In the News

Presenting the CSC 2020 Board of Directors after the first board meeting, February 2, 2020

(Left to right) Chair & Vice-President Carlos Esteves csc; Zoe Dirse csc; Serge Desrosiers csc; President George Willis csc, sasc; Guy Godfree csc; Jeremy Benning csc; Kristin Fieldhouse; and Joan Hutton csc.

Credit: Patty Guyader

Nicholas de Pencier csc Nominated for IMAGO International Cinematography Award

The CSC congratulates Nicholas de Pencier csc on his nomination for an IMAGO International Cinematography Award in the Best Cinematography in Documentary category for his work on Anthropocene: The Human Epoch. De Pencier was nominated alongside Virginie Surdej sbc (By the Name of Tania), Roy van Egmond nsc (Sidik and the Leopard) and Fejmi Daut msc and Samir msc (Honeyland). The awards will be presented on March 14 in Brussels, Belgium.

C. Kim Miles csc, mysc Wins ASC Award

Courtesy of A&E

Credit: Courtesy of the ASC The Society congratulates C. Kim Miles csc, mysc, who took home the award for his work in Project Blue Book, “The Flatwoods Monster”) in the Episode of a Series for Commercial Television category at the 34 th Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for Outstanding Achievement, held on January 25 in Los Angeles. Also, Panavision President and CEO Kim Snyder was given the ASC Bud Stone Award of Distinction, presented to an ASC associate member who has demonstrated extraordinary service to the society and/or made a significant contribution to the motion picture industry.

CMF and CACE Launch New Export Program

In early January, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and the Canadian Association of Content Exporters (CACE) announced a new program to fund the predevelopment of export-focused Canadian content. The CMF-Distributor Pilot Predevelopment Matching Program will help support Canadian television projects intended for international export by encouraging early collaboration between qualified distribution companies, writers and producers. With a budget set at $1.5 million, the program will support both English and French-language projects, on a two-thirds, one-third split. Eligible project budgets may range from a minimum of $40K to a maximum of $150K.

American Society of Cinematographers Appoints Terry McCarthy as CEO

The ASC announced in January it has named Terry McCarthy as CEO of the organization. In this newly created role, McCarthy is responsible for all business matters relating to the Society, including events, educational efforts and publishing. With more than 30 years of experience in journalism, McCarthy is a four-time Emmy winner and recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award. He previously served as president of the American Academy in Berlin, and prior to that as president and CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

HSC Co-Founds Cinematography Award in Honour of László Kovács and Vilmos Zsigmond

The Hungarian Society of Cinematographers (HSC) recently founded the László Kovács & Vilmos Zsigmond Cinematography Award in honour of the two legendary cinematographers, who both fled their hometown of Budapest in the late 1950s, according to the society. Sparks Camera and Lamp Rental company co-founded the award, along with the Hungarian Cinematographers’ School.

ACCEPTANCES / AWARDS / NOMINATIONS CSC Members among Canadian Screen Award Nominees

CSC congratulates the members who have been nominated for Canadian Screen Awards:

Achievement in Cinematography: Catherine Lutes csc (Disappearance at Clifton Hill); Greg Middleton csc (American Woman); Brendan Steacy csc (Lucky Day) Best Photography, Drama: Thom Best csc (Burden of Truth – “Salesman, Cheats and Liars”); Christian Bielz (Nowhere To Be Found); Catherine Lutes csc (Anne with an E – “ A Hope of Meeting You in Another World”); Daniel Villeneuve csc (Mean Queen); Yuri Yakubiw csc (Murdoch Mysteries– “Darkness Before the Dawn - Part 1”) Best Photography, Documentary or Factual: Maya Bankovic csc (In the Making – “Rebecca Belmore”) Best Photography, News or Information: John Badcock csc (The Fifth Estate – “Murder in the Jungle”) Best Photography, Comedy: Maya Bankovic csc (Workin’ Moms – “Girl's Trip”); Cabot McNenly (Cavendish - "Charlottetown Nights"); Gerald Packer csc (Schitt’s Creek – “Life Is A Cabaret”); Robert Scarborough (Baroness von Sketch Show - "Humanity is in an Awkward Stage"); Jim Westenbrink csc (Letterkenny– “The City”)

Winners will be announced at a gala on March 29.

Tobie Marier Robitaille csc (cinematographer) Les nôtres (feature) opening film: Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Montreal, February 26, 2020

FILM STUDENTS

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Join the Canadian Society of Cinematographers as a STUDENT MEMBER And we will enrol you in our MENTOR PROGRAM. Check us out on at www.csc.ca or call the office at 416-266-0591 for more information

Alan Poon csc

What films or other works of art have made the biggest impression on you?

Early on, I was influenced by films like Days of Heaven, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Annie Hall, and these films really opened up the world of film to me. Now I mostly look to photography, paintings and installations for inspiration. In particular, artists that have made a big impression on me include Hiroshi Sugimoto, Janet Cardiff and Christian Boltanski.

How did you get started in the business?

I started by working at William F. White in Toronto soon after finishing university. Greg Williams was running the HD/Video department at the time and the Sony F900 CineAlta camera was making waves. While I loved shooting on film, I knew digital cinema was coming in fast and if I were to become a cinematographer, I had better learn it and know it well. Before getting hired, I would volunteer on film shoots, and every time I was at Whites, I would see Greg and jokingly ask him when he was going to hire me. One day he called me back and said there was a spot for me.

