After an enlightening week at the International Cinematography Summit, Christopher Ross BSC reflects on how the spirit of curiosity has been at the heart of the craft since its inception.
Curiosity
/kjʊərɪˈɒsɪti/
Noun
- A strong desire to know or learn something; an interest leading to inquiry.
“Filled with curiosity, she peered through the window.”
- An unusual or interesting object or fact.
“He showed them some of the curiosities of the house.”
As summer continues to bake the UK with its uncompromising gaze, there are, yet again, reasons to celebrate. The Lionesses finally bringing football home may have only been a victory for England, but it was a catalyst for a wider union, a celebration of a well-fought contest over familiar rivals, a celebration of triumph over under-representation, a celebration of womanhood. The largest attendance of any sporting event at Wembley Stadium and over 23 million viewers in the UK alone. A success story outside of simply winning a cup; it won our hearts and inspired our daughters. Long may the Lionesses roar!
And so, to cinematography, not often partnered with football (shout out here to Babe City FC, for proving the exception to the rule), and to a usual summer of busyness. Studios are overflowing, and productions are in full swing. The UK’s buoyant industry is proving, so far, that it’s capable of shaking off the turbulence of inflation and the surge in energy prices.
But repetitive conversations persist: the uniquely antisocial hours of the film industry, the erosion of the work-life balance, the implications of broken turnarounds and long, unmanageable travel times. The overwhelming turnout by the BECTU membership at the recent vote will hopefully lead BECTU and PACT getting back around the table and negotiating an ongoing relationship that will allow crew members and their families fairer working lives. It’s very much a case of “work to live…not live to work”.
But the UK industry does not exist in isolation. These are just a few of the many similar economic and social problems faced by filmmakers around the globe. We might be divided by language and circumstance, but we are united by the dilemmas and challenges faced by cinematographers and crew members.
Later in this issue you will find my round-up from the International Cinematography Summit, a week-long experience with the ASC that I was fortunate to attend. Cinematographers from all over the world met to discuss the most pressing issues pertaining to our craft; organised and curated by the ASC’s International Committee, led by Suki Medencevic ASC and Nathaniel Goodman ASC.
It was a humbling experience to be surrounded by a collective of over 40 global cinematographers, each dedicated to the promotion and exploration of the craft that we hold so dear. As you will read, the itinerary was packed with visits and talks, Q&As and demonstrations. My biggest takeaway from the event was the curiosity displayed by every one of the attending guests. Curious to listen to each other’s stories, curious to experience new techniques and technologies, curious to learn and evolve and to take that learning back to their respective societies.
This curiosity is fundamental to our craft; from its invention at the end of the 19th century to its evolution at the start of the 21st. A historical overview of cinematography soon reveals that the photographic style of cinema ebbs and flows in tandem with technological advances and the ingenuity of its practitioners. Cinematographers and technologists continually questioned the status quo and innovated over the last century to expand the creative toolset and bring audiences a richer, more vibrant storytelling experience. Being inquisitive is the wellspring of this innovation and the lifeblood of cinematography.
Our great film schools within the UK do a wonderful job of instilling a sense of adventurous learning in their students; the BSC is full of graduates of these amazing institutions, living proof that great learning lasts a lifetime. Similarly, if you are fortunate to work within a great team, this inquisitiveness will be found on every film set and location around the world, driving personal growth and opportunity. But many of us fall through the cracks, too busy paying bills or caught up in young careers to dedicate two years to film school, the flame of inquiry dimming with time.
With that in mind, the BSC aims to inspire curiosity across every generation of cinematographers. The newly formed BSC Education Committee, under the leadership of Oliver Stapleton BSC, is in the process of delivering the first of the planned Masterclasses. As we go to press, 25 young cinematographers are joining Rob Hardy BSC ASC, Sean Bobbitt BSC, Ula Pontikos BSC, Stuart Bentley BSC and Mandy Walker AM ASC ACS on a series of practical workshops and knowledge-sharing exercises across a weekend of learning at the National Film and Television School. A golden opportunity for personal evolution and growth for all involved. For the most experienced, a chance for reflection; for novices, the possibility of higher learning.
Stay curious.
