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Member LoginDaryl Binning
The science class at Fremantle Boys High School had an old Pathe silent 35mm projector; this together with setting up 16mm educational film screenings in their theatrette, encouraged him to pursue a career in the film industry, but first he started an electrical apprenticeship at age 14.
During the mid fifties he started shooting 16mm, assisting his cousin covering local events for Perth’s newsreel theatrette. Exclusive Newsreels (WA) gave him a taste of the demands of newsreel coverage. He then joined Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Melbourne "Photographer-Cine’. This job meshed in nicely with his newly acquired Pilot’s Licence.
In 1962 Daryl secured a position with the Department of Territories on a crew that was to form the first government film unit based in Port Moresby. Following the accidental drowning of fellow crew member Boris Cook, Daryl took over as Acting Producer/Director. It was exciting times as the country was gearing up for independence.
Daryl purchased a reflex Bolex and covered items of interest for the new and expanding Australian TV networks. ATN7 news editor Greg Ell offered him a position as A Grade cameraman in Sydney. Some of the ATN crew, Con Margaritis and Phil Dority were ACS members and Daryl became a member of the NSW Branch in 1964. He met many names t hat would become ACS legends and friends; Bruce Hillyard, Jack Gardiner, Phil Pike, John Leake, Peter Menzies, Ron Windon, Ditmar Fill and many others.
It became obvious toDaryl there was no TV or newsreel, material coming out of Papua New Guinea so just before Christmas 1964 Daryl and wife Wilma sailed to Port Moresby where he setup the first local production business ‘Film New Guinea’. Today the footage and sound recordings of those years are still stored in dozens of film cans in Perth awaiting a stable and credible location that appreciates their historical value.
Daryl and family arrived back in Perth in1967 where he joined Alex McPhee snr at the Education Dept’s film unit. Alex and Leith Goodall were the two main govern-ment cinematographers. Local commercial productions had been shot mainly vy Brian Lobascher and David Jukes. Later he went stringing for ABC TV and was appointedState rep for Australian Movie Magazine which was the amalgamation of the two Australian newsreels Cinesound and Movietone. In such a large state his pilot’s licence was of great assistance. ACS Federal Secretary Hilton Gordon asked him to establish a branch of the Society in WA. Early in 1968 the first official meeting was held. Alex McPhee snr was President and Daryl was State Secretary; a position he held for many years. Later he was appointed State President and the WA Branch often sought the assistance of established members on the east coast, Jack Gardiner and then Federal President John Leake to come to Perth and conduct technical seminars and equipment demonstrations During the late 60’s and early 70’s the north-west mineral boom created work for Perths film makers. Local icons, David Moore, Edwin Scragg and Jon Noble brought inter-national recognition to the WA documentary production industry.
In 1973 there was no venue for children to watch matinee films in Perth so Daryl and family established and ran a professional 35mm cinema venue for matinees in the Freemantle Town Hall for the next 13 years. Obtaining suitable G rated product was always a challenge with the popular Walt Disney productions only screened at major cinema outlets. Daryl tackled the major distributors head on by questioning the existing restrictive distribution practices. Questions were asked in Federal Parliament and there was a front page headline in Perth’s Sunday paper, ‘Mickey Mouse Centre of Political Storm’. In the USA Mr Disney was not amused and by the end of the following week Daryl was advised that he and every other independent cinema owner in Australia would in future have unrestricted access to Disney films. The cinema operated until 1968.
Daryl Binning is a man for all seasons. As well as his role as a cinematographer he has developed sound transfer and recording equipment, set up location lighting trucks and served the industry from time to time as a gaffer. Daryl was accredited in 1972 and holds Accreditation Certificate 101. For his hard work in the industry and for his support and loyalty over many years he was awarded Life Membership of the Society in 1997.
from Australian Cinematographer - Issue 20