The Masters “In recognition of those who have made an outstanding contribution to the art of cinematography.”
2017 is not only the CSC’s 60th anniversary, it also marks 30 years of recognizing extraordinary excellence through the CSC’s Masters Award. This special honour is conferred upon cinematographers who have transcended from just practicing their craft into leaders of their craft by influencing the cinematic art form through their exceptional creativity, technical skills and ingenuity. Originally called the Kodak New Century Award, it was renamed the Masters Award in 2014 to reflect industry changes brought about by the digital age. In celebration of the CSC’s 60th anniversary, Canadian Cinematographer is presenting a 10-part series on the exceptional cinematographers who have received the Masters Award. This is part one. By Guido Kondruss
26 • Canadian Cinematographer - January 2017
Fritz Spiess csc (1925-1998) 1987
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he first recipient of the Masters Award was Fritz Spiess csc. Considered a genius for his unparalleled creative lighting techniques, Spiess also strived for perfection in his work, planning every aspect of a production down to the smallest detail. Nothing was ever left to chance. Spiess’ technical precision in creating special effects to highlight and tell a story was legendary. He drove his crews hard, but with kindness. Spiess would do take after take until he felt the shot was flawless. He revelled in challenge and producing a solution. Spiess became known as the dean of Canadian cinematography, helping to mentor and pave the way for a generation of Canadian crews and filmmakers. No matter the format, Spiess would have been the top cinematographer in his field. However, he consciously chose the 30- and 60-second television commercial format to produce his cinematic vision. Spiess likened his commercial cinematography to a poetry sonnet, where the likes of Shakespeare and Michelangelo could convey a story and emotion in 14 lines. He did the same with every frame he shot. While Spiess’ commercials may have been short, they were always spectacular. As a young boy, Spiess was an apprentice in his family’s photographic studio in Leipzig, Germany. Later, he attended the prestigious Munich Photo School, graduating with a Masters of Photography. Specializing in portrait and industrial photos, Spiess continued to shoot stills after immigrating to Canada and settling in Toronto. His photos appeared in many magazines of the day such as Life and Mayfair. In 1954, Spiess brought his photography skills and sensibilities to motion pictures, shooting and directing some 3,000 commercials over the course of his career. Spiess won many awards and accolades for his cinematography. But as a lasting testament to his impact on the art of cinematography, the CSC presents annually the Fritz Spiess Award for Commercial Cinematography, as do the Bessie’s with the advertising industry’s Fritz Spiess Award.
