British Cinematographer - British Cinematographer

Ronald Taylor BSC “Ronnie” 1924-2018

British Cinematographer is saddened to hear of the passing of respected operator and cinematographer, and former BSC President, Ronnie Taylor BSC at the age of 93.

Issue 89 (September 2018): An Advance Look

Get an advance look at some of the great content set to feature* in the September 2018 issue (89) of British Cinematographer magazine, including Michael Seresin BSC ASC's work on Mowgli, Seamus McGarvey BSC ASC on Bad Times At The El Royale and Jess Hall BSC's Serenity. Purchase a Print or Print & Digital subscription before 28th August and receive this edition to your letterbox. (*tentative and subject to change).

BAFTA appoints Ellen Johnson as Director of Communications

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the appointment of Ellen Johnson as its Director of Communications. Image Credit: BAFTA/Jordan Anderson

Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus Lens First Choice to Showcase Sony VENICE CineAlta Camera

Thanks to cinematographer Gianluca Bertone, Cooke's S7/i lens was used for the world’s first nighttime aerial footage using Sony’s VENICE CineAlta camera, at 6K full-frame and ISO 2500, which was shown at Sony's press event at NAB.

Inside The New Issue: 88

Dun, dun, dun-dun dun, dun, dun-dun... In our July edition, Rob Hardy BSC lets us in on operations and behind-the-scenes info from the sets of Mission: Impossible - Fallout, and joins the likes of Robert Yeoman ASC, Charlotte Bruus Christensen DFF and Dariusz Wolski ASC. Get a sneak preview of this, and more, that subscribers can enjoy in the new issue of British Cinematographer magazine - released 13th July.

Screen Craft Rights has collected £4m: Is some of that yours?

Over £4million pounds has been collected from European sources by Screen Craft Rights for the benefit of cinematographers and HODs working on British film and TV productions since it was established as a collecting society in 2011.

Movietech Deploys Sony Venice on inaugural European feature

Camera, lens and grip specialist, Movietech, dispatched its newly-acquired Sony Venice camera to support cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister BSC on Official Secrets, the camera system’s debut on a European feature.

BSC’s ‘Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Release Award 2017’ Nominees

The British Society of Cinematographers are delighted to announce the nominations for this year’s BSC Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Release Award 2017, with Roger Deakins CBE BSC ASC again leading the field.

Issue 88 (July 2018): An Advance Look

Get an advance look at some of the great content set to feature* in the July 2018 issue (88) of British Cinematographer magazine, including Rob Hardy BSC's work on Mission Impossible: Fallout. Purchase a Print or Print & Digital subscription before 3rd July and receive this edition to your letterbox. (*subject to change).

The Winners at the 71st Cannes Film Festival

The 71st Cannes Film Festival has concluded and all the winners have been announced - see them all, including the coveted Palm d'Or. Image © Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Lachman to receive Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography

Tonight (Friday 18 May 2018) at the Buñuel Theatre in the Palais des Festivals, Edward Lachman ASC, surrounded by significant directors and actors will be awarded the “Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography” tribute.

The Vitec Group brands and products on display at Cine Gear Expo

Read about the products you can see at Cine Gear Expo, 31 May to 3 June, presented by the brands of The Vitec Group.

Martin Scorsese and Cate Blanchett declare the 71st Festival de Cannes open!

The Festival de Cannes opened yesterday evening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière with an excerpt from Pierrot le fou by Jean-Luc Godard, from which the poster for this 71st edition was taken.

UK Screen Alliance & Animation UK elect new council representatives

The members of the UK Screen Alliance in partnership with Animation UK have elected new representative councils.

Ronald Taylor BSC “Ronnie” 1924-2018

British Cinematographer is saddened to hear of the passing of respected operator and cinematographer, and former BSC President, Ronnie Taylor BSC at the age of 93.

Issue 89 (September 2018): An Advance Look

BAFTA appoints Ellen Johnson as Director of Communications

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the appointment of Ellen Johnson as its Director of Communications. Image Credit: BAFTA/Jordan Anderson

Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus Lens First Choice to Showcase Sony VENICE CineAlta Camera

Inside The New Issue: 88

Screen Craft Rights has collected £4m: Is some of that yours?

Close-Up

Charlotte Bruus Christensen DFF / A Quiet Place

Charlotte Bruus Christensen DFF took on the horror genre and shot 35mm film for A Quiet Place. Read all about her love of the analogue way of working, how she collaborated with Panavision on a specific lens set, and why she believes film is uniquely atmospheric.

Talking Heads

Richard Crudo ASC “Young Guns”

Richard Crudo ASC wonders how much the traditions of learning the art of filmmaking will affect the next generation.

On the Job

Robert Yeoman ASC / Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

The smash-hit Mamma Mia! is back with another music-filled delight, and this time Robert Yeoman ASC picks up the cinematography mantle to paint the sound of ABBA on-screen. Discover how he differentiated between the modern and ’70s flashback scenes, created a theatrical twist to his natural lighting, and how he worked closely with Gaffers ‘R’ Us inductee Pat Sweeney.

