Miller and Dean Semler Panel on May 31

[Retroman]

From Inside Film and ACS 50th Conference:

Dr Miller and Semler to debate at ACS50
May 20, 2008 |
By Zona Marie Tan

The future of the image will be deliberated on at the upcoming ACS50 conference with much excitement as Andrew Lesnie, Dr George Miller and Dean Semler will be amongst top cinematographers and filmmakers speaking at the industry panel sessions.

On May 31 there will be two free industry panel sessions open to all at the Dendy Opera Quays. The morning session entitled ‘The Collaborators’ will see three award-winning teams of director-cinematographer who will screen work examples, discuss their working relationship and be open to a Q&A from the floor.

The two pairs confirmed to be speaking at this session that will be moderated by Peter Thompson are Dr George Miller and Dean Semler (Mad Max 2 & 3, The Dismissal and Justice League: Mortal), and Bruce Beresford and Peter James (Driving Miss Daisy, Paradise Road, Black Robe and Mao’s Last Dancer).

The afternoon session, titled after the ACS50’s theme the ‘Future of the Image’ will be heralded by Academy Award winner Andrew Lesnie (Babe, Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong), President of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Daryn Okada (Baby Mama, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay), Geoff Boyle (Mutant Chronicles, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li), Nigel Walters (Panorama, Around the World in 80 Days with Michael Palin) and Panavision’s John Galt, while moderated by Atlab’s Dominic Case.

“Looking at the people on the panel, I’m excited about it. There definitely won’t be a shortage of strong opinions there,” says Case, Atlab’s Communications Director.

“There’s broad range of people coming from different countries, experience and different fields, and personally to my knowledge, with different attitudes to a number of issues. So I don’t think we’ll be short of things to talk about.”

Among the issues that will be discussed at the ‘Future of the Image’ industry panel would be how technology is affecting the cinematographer today and 3D filmmaking.

There is a big buzz among cinematographers about 3D changing the grammar of filmmaking. Case certainly believes it’s a big enough topic that warrants deliberation on how that will affect cinematographers.

“Because things like the aspect of an image with depth of field and so on just have a totally new meaning when you go into 3D,” explains Case. “So I will be bringing up questions like how will 3D affect story telling as it becomes the all-new encompassing way of telling stories.”

Although free, those interested in attending the Industry Panel sessions should RSVP for seats at http://www.acs50rego.com/index.php?ecPath=3


The Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) is celebrating its 50 years contribution to Australia’s film and television history with a landmark conference, exhibition and awards gala dinner from May 28-June 1, 2008 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West, Sydney. For more information visit www.acs50.com

Source Links:http://www.if.com.au/News/View.aspx?newsid=993
More details: http://www.acs50.com/conference/Presenters.cfm?objid=26

IMO there's a good chance that we will get some answers on Justice League whether it's dead or alive.

 

[biolumen]

Thanks Retroman

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23774839-7582,00.html

High achievers give lens-eye view

Michael Bodey | May 29, 2008

Whether it is due to our unnatural light or our film technicians' ability to adapt to extraordinary locations and low budgets, Australian cinematographers have become as sought after by Hollywood as our actors.

The litany of modern directors of photography is extensive, from veterans Don McAlpine (Moulin Rouge!) and Peter James (Driving Miss Daisy) to younger guns such as Dion Beebe (Collateral) and Mandy Walker (Australia).

This week, they and many others celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Australian Cinematographers Society.

The local film industry, of course, pre-dates 1958; nevertheless, the establishment of such a society in the 1950s is odd considering it was hardly a high point for our film industry.

The same could be said of today, with cinematographers of the calibre of Dean Semler and Andrew Lesnie not presently working in their homeland.
Semler, an Academy Award winner for Dances with Wolves says he is saddened that his next chance to work with George Miller in Sydney, on Justice League: Mortal, was denied by its inability to arrange a 40 per cent producer offset.

