CSC Award Winners

Courtesy Amazon Studios

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FORMAT CINEMATOGRAPHY Martin Buzora The Story of Pema

COMEDY SERIES CINEMATOGRAPHY

Sponsored by Vanguarde Artists

D. Gregor Hagey csc Wayne “Thought We Was Friends”

Courtesy Escaped Ape Productions

Credit: Simon Shohet csc

How did you get started in the business?

After film school at Queen’s University, I worked as a PA in commercials for a year before transitioning into the lighting department. It was harder back then, pre-digital, to build a reel. I got my start shooting music videos where you had to earn the trust of producers and directors before they would hand you a 35 mm camera, 5000’ of film and a crew. I was lucky enough to have some good ones get me started.

Who have been your mentors or teachers?

I learned a great deal from cinematographers Brendan Steacy csc and Tico Poulakakis csc. Both are Simon Shohet csc highly collaborative and encouraged me to contribute artistically, not just technically, at a formative time in my career. I also learned so much working with talented directors like R.T. Thorne, Harv What films or other works of art have made the Glazer, Director X, Warren P. Sonoda and Marc biggest impression on you? Ricciardelli and so many others.

Growing up in the ‘80s, I had a steady diet of Spielberg, John Hughes and Spike Lee. If I were to choose a single film that inspired my love of cinema, it would be Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. I could relate to Christian Bales’ character being a British kid in a foreign country. I also had a love of aviation and seeing the waving pilot in a P-51 at 500fps was pretty mind-blowing. I was lucky enough to spend some time with cinematographer Allen Daviau ASC when I was starting out; a wonderful man lost recently to COVID-19.

What cinematographers inspire you?

There are so many, but Sir Roger Deakins bsc, asc, cbe would have to be at the very top of the list. Over the past 30 years he has consistently brought the craft to new and exciting places. His work with the Coen brothers are some of my favourite collaborations of all time. Emmanuel Lubezki asc, amc and Hoyte van Hoytema asc, fsf, nsc as well, consistently dazzling work.

Name some of your professional highlights.

Receiving my CSC letters and joining the SESLER roster are both up there.

What is one of your most memorable moments on set?

I was in Jamaica shooting a music video with Director X. It was one of the first ever shot on RED. We knew very little about the tech, so we brought the camera’s owner, Vinit Borrison, with us to manage it. The first shot we did was a crowd scene with hundreds of people, and Vinit pulled a still and brought me over for a look. We zoomed into tiny faces in the background and I was astounded by the detail. I knew everything was about to change.

What do you like best about what you do?

Being on set with all the right people, all the right tools and having the opportunity to explore new ways to light something, frame something and discovering new ways to tell stories.

What do you like least about what you do?

Being told it’s too expensive.

What do you think has been the greatest invention (related to your craft)?

For me, the digital revolution is more profound in lighting than in camera. The paradigm shift in image acquisition does not influence the way we execute our craft the way that LED lighting has in the last decade. The tools we have acquired provide a limitless palette that is immediately adjustable and far more efficient. It is truly a renaissance for lighting design.

How can others follow your work?

sesler.com/cinematographers/simon-shohet/commercial

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