In the News

Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to LED Inventors

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2014 was awarded jointly to Isamu Akasaki,

Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes. In the spirit of Alfred Nobel, the prize rewards an invention of greatest benefit to mankind. Using blue LEDs, white light can be created in a new way, and the advent of LED lamps means longer-lasting and more efficient alternatives to older light sources. When Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura produced bright blue light beams from their semi-conductors in the early 1990s, they triggered a fundamental transformation of lighting technology, according to the Nobel committee. Red and green

diodes had been around for a long time, but without blue light, white lamps could not be created. Despite considerable efforts, both in the scientific community and in industry, the blue LED had remained a challenge for three decades. Akasaki worked together with Amano at the University of Nagoya, while Nakamura was employed at Nichia Chemicals, a small company in Tokushima. White LED lamps emit a bright white light, are long-lasting and Steve Cosens csc energy-efficient. They are constantly improved, getting more efMember News ficient with higher luminous flux

The Jacob Tierney comedy cal input power (measured in watt). Preggoland, shot by Steve CoThe most recent record is just over 300 sens csc, was named Most lm/W, which can be compared to 16 Popular Canadian Feature Film at the for regular light bulbs and close to 70 2014 Vancouver International Film for fluorescent lamps. Materials conFestival, which wrapped on October sumption is also diminished, as LEDs 10. The feature premiered at this year’s last up to 100,000 hours, compared Toronto International Film Festival in to 1,000 for incandescent bulbs and the Special Presentations programme. 10,000 hours for fluorescent lights.

(measured in lumen) per unit electri

International Cinematographers Guild Launches Safety App

The International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) has launched a safety app, available for the iPhone and Android, called “ICG Safety,” providing comprehensive safety reference giving users a complete list of safety bulletins, in-depth articles about safety and anonymous safety hotline numbers, including Local 600’s 24/7 tip line with one click. No Internet access is required to use this app, once installed. The app is available for download in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store. Safety on the set has been a top issue in the industry since the tragic death of ICG member Sarah Jones. The ICG represents more than 7,000 camera crew members, still photographers and publicists. see News page 6

Canon Launches EOS Upgrade; Introduces World’s Longest 4K Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Large-Format Single-Sensor Cameras

Canon USA in October launched the Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera, the latest edition to the Canon Cinema EOS line of professional Super 35mm 8.3 megapixel CMOS cameras and the second-generation version of the Canon EOS C100 Digital Video Camera. Among the new camera’s features are advanced image processing, AVCHD and MP4 1920x1080/60p recording, and uncompressed YCbCr output from HDMI. The EOS C100 Mark II camera weighs 2.5 lbs. and is compatible with more than 103 Canon EF Series lenses, including STM models. The Canon EOS C100 Mark II Digital Video Camera is scheduled to be available at the end of December for an estimated retail price of $5,499.00.

Canon also introduced the new ultratelephoto CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 Ultra-Telephoto Zoom lens. The lens has the world’s longest focal length (75-1500mm with its builtin 1.5x extender) and highest (20x) magnification among Super 35mm zoom lenses, according to the manufacturer. The ultra-telephoto lens has a removable Digital Drive unit to accommodate either broadcast or cinema-style production. Available in either EF- or PL-mount, the new lens is 15.9 inches in length (PL version) and weighs 14.6 pounds. The Canon CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 Ultra-telephoto Zoom lens is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2015 for a suggested list price of $78,000.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY

Advice comes in many different shades. When it’s good, it can become a career-making credo, and when it’s bad, well, we can only scratch our heads in bewilderment. Canadian Cinematographer asked full and associate members of the CSC the following question: “What was the best and the worst advice you ever received during your career?” This is part three in the series.

