry in Adelaide will be the poorer for not being able to call on his knowledge."
Following are some other brief messages I received:
I’m saddened by this news. It has only been a short while since we were playing putt putt golf together at our AGM. He has got me out of gear and lighting trouble many a time over the years. He will be sadly missed.
I just heard. I'm so sad to hear this terrible news.
This is shocking and very sad news about Ian.
From the very start of my film career, back in the early 80's, Ian had always been around to encourage, mentor and hire out gear. I learned a great deal from him along the way. And always enjoyed a happy chat at all the ACS events. He will be sorely missed by all.
This is very sad news, thanks for letting us know. He was a wonderful man.
May he Rest in Peace.
Profile David Hales
David Hales adjusts his lighting.
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David, please tell us a bit about your background and when you started in our industry.
My interest in the industry started at school. In 1975 they did not have media training in schools and no colour video cameras. In fact, they didn’t have any video cameras at all! So, the school stage was the next best thing. Lighting became my area of interest. I started my own business with my first job in TV. That was in 1983 when I did some freelance lighting work for Channel 7. I kept up the freelance work while continuing to build my own business and have been going for over 35 years.
What’s your favourite place to work?
My favourite place is Kangaroo Island. Anyone that follows me on Facebook knows it’s my second home. They don’t understand how I can always be over there but get my work done here. Efficiency guys, efficiency. You love it! You make it work!
How did you further your career in camerawork...?
I bought my own colour video camera (1983) to get things rolling and have not looked back. Working at SAS was great. I got to use all the broadcast gear. On weekends when I was there for news updates was the perfect time to gain experience with cameras. Upon leaving SAS7 in 2004 my entire focus shifted to furthering my own business interests in the field of video I have always kept in mind that the lighting skills have always been a key ingredient to my camera work. What is an image without light?
David shooting from the edge of the runway.
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What has been your most interesting project so far?
Working with aviation has always been a challenge. In my case, it’s an on-going project. Sometimes those aircraft don’t always go where you can get a good shot. So, I go where I can get the shot which is sometimes difficult to do with the aviation safety and security environment. I also like to get the best shot I can without being turned into mincemeat by a propeller. Safety is always the top concern and I find a constant argument going on inside as to how far to go to get that shot. This is a most interesting project as it is always changing. Not only the environment you shoot in but every day something different happens.
What are some of that challenges you deal with filming aviation stories?
Sometimes it’s not just a challenge of how to shoot, what lights and locations. One of the major obstacles in aviation photography is gaining security clearance to be where you need to be. As far as I know, I have the only ASIC (Aviation Security Identity Card) issued purely for media in Australia. Obtaining this was an extreme hurdle to be jumped as one usually cannot get these cards unless you are directly involved in aviation employment. I knew the legislation at the time and I got my ASIC. Like anything you do, persistence is the key. I still have it (ASIC) to this day, but no one will ever get one again due to legislation changes (probably because of me).
You are well known for shooting local projects, is that where you think your future lies?
I think my future is in smaller niche productions and my studio. I like to put my skills to work helping others to get their message across. Story telling with video is my future. Also, my work with aviation is one of my greatest loves and I am sure that will also be strong in the time ahead.
Some of David's impressive gear.
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Tell us about your studio setup and what you do there.
One of my life long dreams was to have my own studio. In 2010, I purpose built a 6m x 6m garage on my property to bring this dream to reality. It is insulated and lined, air conditioned and sound resistant from the outside. I had a list of ideas which I wanted to bring into being for the studio. Lighting was the primary requirement, so, I installed a fixed grid and started acquiring lighting fixtures to populate the studio. Of course, you then need dimmers to control them and so they were installed, and it just kept going from there. One seems to keep acquiring things as they are needed. A lot of the work in the studio is green screen for our own productions. We’ve shot a few commercials in there and have made multitudes of web videos. External photographers and videographers hire the studio for their own work.
What are you currently focusing on?
Currently, I am working on a new project with Graeme Goodings called Biz Adelaide. The concept is to promote South Australian business by visiting a business and telling their story rather than producing a commercial. People love to tell their stories and put them in front of a camera and you get some great material. Meeting the people involved and challenging shooting environments keep me on my toes.
One of my personal projects is to produce and film aviation history by talking to the characters and personalities in a show to be called Aviation Legends. There are many local aviation stories that need to be recorded now before the people are out of the industry or no longer with us and I wish to document these people for future history.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
I love to collect gear/kit. One of my friends says I have G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) but hey I love it and usually they are things that enhance what I do by having the tools available to do the job required. I’ve collected enough over the years to not only fully equip my studio but a Mobile Media Unit as well. Just acquire gear steadily over time and you won’t bust the bank. In the end you’ll have all the tools you need. Plus, if you need something new you can get it.
Upcoming dates
October 2 Committee Meeting
October 1 - 8 $110 inc GST Earlybird Bookings for 38th SA & WA Awards for Cinematography
October 9 - 19 $120 inc GST Full price bookings for 38th SA & WA Awards for Cinematography
October 12 & 13 Accreditation Assesments
October 14 National OGM
October 19 38th Awards Bookings close CoB
October 26 Screening & Q&A @ SAFC with Jim Frater ACS
October 27 38th SA & WA Annual Awards for Cinematography
November 5 Committee Meeting
December 3 Committee Meeting
December 10 SA Branch Xmas Drinks
Why not visit your National HQ
If you're in Sydney don't forget to drop into our ACS HQ @ Level 2, 26 Ridge Street, North Sydney. The NSW committee will do their best to open up for you, just contact David Lewis ACS dlewis@cinematographer.net.au or 0408 273 702
ACS online shop open
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