"From what I'm hearing it's going to be a lean period after Justice League was refused the rebate," he says. "The American states are offering huge rebates so people are moving from Hollywood to other states, even within the US."

Semler has just returned from shooting the western Appaloosa for Ed Harris in Arizona, where 15 other film and television productions were filming.

"Producers will always chase the most cost-effective place to shoot," says Andrew Lesnie, another Australian Oscar winner (for Lord of the Rings), who has been working in New Zealand on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones.

"Justice League would have benefited from a state government or federal government being a bit more pro-active about keeping the production here because it's true, they'll take it to Canada or New Zealand or Romania and crews here won't have work," Lesnie says.

"I don't think they realise that even within the US it's very competitive to draw productions to their state."

Even so, both cinematographers are enthused by the possibilities of digital cinema.

Semler could reasonably be expected, as one who began filming in the 1970s and '80s on films such as Mad Max 2 and the mini-series The Dismissal, to be set in his ways.

Yet he's one of digital cinema's revolutionaries, pushing the new Panavision Genesis digital camera system with the fervour of a missionary. If that digital camera can survive the forests of Apocalypto, it can survive anything. "It's really exciting, this transition period," Semler says. "This digital era means the creative tools are at your fingertips."

The digital era comes with a caveat for cinematographers, though. The sanctity of their images is under threat and the ACS and guilds within the US and Britain are deciding how to protect the rights of their artists.

"What we've got to be careful of now is to control our image," says Semler. "That's directors of photography having control of the final image. Directors, producers and even actors who are producers can manipulate and turn it into anything they want, change the colour of your hair, have images blown up. As a cinematographer now you've got to try (to) stay with the movie until you see the digital master."

Lesnie even knows of cinematographers who have taken their names off films. Lower budget filmmaking or inexperienced directors are to blame, he says.

"There's a generation of new directors who are always looking at cost cutting. Even if I offer to be present in post-production at no cost, and I have, they'll refuse, so they're doing digital masters where the only person in room is a first-time director."

 

[Retroman]

Thanks for the article biolumen.

Are they still really whining about the rebate? The film doesn't qualify for 40% plain and simple.Get over it already.

 

[biolumen]

JLM is being used as the poster child for what they feel is a shortsighted decision on the part of the Arts Ministry.

 

[jmc]

IMO there's a good chance that we will get some answers on Justice League whether it's dead or alive.

I'm guessing any answer will be neither dead nor alive but simply 'delayed'.

 

[biolumen]

While in town for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Australian Cinematographers Society, Semler stopped by the ABC studios for an interview. The only mention of JLM was during the interviewer's introduction to Semler, when he said "His upcoming works include 'Get Smart' and 'Justice League: Mortal'".

Semler's interview segment begins at the 17:00 mark of the audio stream (or download) found at the following link, and is mostly about his thoughts on the new 'digital age' of cinematography.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/movietime/stories/2008/2259779.htm

 

[Superhobo]

I hope there's a video or a transcript of it - wish I could be there. Ho hum.

 

[biolumen]

The conference concluded with an awards dinner Saturday night.

Recipients of the Golden Tripods and distinction awards this year proudly received their awards from guest of honour, Academy Award winner Dean Semler AM ACS ASC (Apocalypto, Mad Max 2 & 3).

Semler, in his speech before giving out the awards, expressed his disappointment that the production of Justice League Mortal could not materialise in Australia which would otherwise have an amazing contribution to the film industry. Then proceeded to joke that if production had gone ahead, he would have been filming Megan Gale in her Wonder Woman costume and missed out on the ACS50.

http://www.if.com.au/News/View.aspx?newsid=1028

 

[GreenKToo]

It amazes me how these films are announced with such fanfare, but die whimpering.

 

[The Major]

Then proceeded to joke that if production had gone ahead, he would have been filming Megan Gale in her Wonder Woman costume and missed out on the ACS50.

