Guests, nominees, and decorated industry leaders were among the hundreds who attended the SOC Awards, which returned to an in-person event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The recipient of Camera Operator of the Year in Film was Daniel Bishop ACO Assoc BSC SOC (All Quiet on the Western Front); and the recipients of Camera Operator of the Year in Television were Dave Chameides SOC and B camera operator Cristian Trova (Ozark, S4 Ep 14, “A Hard Way to Go”).
The award recipients were celebrated by industry peers and colleagues at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on Saturday 25 February 2023. A first for the awards, the SOC announced six nominees for Camera Operator of the Year in both the Film and Television categories; and for a second year, the SOC expanded nominations to include collaborative efforts and teams of operators.
Daniel Bishop topped a talented group of nominees in the film category, including Lukasz Bielan (Bullet Train); Mitch Dubin SOC with B camera / Steadicam operator Colin Anderson SOC (The Fabelmans); Jason Ellson SOC (Elvis); Geoffrey Haley SOC (The Gray Man); and Ari Robbins SOC (Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths).
Nominees in the TV category, won by Chameides and Trova, included multiple collaborative teams: Sam Ellison SOC with camera operator Stanley Fernandez (Severance, S1 Ep 3, “In Perpetuity”); Sarah Levy SOC with B camera / Steadicam operator, Dominic Bartolone SOC, C camera operator, Justin Cameron SOC, and roller cam operator, John Lyke (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, S1 Ep 5, “Pieces of a Man”); Gary Malouf with “B” camera operator, Chris Dame (The Bear, S1 Ep7, “The Review”); Jarrett Morgan SOC (Atlanta, S 3 Ep 5, “Cancer Attack”); and Paul Sanchez with “B” camera operator Hilton Goring (The Old Man, S1 Ep 1, “I”).
“Artistically and creatively, it has been an incredible year for film and television – just look at the amazing series, shows, and movies these operators brought to life,” said George Billinger, SOC President. “On behalf of the SOC I want to congratulate all the nominees and recipients for their incredible efforts- thank you for sharing your talent with all of us. Your craft is truly astonishing.”
During the awards, Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell was honoured with the Governors Award, and ARRI Inc. and Hudson Spider accepted SOC Technical Achievement Awards. The Gordon Parks Foundation was also recognised during the awards for Parks’ leadership and pioneering of social justice.
In addition to celebrating the achievements of the exceptional film makers and crews, the SOC Awards Celebration proudly welcomed Dr. Thomas Lee from the Vision Centre at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to centre screen to salute to the success of the SOC’s continued support, including filming the charity’s fundraising videos.
