Australian Cinematographer Issue 55
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSUE #55 September 2012 RRP $10.00 Quarterly Journal of the Australian Cinematographers Society australian www.cinematographer.org.au cinematographer Lights, Camera, Action. Our New Cabrio PL Mount with Integrated Removable Servo. Introducing the FUJINON PL Mount 19-90 Cabrio Zoom Lens U Longest focal range (19-90mm) of any lightweight zoom U Quick convertible-removable servo zoom handgrip U Built-in lens motors for focus, iris and zoom U Self-aligning system for easy and accurate calibration U Luminous barrel markings for shooting in dark situations U Only 2.7kg including servo motors For more information contact FUJIFILM (02) 9466 2600 or email [email protected] www.fujifilm.com.au CB25 REVOLUTION BACKPACK FEATURES Waterproof fabric Laptop compartment Media organiser Removable divider Padded straps and harness CB01 PRODUCTION BAG FEATURES Waterproof fabric Zippered exterior pouches 4 removable interior pouches Shoulder strap with adjustable anti-slip pad Bottom rail for protection GEAR FORTIFICATION Defend your most valuable tools against the harshness of Australia’s locations. CineBags are the ultimate weapon in protecting and carrying your gear on location. LIFE ON LOCATION KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS SYDNEY MELBOURNE CANBERRA 5/18 HOTHAM PDE 148 HIGHBURY ROAD 4/70 DACRE STREET SUPPORT ARTARMON NSW 2064 BURWOOD VIC 3125 MITCHELL ACT 2911 612 9436 3050 613 9888 8511 612 6241 2122 VIDEOCRAFT.COM.AU CONTENTS BY DEFINITION of the Australian Cinematographers Society’s Articles of Association “a cinematographer is a person with technical expertise who manipulates light to transfer visual 10 information by the use of a camera into aesthetic moving images on motion picture film or electronic recording systems” Quarterly Journal of the 2011/2012 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Australian Cinematographers Society PRESIDENT Ron Johanson ACS (Qld) VICE-PRESIDENTS Ernie Clark ACS (SA), Alan Cole ACS (Vic) SECRETARY David Wakeley ACS (NSW) ASSISTANT features SECRETARY David Burr ACS (NSW) TREASURER Mylene Ludgate (SA) ASSISTANT TREASURER Ernie Clark ACS (SA) HISTORIAN Ron Windon ACS NSW PRESIDENT David Lewis Stormsurfers 3D ACS VICTORIA PRESIDENT Alan Cole ACS QUEENSLAND 10 BY Robert Morton PRESIDENT Simon Russell SOUTH AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT Ernie Clark ACS WESTERN AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT 30 Jason Thomas TASMANIA PRESIDENT Peter Curtis ACS AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY PRESIDENT Robb Shaw- David Eggby ACS Velzen NORTHERN TERRITORY PRESIDENT Andrew Hyde 20 BY Joanne Donahoe-Beckwith WEBSITE Simon Russell [email protected] Australian Cinematographer is The Windon Boys published quarterly for members and associates of the Australian 30 BY Ron Windon ACS Cinematographers Society EDITOR Dick Marks OAM CHAIRMAN Ted Rayment ACS ASSOCIATE EDITORS Heidi Tobin, Nicola Daley A Chat With Siggy Ferstl ART DEPARTMENT Brad Sampson 38 David Burr ACS & David Gribble CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert Morton, Joanne Donahoe- ACS chat with the Colourist 42 Beckwith, Ron Windon ACS, Chris McHardy, Emil Novák HSC, Jonathan Dawson, Nicola Daley, Manny Aston BA, Ranald Duhig, Dick Marks OAM PROOFREADER Patricia Bromley-Marks The Raven DOP Danny Ruhlmann ACS TRANSCRIPTION Margaret Kudelka PRINTING Heroprint 42 Director James McTiegue PUBLISHERS AustCine Publishing - Level 2, 26 Ridge Street , North Sydney NSW 2060 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA ISSN 1440-978X PRINT POST APPROVED PP255003/03506 The Zen of Bennett 56 DOP - Dione Beebe ACS ASC Director - Unjoo Moon 76 Emil Novák HSC 76 BRANCH ADDRESSES Final Move BY Chris McHardy NATIONAL & NEW SOUTH WALES ACS Headquarters, Level 2, 78 26 Ridge Street, North Sydney NSW 2060 VICTORIA PO Box 2023, Sth Melbourne, VIC 3205 Cover: Ross Clarke-Jones QUEENSLAND 11 Balaclava Street, Woolloongabba QLD 4006 photographs himself in 3D on a SOUTH AUSTRALIA PO Box 705, North Adelaide, SA 5006 spectacular move at Shipsterns WESTERN AUSTRALIA PO Box 476, Leederville, WA 6903 Bluff in Tasmania. TASMANIA 48 Diamond Drive, Blackmans Bay, TAS 7052 AUST CAPITAL TERRITORY PO Box 1558, Woden, ACT 2602 NORTHERN TERRITORY PO Box 2111, Parap, NT 0820 04 / BY DEFINITION ISSUE #55 SEPTEMBER 2012 departments 20 06 From the Editor 06 Your Opinion 09 From the President Film Review 64 BY Jonathan Dawson 38 66 New Gear Short Films 68 - State Roundup BY Nicola Daley The Big Picture 72 BY Manny Aston BA 56 Film Facts 74 BY Ranald Duhig 84 Next Issue... 