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World-class Cinematographers Featured
in Keynotes and Panels at Entertainment
Technology World

Discussions Held June 27- 28 at L.A. Convention Center


The ASC and Local 600 presented 14 keynote addresses and panel discussions live at the Entertainment Technology World Conference on June 27-28, 2003, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Cinematographers and their collaborators shared experiences and insights on a wide-range of subjects involving the convergence of art and technology.

On Friday, June 27, panels included:

Click here for more info on Entertainment Technology World.THE ASC AT 85 AND ITS VISION FOR THE FUTURE: Curtis Clark, ASC (Alamo Bay, Dominick and Eugene, etc.) moderated an open-ended discussion on the mission of a new technology committee organized by the American Society of Cinematographers on the eve of the organization’s 85th anniversary. The committee, which includes some 50 cinematographers and technology thought leaders from all sectors of the industry, is charged with investigating such diverse areas as digital and film cameras, digital intermediate and digital projection technologies. Committee members participated in an open-ended discussion about standards and practices.

LIVE INTERNET CHAT WITH JOHN INWOOD: Cinematographer John Inwood discussed his innovative approach to filming the hit NBC series Scrubs in Super 16 film format. Visit www.kodak.com/go/motion to read a background interview or a transcript of the live question and answer session. You can also go online to www.kodak.com/go/motion and click on the Reel Talk link.

THE SUPER 16 REVOLUTION: Advances in camera, film and postproduction technologies are fueling a revolution in the use of the Super 16 format. Russ Alsobrook, ASC (Romy and Michele), Michael Goi, ASC (Red River), John Inwood (Scrubs), Michael Price (Gilmore Girls) and Steven Shaw, ASC, (Tremors), discussed their experiences and answered questions about shooting narrative films in Super 16 format.

Larry Bridges: A ROADMAP TO THE FUTURE OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING: Larry Bridges, renown TV commercial editor and director, and founder of Red Car, one of the advertising industry’s top postproduction houses, discussed why and how he produced an extraordinary independent feature film called 12. He wrote the script, produced, directed and shot the film over 10 years, mainly working on weekends, using the city of Los Angeles as his backlot. Bridges spent two years editing 12. He discussed his use of innovative “guerilla marketing” techniques to bring 12 to the marketplace.

ICG FILM SHOWCASE: ICG National President George Spiro Dibie, ASC presented the winning productions of the 7th Annual ICG Film Showcase. This year’s winners were Eric Roy Anderson for The Yellow Bird, Mark Gilmer for The Good Things, Brian Glover for Salvation, Alec Hirschfeld for Accabonac Harbor, Samuel Levy for Diet, Scott Peck for Marked, Christopher Probst for The Night Before and Mariana Sanchez de Antunano for Naiad.

Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC -The Deer Hunter Retrospective: Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC teamed up with Michael Cimino to produce The Deer Hunter some 25 years ago. Their collaborative effort made an indelible impression on audiences and a profound impact on the art and craft of cinematography. Zsigmond shared his memories of the making of that milestone film and discussed his vision for the future.

Saturday, June 28, panels included:

The Art of Great Commercials: How do you grab and hold the audience’s attention and tell a compelling story that makes a memorable impression in a mere 30 seconds? What can you learn from shooting commercials? Bill Bennett, Allen Daviau, ASC, Matty Libatique, ASC, Daniel Pearl and John Schwartzman, ASC, answered those questions when they discussed the art of shooting great commercials.

THE ART OF LIGHTING: Some people compare lighting to painting. Others say lighting is a language used to express information and emotional content without words. Some vendors and auteurs claim that lighting is an obsolete notion with the advent of digital technology. Robbie Greenberg, ASC, Michael Goi, ASC, Gil Hubbs, ASC, Shelly Johnson, ASC, Laszlo Kovacs, ASC, Brian J. Reynolds, Wally Pfister, ASC, Dante Spinotti, ASC, AIC and Amy Vincent, ASC shared their insights and answered questions about the art of lighting.

USING STILL IMAGES: Some of the industry’s top still photographers and publicists showed examples and discussed how they create and use images for publicity, advertising, and posters in imaginative ways.

The NeXt Generation of Cinematographers: there is a new generation of extraordinarily talented cinematographers who are beginning to make their marks. We explored their vision of the future in a conversation featuring Matty Libatique, ASC (Phone Booth, Gothika), Daryn Okada, ASC (Dawson’s Creek, Paparazzi), Wally Pfister, ASC (The Italian Job, Memento), Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC (Frida, 8 Mile) and Lisa Wiegand (Seventy, Cherry Bomb).

A Conversation With Bill Fraker, ASC, BSC: ASC President Richard Crudo moderated a discussion with the recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Camerimage International Festival of the Art of Cinematography. Fraker has earned five Oscar® nominations for Rosemary’s Baby, Heaven Can Wait, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, 1941 and War Games. He is currently teaching the next generation of filmmakers at University of Southern California. Fraker shared his memories, insights and future vision for the art and craft of cinematography.

PROJECT GREENLIGHT: THE MAKING OF THE BATTLE OF SHAKER HEIGHTS: Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle earned the right to direct The Battle of Shaker Heights during the second annual Project Greenlight competition. The behind-the-scenes documentary series about the making of this LivePlanet/ Miramax production is currently airing on HBO. Audience members joined the conversation when LivePlanet Chairman and Producer Chris Moore (Good Will Hunting, American Pie), cinematographer Tom Ackerman, ASC (Beetlejuice, Rat Race, Dickie Roberts) and the two directors shared their experiences.

The Collaborative Process/ Part 1—Donald M. Morgan, ASC: Donald M. Morgan, ASC discussed the collaborative art of cinematography. Morgan’s credits include Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York and Starman. He is one of only two cinematographers to earn four ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards (Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy, Geronimo, Dillinger and Murder in Mississippi). Morgan recently earned kudos for his Showtime movie Out of the Ashes.

The Collaborative Process/ Part 2—Tom Del Ruth, ASC and Thomas Schlamme: Tom Del Ruth, ASC (The West Wing, ER, The X-Files, Stand By Me) is one of only two cinematographers to earn four ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards. Del Ruth discussed the collaborative process of telling great stories with moving images with Emmy-Award winning director and producer Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing, ER, Sports Night, Tracey Takes On).


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