The Board of Governors of the American Society of Cinematographers has elected Kees Van Oostrum to serve as president of the organization. This is Oostrum’s first term, which will run for one year, beginning immediately. The ASC Board also selected its slate of officers. They include: Bill Bennett, Dean Cundey and Lowell Peterson as vice presidents; Levi Isaacs as treasurer; Fred Goodich as secretary; and Roberto Schaefer as sergeant-at-arms.
Hybrid digital production studio Cognition has hired Eileen Godoy as executive producer. Godoy will manage film and television projects through the processes of editorial finishing, color grading and deliverables. She will collaborate with sales and play a role in setting strategy and planning growth.
Panavision has joined the growing list of companies to support Cooke Optics’ /i Technology , pledging to build support for Cooke Optics’ /i Technology protocol into its portfolio in the future. Cooke's /i Technology is an open metadata protocol that enables film and digital cameras to automatically record key lens data for every frame shot and provide it to post-production teams digitally.
Panasonic has announced a free firmware upgrade for its VariCam 35 4K and VariCam HS camera/recorders that expands recording options and enables several operational and workflow improvements. This multifaceted upgrade was developed based on the practical requirements and input of cinematographers, DITs, rental and post houses and other VariCam partners.
Post-production industry veteran Domenic Rom has been promoted to the role of president and general manager, Deluxe TV Post-Production Services. Rom, formerly the managing director of Deluxe's New York studio (Encore/Company 3/Method), will drive Deluxe's global services for television; specifically, the Encore and Level 3 branded companies. He will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Deluxe CEO John Wallace.
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and the Hollywood Professional Association today announced the jurors for the second annual SMPTE-HPA Student Film Festival. The event is scheduled for October 26, following the Oktoberfest Reception at the SMPTE 2016 Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition in Hollywood, California. The deadline for entries is June 27. For the second year in a row Nick Dager, editor and publisher of Digital Cinema Report will serve as a juror.
Christie is proud to serve as the exclusive digital projection partner of the Shanghai International Film Festival for the eighth consecutive year. The festival runs June 11-19. Currently in its 19th year, the SIFF is known as China’s only non-specialized competitive international film festival accredited by the Paris-based Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films. The festival kicked off in style with the screening of Cold War II – the long-awaited sequel to the 2013 smash hit starring Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok, while Korean-Chinese co-produced melodrama Sweet Sixteen will close the event. The Christie Solaria CP4230 DLP 4K Digital Cinema Projector is once again given the honor to screen both films at this prestigious event, attended by numerous international and regional celebrities.
Cine Gear Expo proved once again to be Hollywood’s pre-eminent gathering for members of the top motion picture, video and new media community to see the latest industry art, technology and trends. This year did not disappoint the nearly 16,000 attendees. Highlighting the 2016 Special Screenings was Vittorio Storaro being honored with Cine Gear’s Cinematography Lifetime Achievement Award.
Composer John Williams was honored with the American Film Institute's 44th Life Achievement Award last week, in an evening filled with music and memories from his treasured collaborators, including J.J. Abrams, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. This marked the first time in history that America's highest honor for a career in film was bestowed upon a composer. The televised special, AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to John Williams, will air on TNT June 15 at 10:00 p.m., followed by an encore presentation on sister network Turner Classic Movies on September 12 during a night of programming dedicated to Williams.
A cat burglar offers advice on home security while invading someone else’s house in a spot introducing the security and home automation system Sage By Hughes. Directed by A Common Thread’s Eli Green for Colorado agency Victors and Spoils, the spot lends a comedic touch to a product category often promoted through fear. While paging through the owners’ books and lounging on their bed, the glib thief explains that his Sage system includes monitoring features that he can control from his phone, “which means I have more confidence to take out of town jobs, like this one.”