Credit: Sébastian Rist

Who have been your mentors or teachers?

Torben Johnke asc was my first mentor and teacher. He taught Advanced Cinematography at Ryerson University, and even though I wasn’t enrolled in Film Studies, I was fortunate enough to be able to take his class. I went on to become his teaching assistant for several terms afterwards and fondly look back at our time together every week dragging equipment from the film cage in the basement up the rickety service elevator to the Image Arts third-floor studio where Torben would teach.

What cinematographers inspire you?

Haskell Wexler asc; Hoyte van Hoytema asc, fsf, nsc; Roger Deakins asc, bsc; Greig Fraser asc, acs to name a few.

Name some of your professional highlights.

Filming my first feature film in Copenhagen with director Mark Raso was a really memorable experience. Being named by Variety Magazine as one of the 10 Cinematographers to Watch in 2018 and participating in the talk and awards show that coincided was quite an honour. As well, working with Ed Harris on Kodachrome was a dream come true.

What is one of your most memorable moments on set?

I was in New York City, shooting (and directing) my first U.S. job for the Tribeca Film Festival. We were still shooting commercials on film at that time, and my east coast, west coast and Midwest agents were all there, as well as the ad agency, client and crew, all of them standing along the side of a busy sidewalk in downtown Manhattan. I was so nervous. The first shot was of a film reel bouncing down the steps of a Greyhound bus. I wanted to do as much in-camera as possible, and in tests it was determined that plastic reels rolled the best. We sent the first reel down, and SMASH! It shattered into what feltlike a million pieces. “No problem,” said the art director. “We have two backups on hand.” We sent the second reel down, CRACK! It also broke apart. Now it was time to problem-solve. We ended up putting some monofilament around the third reel to help take some of the weight. We sent our last reel down the steps, fingers crossed, and it worked out beautifully!

What do you like best about what you do?

Camaraderie, teamwork and the ability to help shape a story through lighting and camerawork.

What do you like least about what you do?

Navigating the politics and personality differences on set.

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

Despite the popularity of gimbals these days, I think Steadicam is still one of the most useful and powerful tools in cinematography today.

How can others follow your work?

Website: alanpoon.com. Instagram: @alpook

CSC SPECIALTY AWARDS 2020

The 2020 Masters Award Winner Jean-Claude Labrecque csc (posthumously) “For outstanding contribution to the art of cinematography.” Jean-Claude Labrecque csc is considered one of Canada’s and Quebec’s most influential filmmakers of the 20 th century. His technical and visual deftness as a cinematographer is legendary. Labrecque’s 1965 award-winning film 60 Cycles, which he shot and directed, is an anthology of cinematic technique and still considered a must-see by contemporary cinematography students. As a filmmaker, Labrecque turned news into history with his documentaries, such as the incredible La visite du général de Gaulle au Québec, where he captures the General’s infamous “Vive le Québec libre!” that stoked the province’s separatist fires. Labrecque’s documentary technique was also reflected in his critically acclaimed theatrical dramas that mostly embodied recent history. Labrecque’s career spanned more than 60 years in which he directed or was the DP on 120 films, receiving many accolades for his vast body of work, including the Wendy Michener Award, two Jutras – including the Prix Hommage – the prix Albert-Tessier, the National Order of Quebec, and the Order of Canada.

The 2020 President’s Award Winner Carolyn Wong “For extraordinary service to the Canadian Society of Cinematographers.” Carolyn Wong’s fingerprints can be found throughout the CSC. A member since 1990, Wong has shown a tireless diligence in helping the Society achieve its many goals. For years, Wong served on the CSC’s executive committee in several capacities, including co-Vice President. Currently she is the Society’s Digital Portals Manager in charge of social media. Wong was instrumental in establishing the CSC presence on Instagram through a unique cinematographer’s program, where a CSC director of photography had carte blanche to post whatever they desired for a two-week period. This proved wildly popular and is credited for attracting an astonishing 42,000 followers. Wong has also worked her magic with the highly regarded CSC Facebook page, which boasts nearly 8,000 members and is considered a top-notch go-to site for cinematography knowledge and discussion. Wong also contributes her time and talents to CSC Podcasts, interviewing fellow cinematographers about their careers and lives. An award-winning documentary film maker and director of photography based in Toronto.

The 2020 Bill Hilson Award Winner Walter Klassen “For outstanding service contributing to the development of the motion picture industry.” In 1988, mechanical engineer Walter Klassen founded his self-named company to build props and special effects of the film industry. Since then, Walter Klassen FX has become synonymous with ingenuity and vision. Through the use of modern technology, together with traditional artisan crafts, Klassen has long been lauded for its inventive touch in creating stunning costuming, original specialty props and one-of-a-kind set pieces for productions such as The Expanse and the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water. Not satisfied with his creations being in front of the lens, Walter Klassen turned his talents to behind the camera, developing unique camera stabilizing equipment and accessories that have opened new artistic vistas for cinematographers. Most notable is the Walter Klassen SlingShot Rig, which transfers gimbal weight from the arms, allowing cinematographers to shoot smoothly, over a vastly increased range of motion, for remarkably longer time periods. Walter Klassen FX is a Toronto institution servicing the film industry worldwide.