78 Copyright AustCine Publishing and The Australian Cinematographers Society (2012) All expressions of opinion are published on the basis that they are not representing the offi cial opinion of the Australian Cinematographers Society, unless expressly stated. Australian Cinematographers Society accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any opinions, advice, representations or information contained in this publication. Australian Cinematographer is copyright, no part of it can be reproduced without prior written permission from the Society. All reproductions in this magazine have been done so with permission and credited accordingly. CONTENTS / 05 PHOTO: Patricia Bromley-Marks FROM THE EDITOR 5 crayfi sh every day during cray season (which starts soon), One should never let a chance go by, to get one up on one from the pristine waters harbouring Hobart. I was directed to that is better than one, and as Ronnie is quite fond of telling go online and get my licence. It took me all of 10 minutes, I us about the brotherhood of cinematographers, I thought I’d swear; and I came away with a licence to take 5 crays, 10 go one better and actually show you what that brotherly love abalone and buckets of scallops, oysters and mussels. The looks like. licence cost $25.00! I kid you not. The other evening I was pondering where the tech tsunami And people still ask ‘What the bloody hell are you doing in might lead us, and fuelled by a very good Tassie pinot noir, Hobart?’ Ed. I felt in a positive mood. Then bingo, the penny dropped. With the democratisation of our industry will come some extraordinary movies, documentaries, music clips etc, that would have never seen the light of day in a fi lm world. Now I’m not saying that they will be beautifully shot, edited and YOUR graded, but they will still be unique stories told in a unique way. The technology now available will allow ordinary people OPINION with extraordinary stories turn those stories into powerful movies. I think we are seeing the fi rst trickle through already. Dick In the past, very few people with great ideas and great, gap- ing holes in their pockets, somehow found a way to make With all the interest concerning DOP grading their work their movie, but now, many, many more will be able to do so. I would like to share with our readers a most enjoyable Like I said, probably not the slickest of movies, but for them, experience. ‘content’ will be the new black. Can’t wait. However, some of us will have to fi nd a new way of enjoying movies. On a recent job The Mystery of the Hansom Cab Margot McDonald from Moonlight Cinata Pty Ltd and In this edition, we launch a new column, FILM FACTS, by fi lm Ewan Burnett from Burberry Entertainment who were industry uber bean counter Ran Duhig. Ran has worked with the produces, actively encouraged me to grade the fi lm makers for well over 30 years and in each magazine he show. will present a very helpful list of accounting tips, which I know will save you $$$’s. He’s a good, honest man with a great Due to my other work commitments they changed depth of knowledge of all things accounting related to our dates so I could brief the colourist and reorganised industry. How many accountants would know that a fl oppy is the fi nal grade dates to take place on a weekend to fi t not a fat grip or that apple boxes don’t contain apples? into my timetable. But w hat’s happened to my food theme? I hear you say. Better still they paid me. Terrifi c Stuff - Hallelujah!! Well, I shall leave you with this little anecdote to turn you Cheers cyan with envy. When I moved to Tassie 8 years ago, I was Jaems Grant ACS urged to get my crayfi sh licence. This would allow me to take 06 / FROM THE EDITOR YOUR OPINION June 18, 2012 The Editor ACS Magazine 26 Ridge Street North Sydney. 2060. Dear Dick I refer to the opinion piece by Peter James in the recent edition of your magazine and his comments about not being invited to grade the DVD of his favourite film. The film is BLACK ROBE, and I am the "very experienced" but unnamed producer referred to. Characteristically, Peter did not tell me he was going into print about the incident, but the matter needs clarifying. BLACK ROBE has been available for home viewing, first on VHS and then on DVD since shortly after its release in 1992. It has been released on video and DVD all over the world. Not until I did Peter the courtesy of inviting him to join the commentary group of Bruce Beresford, Aden Young and myself for a new Australian DVD by a new distributor, did he ever show any interest at all in the DVD master. If as he says he has "dreamt of getting into a telecine suite and putting the finishing touches to it" it is news to me, and I have seen him often enough in the ensuing twenty years. And what "finishing touches"? Didn't he do the work at the time? All my films have been released on DVD and none of the cinematographers - who include Don McAlpine and Geoff Burton - have ever asked to be involved. And how would Peter James propose to regrade for the French release, or the Patagonian release? Or even the Canadian release - all from different masters? Has he ever been contacted by the Canadian co-producer and asked to regrade the picture for DVD? I'll bet my knickers he hasn't.