Jungle Boogie Rob Hardy BSC / Annihilation Jungle Boogie Rob Hardy BSC / Annihilation BY: Michael Burns When the cinematographer and writer-director responsible for one of the most visually striking films of modern times come together again to work on a new movie, based on a contemporary sci-fi classic, you know that the look will … Read more
Shining a light on… Gaffers ‘R’ Us / David Smith Shining a light on… Gaffers ‘R’ Us / David Smith Header Photo: Julian Bucknall BY: David Wood Fact file: Age: 48 Born: London School: Wanstead High School Training: Lee International, Wembley Early career: Commercials and music videos Lives: East London Hobbies/passions: Travel, cycling, taking his … Read more
Lighting ghosts Ben Smithard BSC / The Man Who Invented Christmas Lighting ghosts Ben Smithard BSC / The Man Who Invented Christmas BY: Valentina Valentini Ben Smithard BSC has shot of a lot of films set in a range of periods throughout historical England – The Damned United, My Week With Marilyn, Belle, Diana And … Read more
Breakthrough Brit! Meet the New Wave / Kit Fraser Breakthrough Brit! Meet the New Wave / Kit Fraser Filmography (so far): Under The Shadow (2016), Possum (releasing in 2018), Farming (releasing in 2018) When did you discover you wanted to be a cinematographer? I was 15 and our school had been given a grant to … Read more
The Awards Season Wrap Across the Pond / Mark London Williams The Awards Season Wrap Across the Pond / Mark London Williams “I’m just the second craft President,” the current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, John Bailey, told us a couple days ahead of the Oscars. “And the first cinematographer.” … Read more
Plus ça change Barry Ackroyd BSC / Detroit Plus ça change Barry Ackroyd BSC / Detroit BY: Kevin Hilton The Academy Award nominations field appears wide open this year, with few – if any – solid front-runners. Among the many possibles for best picture is Detroit. Well-reviewed on its release last year, but with a … Read more
Mr Sydney Clapperboard / Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE, BSC, Fellow BKSTS Mr Sydney Clapperboard / Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE, BSC, Fellow BKSTS BY: David A. Ellis Sir Sydney Wylie Samuelson CBE, BSC, Fellow BKSTS left school in December 1939, aged fourteen, and started out as a rewind boy at the newly-built Luxor Cinema, Lancing, in … Read more
Femme fatale Ula Pontikos BSC / Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool Femme fatale Ula Pontikos BSC / Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool BY: Ron Prince Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the critically-acclaimed Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool retells the biographical account of actor Peter Turner and his brief but … Read more
War child Anthony Dod Mantle DFF BSC ASC / First They Killed My Father War child Anthony Dod Mantle DFF BSC ASC / First They Killed My Father BY: Ron Prince First They Killed My Father depicts the true story of Loung Ung, who was forcibly trained as a child soldier, whilst her parents ‘disappeared’ … Read more
A Moment Of Critical Mass Across The Pond / Mark London Williams A Moment Of Critical Mass Across The Pond / Mark London Williams Sir Patrick Stewart recently ended his hosting of the Academy’s SciTech awards with an off-the-cuff rendition of Puck’s closing monologue from Midsummer Night’s Dream : “If we shadows have offended/Think but … Read more
“The Mudbound Variation” Across The Pond / Mark London Williams “The Mudbound Variation” Across The Pond / Mark London Williams With what might be called “The Mudbound Variation,” the ASC announced its slate of nominees for its 32nd annual awards, just hours after the BAFTA nominees were known. BAFTA, of course, serves as England’s comprehensive … Read more
Who’s Afraid Of Red, Green and Blue? Vittorio Storaro AIC ASC / Wonder Wheel Who’s Afraid Of Red, Green and Blue? Vittorio Storaro AIC ASC / Wonder Wheel By the master himself, triple Oscar-winning cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro AIC ASC, shares his experiences of shooting Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel digitally, and offers more sage advice for … Read more
All Aboard Haris Zambarloukos BSC GSC / Murder On The Orient Express All Aboard Haris Zambarloukos BSC GSC / Murder On The Orient Express BY: Ron Prince A sumptuous steam-train journey through the wintery mountains of Eastern Europe comes to a grinding halt after an avalanche impedes its progress, and the dramatic discovery of a … Read more
Signs of the Times Ben Davis BSC / Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Signs of the Times Ben Davis BSC / Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri BY: Trevor Hogg Combining dark subject matter with a sense a humour is a trademark of filmmaker and playwright Martin McDonagh who, in his third cinematic effort, explores the … Read more
What has space travel ever done for us? GBCT News / John Keedwell What has space travel ever done for us? GBCT News / John Keedwell Question: What do the following films have in common? Men In Black, Event Horizon, The Full Monty, LA Confidential, Seven Years In Tibet, Boogie Nights, Good Will Hunting, Titanic … Read more
Not At Any Rate GBCT News / Tim Potter Not At Any Rate GBCT News / Tim Potter How much are we truly worth? And, more to the point, how do we find out and how do we make sure every one of us knows? When I first started in this business, the hardest piece … Read more
HDR in Practice Post-it Notes / Kevin Shaw HDR in Practice Post-it Notes / Kevin Shaw Colourist Kevin Shaw says there are many misguided beliefs about HDR, plus the current mixed offering to consumers further complicates progress in creating a better viewing experience. Whilst anyone who sees well-mastered images on a 4,000-nit monitor instantly appreciates … Read more
International illumination President’s Perspective / Mike Eley BSC International illumination President’s Perspective / Mike Eley BSC This edition (84, November 2017) of the BSC magazine celebrates the 25th anniversary of both IMAGO and Camerimage, a body and an event respectively that provide forums for our profession and which embody supportive coexistence. I went to my … Read more
A higher level of illumination Spotlight / Chimera Lighting A higher level of illumination Spotlight / Chimera Lighting BY: Michael Burns Born out of a desire to provide a kinder and more controllable light source for portrait photography, Chimera Lighting has become a significant name in movie and video lighting, but it’s never forgotten its … Read more
Long haul traveller Meet the New Wave / Rina Yang Long haul traveller Meet the New Wave / Rina Yang Filmography (so far): commercials for brands including Nike, Apple, Under Armour, Netflix, Lexus, Rimmel, Shiseido and Uniqulo. Music videos for Kendrick Lamar, FKA Twigs, Vince Staples, Loyle Carner, Rita Ora, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and … Read more