MICHAEL WALE csc

is this year’s Leo Award winner for best cinematography in a dramatic series for his work on the TV series Continuum. In the past, Wale has been honoured for his outstanding cinematography with award nominations in 2011 by the CSC and the ASC. Wale is based in Vancouver and is currently the DP on iZombie for the CW Network.

best advice

The best advice came when I was a camera trainee on a television series in Vancouver. I was working with a Steadicam operator who asked me what I wanted to do in the future. After listening to me for a bit, he cut in and said, “If you want to be a writer then write, if you want to direct then direct, and if you want to shoot then shoot.” He told me that there is no such thing as a dress rehearsal in life and if you want to do something then do it.

worst advice

The worst advice I ever received came from a director. We were shooting a show which involved a boy being swallowed by a monster. This particular scene took place in the belly of the beast. Unfortunately, the “set” was a rough wood frame lined with canvas, not much of a monster and more of a tent than anything else. We blocked the scene, and after a pause the director shook his head and said, “Make it dark.” I lit the interior and it still looked like a collapsed sack. He turned to me and said, “Make it darker.” I dropped a couple of doubles in the lights and we shot the scene. The next day, when dailies arrived, they were dark. So dark that it was near impossible to see the set, but the actors too. I learned my lesson – if you are in the belly of the beast, make sure you can see. PS: I have to say that almost all of the advice I have received on and off the set over the years has served me well. Any success I may enjoy today is in large part due to the advice of those around me and the experiences shared by others. JOSHUA ALLEN csc is a very busy and prolific DP based out of Toronto. His work cuts across all genres, from commercials and music videos through to features. His work has been screened at such festivals as the Toronto International Film Festival, SLAMDANCE and Cannes. Allen was nominated for Best Dramatic Short Cinematography at the 52 nd CSC Annual

Awards Gala in 2009.

best advice

When I was a film student, one of my mentors and teachers was James Crowe. I’m paraphrasing him here, but he once gave some great advice that went something like this: “Always be makingchoices. It’s better to make a definite choice and risk being wrong, than to not be making a conscious choice at every opportunity.” I’ll always remember that because it taught me that if you’re not prepared to be wrong, then you’ll never come up with anything original.

worst advice

I tend to let that kind of stuff go and forget about it! But what does rankle

CSC Members’ Projects Win at DGC Awards

The Directors Guild of Canada handed out 19 awards in late October honouring the best work created by its members this past year. Films shot by CSC members were among the winners, including: Enemy (DP Nicolas Bolduc csc) for Best Feature Film and Watermark (DP Nicholas de Pencier csc) for the Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary. The series Heartland, shot by Craig Wrobleski csc won for Best Television Series – Family, while The Best Laid Plans, shot by Gavin Smith csc, won for Best Television Movie/Mini-series. In the Best Short Film category the award went to The Golden Ticket, shot by Arthur Cooper csc. Two special career acknowledgments were also handed out during the evening: SIM Group founder Rob Sim was presented with the DGC Honorary Life Member Award; and director Peter Pearson received the Don Haldane Distinguished Service Award. A complete list of winners is available at the DGC website dgc.ca. President from page 2 Canadian Cinematographer is the CSC forum for all things relating to filmmaking. We have seen an enormous increase in not only the number of articles, but also in the caliber of the writing. The magazine has attained a level of excellence that we can all be proud of. I would like to thank all contributors for their terrific submissions. I urge all CSC members to participate in our magazine by submitting story ideas or letting us know about your latest interesting project. The sky is the limit and we’re all ears. The CSC machine can only run effectively by being maintained on a continual basis. Those who maintain the machine are the members of the Executive Committee, and I would like to not only thank them for their efforts, but also acknowledge the enormous contribution that they make to the CSC as the society’s guiding force. Finally, on behalf of the CSC Executive committee and all of those mentioned above, I wish all our readers the happiest of holidays over the festive season and look forward to a new year filled with renewed energy and commitment to the CSC.

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Best & Worst from page 5

me is the fix-it-later approach to cinematography. I’m sure everybody has heard the “Just roll! Keep rolling!”command on set. Shoot first, everything and anything, no

Joshua Allen csc

matter what, and we’ll fix the colour and reframe later in post. I abhor that attitude because it always yields mediocre footage. If anything, it reminds me to always have a strong and conscious intention baked into each and every shot.