Camera Creative

Rob Hardy BSC / Mission: Impossible – Fallout

For Mission: Impossible - Fallout, the sixth incarnation of the Tom Cruise-starring series, cinematographer Rob Hardy BSC tells us about why he chose the wider-end of the lens range, the choice to deploy a back-to-basics style of filmmaking, and the challenge of lighting inside Paris’s Grand Palais.

Across the Pond

July 2018:
True Inspirations

Mark London Williams delves into the influences on three DPs in this month's fascinating column - with newly re-elected ASC president Kees van Oostrum making a case for Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer being a genius cinematographer centuries ahead of his time; Alan Jacobsen, DP of Oscar-nominated Strong Island, reflecting on his stunned reaction to seeing Mystery Train by the late Robby Muller; and Nathalie Durand AFC citing how Ricardo Aronovitch led her to study cinematography.

Talking Heads

Mike Eley BSC “Fool’s Gold?”

In his column from May's Issue 87, BSC President Mike Eley ponders on the plethora of choice of film equipment in the modern age, and whether the greatest tools a cinematographer has are already at their disposal.

Spotlight

CVP

For over 30 years, CVP has been equipping directors of photography with the camera, lens and grip brands that keep the industry moving. But, a look beyond the digital façade reveals far more than a simple ‘online box shifter’.

Close-Up

Sam McCurdy BSC / Lost In Space

To reboot 1965 TV series Lost In Space, Netflix returned to the source material - the novel Swiss Family Robinson - and combined it with a visual treatment straight out of the future, delivered to the screen by Sam McCurdy BSC.

Clapperboard

Frances Russell BSC

For 37 years, Frances Russell worked as company secretary for the British Society of Cinematographers, with her gregariousness and indefatigable enthusiam proving priceless in support of the society. Read all about the life and times of the First Lady of the BSC.

Close-Up

Eben Bolter / The Woman In White

Another former 'New Wave' star, Eben Bolter, was behind the camera for the BBC series The Woman In White, and speaks to us again about creating a cinematic realism, moving the camera led by the story and avoiding the stereotypical look.

Close-Up

Remi Adefarasin OBE BSC / Juliet, Naked

Adapted from the Nick Hornby novel of the same name, Juliet, Naked is a contemporary story about an obscure rocker encountering the long-suffering girlfriend of an obsessive fan, which releases in the US in August. Trevor Hogg speaks in an exclusive interview to its British cinematographer, Remi Adefarasin OBE BSC, about his work on the film.

Close-Up

Aaron Reid / 10×10

The psychological thriller 10x10 seesaws from quiet to bombastic, light-and-airy to dark, all cramped into the space of 90 minutes. Former 'New Wave' inductee Aaron Reid took on the challenges of balancing seclusion and claustrophobia on Alexa Mini.

Meet the New Wave

James Oldham

He has an EP on Spotify to go with a 'Best Emerging Cinematographer' award from the BSC - it's the musically-minded 'New Wave' inductee James Oldham. Feature image credit: Howard Wilkinson Photography.

Close-Up

Zac Nicholson BSC / The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society

For this historical drama, DP Zac Nicholson BSC took on the task of making the German occupation of the Channel Islands in WWII beautiful, not saccharine, and look as a fairy tale but not contrived. Read on about how he tackled the locations, the sets, two time periods and a variety of hardware.

Innovator

Tiffen at 80

A leading manufacturer of filters and lens accessories, Tiffen celebrates 80 years in the film and TV industry this year and we take time to tell the story of one of the most recognisable names in the business.

Across the Pond

June 2018:
Future Proofing

As another CineGear Expo comes to a conclusion, Mark London Williams ponders on its expansion and 'future proofing' the show and its gear. Elsewhere, Christopher Probst ASC encourages people to think of pixels as 'sensels', and Tami Reiker discusses Disney Freeform's Cloak and Dagger. Lead image: ©2018 George Leon/FILMCASTlive

Close-Up

Catherine Goldschmidt / The Honor List

When tragedy strikes before high-school graduation, four friends who have gone their separate ways reluctantly put their differences aside and reunite to complete a forgotten bucket list in The Honor List, directed by Elissa Down and captured by cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt.

Talking Heads

Steven Poster ASC “The Time Is Now”

Steven Poster ASC says levels of diversity and inclusivity are not even close to where they should be, although he does see some progress starting to happen and wants to encourage even more.

Close-Up

Ed Lachman ASC / Wonderstruck

Todd Haynes’ touching mystery Wonderstruck is the fifth narrative collaboration between the director and cinematographer Ed Lachman ASC. The American DP reveals how he linked the two time periods, how he took inspiration from silent-era movies, and why a black-and-white look is very different on film compared to digital.

On the Job

Sean Bobbitt BSC / On Chesil Beach

The first full-length feature helmed by renowned theatre director Dominic Cooke, On Chesil Beach was shot on 35mm film in 2-perf by Sean Bobbitt BSC. Discover why Bobbitt chose his three Kodak film stocks for the project, the benefits of shooting on film for the movie’s look, and why he never reads a book associated with a project.

Gaffers R Us

Pat Sweeney

Scottish gaffer Pat Sweeney was a late starter to the industry, but has built up a varied roster in the past 15 years, including The Theory Of Everything, The Mummy and Game Of Thrones. Discover his once-in-a-lifetime experience, how he deals with the demands of the job and why anticipation is what you need.

Close-Up