The Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1958 for the purpose of providing a forum for Australian cinematographers to further develop their skills through mutual co-operation.
Location
Its National Headquarters and clubhouse is located in North Sydney.
Mission
The ACS states the following aims:
*To keep members informed about the latest technology with new equipment demonstrations and ideas through meetings and seminars.
*To further the advancement of Cinematography in all fields and give due recognition to the outstanding work performed by Australian Cinematographers.
*To provide a forum for Cinematographers to meet with other members of the industry to discuss and exchange ideas, promote friendship and better understanding of each other's industry role.
People
Its first National President was Syd Wood ACS. The National President is Erika Addis, the first female to hold the office.
The ACS presents annual awards for achievements in cinematography, including the Golden Tripod (the ACS's highest award for excellence), and the Milli Award to its Cinematographer of the Year. Members of the Society who are "accredited" are allowed to use the ACS suffix after their name. Accreditation is considered one of the highest honours bestowed upon a member and accreditation demonstrates more than just professional competence, but also creativity, consistency and aesthetic innovation.
Awards
The
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a professional organisation of film and television practitioners in Australia. The Academy's aim is "to identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements i ...
(AACTA) awarded the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) as the recipient of the 2014
Byron Kennedy Award
The Byron Kennedy Award is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), a non-profit organisation whose aim is "to identify, award, promote and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and televisi ...
at the 3rd annual
AACTA Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industr ...
. The award celebrates outstanding creative enterprise within the film and television industries and is given to an individual or organisation whose work embodies innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence. The award jury said of their decision: "''We have chosen the Australian Cinematographers Society under the stewardship of
Ron Johanson ACS for its enduring and pivotal role in the pursuit of excellence throughout Australian cinema''". The award was presented to
Ron Johanson ACS on behalf of the Society at the AACTA Awards Ceremony in Sydney on Thursday, 30 January 2014.
The Milli Award is the highest award an Australian Cinematographer can receive from the Society. It is presented at the ACS National Awards for Cinematography to the Australian Cinematographer of the Year. All ACS National Gold Tripod winners progress through to be in the running for the Milli Award.
Legacy
At least six members of the society have been awarded with the
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work on one particular motion picture.
History
In its first film season, 1927–28, this award (like others such as the acting awards) w ...
.
*
Dean Semler AM ACS ASC for ''
Dances With Wolves
''Dances with Wolves'' is a 1990 American epic western film starring, directed, and produced by Kevin Costner in his feature directorial debut. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 novel '' Dances with Wolves'' by Michael Blake that tells the ...
'' (1990).
*
John Seale AM ACS ASC for ''
The English Patient
''The English Patient'' is a 1992 novel by Michael Ondaatje. The book follows four dissimilar people brought together at an Italian villa during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The four main characters are: an unrecognisably burn ...
'' (1996).
*
Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC for ''
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (2001).
*
Russell Boyd ACS ASC for ''
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'' (2003).
*
Dion Beebe ACS ASC for ''
Memoirs of a Geisha
''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and w ...
'' (2005).
*
Greig Fraser ACS ASC for ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...
'' (2021).
Books and publications
*
AC Magazine' is the quarterly journal of the Australian Cinematographers Society.
* ''
The Shadowcatchers: A history of Cinematography in Australia'' (2012)
References
External links
*{{Official website, http://www.cinematographer.org.au/, Australian Cinematographers Society website
The Shadowcatchers websiteShowreelfinder. Online showcase of Australian Cinematographer Society National Award Winners. Published annually.
*
Cinematography organizations
Entertainment industry societies
Organizations established in 1958
Film organisations in Australia
1958 establishments in Australia