Visit the ASC and American Cinematographer at Cine Gear Expo

Stop by and visit with members of the American Society of CinematographersAmerican Cinematographer and staff of the magazine at booth #166 while your attending this year's Cine Gear Expo being held at Paramount Studios on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6.

Thursday, June 4, 1:15 p.m. at Paramonut Studios, screening room 5
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo and Vilmos a documentary by James Cressanthis, ASC will be part of the Cine Gear Expo Film Series.

Saturday, June 6,  2:00 p.m. on Stage 12
A Dialogue With ASC, BSC Cinematographers
 
This year marks the 90th and the 60th respective anniversaries of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC). On this historic occasion, members of both organizations will engage in a dialogue about the past, present, and their visions for the future of the art and craft of visual storytelling.

The ASC was founded in 1919 during the dawn of the motion picture industry, when black-and-white film for silent movies was handcranked through cameras by cinematographers. There were no camera operators until the late 1920s. The 15 charter members met to share and discuss ideas for creating a visual grammar, including lighting, exposure, camera movement, composition and focus. They were inventing a new language for telling stories with moving images, and recommending technical standards and tools that were embraced by the industry.

The BSC was founded by 55 charter members in 1949 when television was offering the public a tempting stay-at-home alternative to the cinema. BSC members were on the cutting edge of re-inventing the movie-going experience. One example: The images that Freddie Young, BSC rendered onto 65 mm film during the production of Lawrence of Arabia were presented to audiences in 70 mm format on large screens. The film won seven Oscars®, including one for best picture and another for cinematography. When Young was the first recipient of the ASC International Achievement Award in 1993, William Fraker, ASC, BSC, observed, “Freddie Young played a leading role in the evolution of cinematography as an art form. He has earned both our admiration and affection.”

The ASC/BSC dialogue will be held on Saturday, June 6, from 2 until 3:30 p.m. on Stage 12. It will be co-moderated by George Spiro Dibie, ASC and BSC President Sue Gibson.

“The public, many journalists and even some people in the industry think that cinematographers primarily play a technical role,” Dibie observes, “but we know that it is a form of artistic expression that requires mastering a constantly evolving craft.”

Cinematographers who are scheduled to participate in this discussion are Owen Roizman, ASC, John Daly, BSC, Daryn Okada, ASC, Richard Crudo, ASC, Oliver Curtis, BSC, Daniel Pearl, ASC, Dick Pope, BSC, Allen Daviau, ASC, Joe Dunton, BSC, Michael Goi, ASC, Phil Meheux, BSC and Nancy Schreiber, ASC.