President’s Letter – May 2012

So Sensitive

Just yesterday I was explaining to a producer how film has become an artistic rather than economic choice. That’s not without advantages: the myth about digital being cheaper than film is not something we still have to battle. Producers, directors, studio executives and others now understand that when you are choosing a digital camera, you are choosing the “emulsion” that will determine the quality of a project’s look. And that means the choice to shoot film becomes a viable and artistic one. Read more

President’s Letter – April 2012

Along the Watchtower

Thinking about new technology and its impact on the world of visual effects and, by extension, on our membership, I’m reminded of the classic Bob Dylan anthem “All Along The Watchtower” (famously covered by Jimi Hendrix). As the memorable opening lines go: “‘There must be some way out of here,’ said the joker to the thief. ‘There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.’” And then later, the thief retorts, “But you and I, we’ve been through that, and this is not our fate. So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late.” Read more

President’s Letter – March 2012

Wake-up Call

There’s something remarkable going on in the way our culture now creates and consumes entertainment and media. Through a constant overlay of technologies, we have changed not only our physical surroundings but also the way we react to even the most mundane of everyday events. Read more

President’s Letter – February 2012

Digital snowflakes

I recently had an opportunity to do a pick-up shot for a friend on a movie shot on film, which is rare these days, albeit not unheard of. I went in and took out my light meter, set the lens, pushed the button and went home! Read more

President’s Letter – January 2012

My New Year’s Resolution? More change.

New years bring new thoughts about what lies ahead in the world of image capture and processing. And I think, in some ways, it will be a year of consolidation of services and transition to all things digital. The jury is still out however on how good this will be for the quality of motion pictures (notice I didn’t call them films). Read more

President’s Letter – December 2011

Skating to the Puck

There’s been a lot spoken and written about the passing of Steve Jobs in the last few months, but I’d like to offer one more example of how attitude and purpose of vision can make all the difference in one’s career. Jobs, talking at the 2007 Macworld Conference and Expo about how Apple products have stayed ahead of the curve, famously quoted Wayne Gretsky, who advised to, “skate where the puck’s going, not where it’s been.” Read more

President’s Letter – November 2011

Pros and Cons

How will the world of non-fiction filmmaking be impacted by the amazing new array of prosumer tools to hit the market? I’m talking about iPhones that can shoot at1080P and a tiny HD camera like the GoPro® that can fit literally anywhere. There’s even a new support rig (the Smoothee) made by the same people who brought us the legendary Steadicam. There are also new mini (and mighty) camera systems from Sony, Panasonic and others some, of which, are 3D capable! Read more

President’s Letter – October 2011

Right Today, Wrong Tomorrow?

I’m beginning to really dislike the term: workflow. Everyone assumes it’s something brand new. But, in fact, it’s been around for a long time, albeit in different guises. Read more

President’s Letter – September 2011

Where Talent Meets Opportunity

How hard is it to get a break in this business? How many times have I asked myself that question over the course of my long career? As anyone in this freelance industry knows, it is a refrain that comes and goes throughout one’s working life, but at the beginning, that question is most pertinent. As film schools around the world graduate more shooters each year with some of the qualifications to do the work we do, the competition for jobs gets all the more fierce. So what can we, as a labor union, do to enhance the lives of the undiscovered talent in our Guild? Read more

President’s Letter – August 2011

All Grown Up

Last month I talked about how important it was for Guild camera crews to be literate; to be able to describe, in a concise and cogent manner, how, why and exactly what it is we do in this industry. As workflows and technology grow ever more complex, knowing how best to communicate with directors, producers, editors and other creative stakeholders on a production becomes, if anything, a survival skill. Read more

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