An evening with Darius Khondji ASC AFC

The Qld ACS were proud to conduct an evening with esteemed cinematographer Darius Khondji ASC AFC.

Brendan Williams ACS Workshop

Brendan Williams ACS conducted a workshop detailing cinematography techniques for shooting cars for TVCs.

Tools

Camera Operator Workshop

7/02/09

The Art of Camera Operating is exactly that - an art. Its not something that’s learned overnight, or even in a week, it’s a skill that is forever developing. On Saturday 7th February, the Queensland ACS held a one day intensive workshop on Camera Operating for approximately 15 lucky participants. Panavision Queensland were very kind in offering their facility and toys for the workshop. QLD ACS Vice President Leigh Christensen from Kodak also offered his kind and very generous support on the day. There to offer guidance and experience were some of Queensland’s finest DOP’s (if i don’t say so myself!): Nino Martinetti ACS (Lust & Revenge, Molokai, Exile), Henry Pierce ACS (Monarch Cove, Mortified, Ponderosa), Philip M Cross ACS (Acri, Blurred, Under The Radar) and myself (Cool, Seersucker, Nia’s Melancholy). Between the four course conveners over 100 years of combined experience was on offer to draw from. There to also provide backing were Camera Assistants: Polly Harrison, Luis Bran, Scott McGeachin (Panavision) and Grips: Grant Neilsen and his team. The day kicked off with Nino showing an excerpt from a film that he’d operated on, made in 1986 called Cactus (Paul Cox) which involved a crane and dolly shot that lasted for almost 5 minutes, highlighting the importance of maintaining correct framing, taking cues and still managing to stay on the end of the crane without falling off! The participants split up into four groups and rotated between sessions with each course convenor. Philip treated the participants to the tricks of hand held operation, demonstrating with a Panaflex GII. Nino ran the participants through operating with wheels on a 3 Axis remote head crane, fitted with an Arri 435. Nino and Grant discussed how the operator and grip work together in synchronicity for crane operation. Henry Pierce ACS, having operated on The Marine and Pitch Black, guided students through the correct use of a geared head. Henry also discussed the finer points of composition and framing. On the geared head was a Genesis, which each of the participants had the chance of operating, much to their delight. My group jumped on a dolly with an Arri SR3 on a fluid head and leaped into discussion about working on dolly’s, working with grips and getting comfy as an operator - but not too comfy! Phil, confessed to being able to speak under water (thankfully he occasionally does underwater operating!) had more stories than time to tell - much to the groups captivated interest. Nino spoke with great care about the importance of on set hygiene for the camera department, due to the close quarters in which we work and has been know to bring a bottle of cologne to set for an offending individual! I love that story! I have to agree with him on that one though. The workshop was a great success, with inspired participants leaving with an abundance of information and stories to take away and review. Watching as many films as possible and keeping up with current films is also a big part of operating - the evidence is on the screen and there for all to see. A big thank you to Andrew Weeks and Santiago Rodriguez who co-ordinated the event. And also a big thanks to QLD ACS Vice President, Mic Collis for his support and time in relation to this event.

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