Flashback

Relive the memories of respected members of our industry

Classic Cameras

Learn about classic camera equipment that has shaped our craft

ACS Video Series

A series of interveiws with Australian Cinematographers, including extracts from their films

50 years of ACS

In 2008, ACS celebrates 50 years with a landmark conference, exhibition and golden anniversary awards ceremony in Sydney. Be there... 28th May - 1st June 2008

The Robert Feeney ACS Archive

The Robert Feeney ACS Archive is a collection of books, magazines and even the odd piece of camera equipment that has purchased or donated to the Society

Focus on Filmmakers

Meet the people - and explore the ideas - which drive the entertainment industry

SMPTE09

At SMPTE09 you will see the latest products and technologies, hear world-class conference papers, and find expert answers and solutions. The biennial SMPTE09 Conference and exhibition is the must-visit event for all professionals in the motion imaging and sound technology industries - ACS is proud to be an aligned partner of SMPTE09

Shadowcatchers

The Shadowcatchers is the title of the elegant coffee table book being put together by the ACS for our 50th Anniversary publication, documenting the work of Australian Cinematographers from early days to the present

Workshops

Information & Photos from ACS Workshops

Tools

Cinematographers Questionnaire

The Cinematographers Questionnaire is a new initiative by the Australian Cinematographers Society and AustCine Publishing to chronicle details of films and productions from a cinematographers point of view, for use now to promote the film and the industry as well as archive for our education and a future generation of cinematographers

The questionnaire is a simple and not very time-consuming process, and is helping the ACS enormously. As stalwarts like Butch Calderwood ACS and John Leake ACS labour to secure information of Australian cinematography from the past, we will all be doing our bit to ensure that the current history will be better chronicled, presented and archived for our education and for future generations.

In time, we will publish selected of the questionnaires and photos, which will over time, make our website a valuable resource on the web.

The Cinematographers Questionnaire

Project Name:
Shoot dates:
Release Date:
DOP:
Additional Cinematographers:
Director:

1. Why did you decide to do this project?
2. Describe the relationship you had with the director? Explain how you came to work together.
3. Did you do anything special for the preparation of this film?
4. Can you state the look you were after and what camera gear, filtration, film stocks and processing (or other formats), lab or post facilities you used to achieve your aims?
5. How much pre-production time did you have, and how did you spend it?
6. How did you view rushes? Did you have much say in the process?
7. Talk about your relationship with the production designer.
8. Your relationship with the first assistant director.
9. State who your gaffer, key grip and focus puller were, and either your relationship with them or their contribution to the shoot
10. How were the cast?
11. Any logistically difficult scenarios
12. How long was the shoot?
13. Any interesting stories from the shoot
14. Your relationship with the editor.
15. Did you have much input during post-production?
16. Please provide two or more photos : - Definitely one of yourself , Any production photos - please carefully identify everybody

Obviously we want a photo of you, holding a viewfinder, pointing, standing against a fantastic backdrop, looking like you have discovered a new world, demonstrating levels of intellect, emotional compassion and/or intestinal fortitude far above the level of the normal populace. Everyone who reads about a cinematographer is keen to see what they look like.

We would also like photos of something else, because as much there’s a certain amount of self-promotion involved in this process, hopefully, as readers, we are also expecting to be enlightened, educated, informed and entertained by the article and photos.

Please make sure all the people in photos are correctly identified, spelling-wise and position. Don’t assume.

It is your responsibility to ensure that permissions have been obtained to publish photos.

All contributions should be forwarded to cinequestionnaire@cinematographer.org.au

From Andrew Lesnie ACS who conceived the idea of the Cinematographers Questionnaire… “I keep thinking about all those Australian films that have slipped under the radar, without any information regarding the Director Of Photography or the photography of the films themselves. Our ‘international’ cinematographers generally get coverage with overseas publications, and local magazines usually manage to cover directors, writers, producers and cast.

I’ve had the opportunity to watch some beautifully photographed Australian films recently and would like to read about the cinematography of these films, ideally in the Australian Cinematographer.

Filling out the ‘Cinematographers Questionnaire’ will not only improve the high standard of prose enjoyed by our cinematographers, but (if the timing’s right) it will also allow them to contribute to the publicity of a project and possibly help those flagging box office takings.

The other bonus of the ‘Cinematographers Questionnaire’ is that it gives young cinematographers a chance to practice the promotion that has become (for better or worse) part of life in the modern media. We used to let the images speak for themselves. Not any more.”

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