They could buy her a WW costume at a store or get their costume designer friends to make one for her to wear which they can take photos or use a built-in camera on a mobile phone.

They could even get Gale to wear a WW costume temporarily in a comedy or drama in a future film.

Gale gets to be "Wonder Woman" and the fans of the character won't be ticked off she's the official WW in a movie. Everyone wins.

 

[Showtime]

Is this section still around?

 

[Gotham]

Does this mean that the film is cancelled? Can't really tell from that article..

 

[biolumen]

Does this mean that the film is cancelled? Can't really tell from that article..

The only thing that appears absolutely certain is that it won't film in Australia, but most everyone feels that this particular JL movie won't be made at all. As has been pointed out elsewhere, Warners will not come out and say it's dead. The most likely source for such confirmation will be from director Miller or producer Osborne. The only thing we've heard in the last two months from anyone involved are some cast members saying that they remain hopeful it's still made, though also admitting that they know nothing of it's official status. Now we get guys like Semler stating disappointment that they can't film it in Sydney, but saying nothing about it's potential for being made elsewhere. It's a bit frustrating.

 

[Superhobo]

Indeedy - although, as you and I were discussing on IMDb sometime back, if the film is cancelled, then it kind of frees Miller up to work on his own stuff - original screenplays and such, which is something I'm a little more excited about, given his relatively sparse filmography.


If this post seems funny, as I've been saying all day with almost every other post, it's because of the meds - they're a kick.

 

[biolumen]

Indeedy - although, as you and I were discussing on IMDb sometime back, if the film is cancelled, then it kind of frees Miller up to work on his own stuff - original screenplays and such, which is something I'm a little more excited about, given his relatively sparse filmography.

Indeed, if word comes that Miller is moving on straight into Mad Max 4, I'd be one very happy camper.

If this post seems funny, as I've been saying all day with almost every other post, it's because of the meds - they're a kick.

Not to worry, hobo. None of your posts are funny in the least. t:

 

[Superhobo]

Indeed, if word comes that Miller is moving on straight into Mad Max 4, I'd be one very happy camper.

Oh, most totally, my luminous one.

Not to worry, hobo. None of your posts are funny in the least. t:

Alrigh - wait.




Oh.

 

[GreenKToo]

I think it will be a looong time before we see a J.L. film, if ever.
If anything, my money is on a world's Finest film with Bale and Routh.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

^Agreed.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea it is probably going to be a long time before we see jla, which sucks i do hope maybe things can turn around with wb and we do get a jla film within the next 1-4 yrs i dont want to wait 10-15 yrs to see it happen. But maybe if MOS does happen and it does better then SR did maybe WF or jla will go down.

 

[The Major]

Is Wolfgang Petersen still interested in making World's Finest?

 

[KBX]

I think it will be a looong time before we see a J.L. film, if ever.
If anything, my money is on a world's Finest film with Bale and Routh.

You may be right about a World's Finest movie before JL, but I highly doubt it will be with Bale in it, let alone with both Bale and Routh.

Bale is done with Bruce Wayne once the 3rd one comes out.

 

[Retroman]

Thanks for the articles biolumen.

No one seemed to have asked any firm questions about JL or get any definitive answers about the movie. Another missed opportunity.

 

[GreenKToo]

You may be right about a World's Finest movie before JL, but I highly doubt it will be with Bale in it, let alone with both Bale and Routh.

Bale is done with Bruce Wayne once the 3rd one comes out.

I'm just speculating here.
If TDK does well and *if* M.o.S. gets made and does well, I have no doubt W.B. will see dollar signs with the thought of both of them togeather in one film and will seriously think about a W.F. film with Bale and Routh togeather. Lots of money to be made there and money talks.

Like I said though, thats just me speculating.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

You may be right about a World's Finest movie before JL, but I highly doubt it will be with Bale in it, let alone with both Bale and Routh.

Bale is done with Bruce Wayne once the 3rd one comes out.

Really? Are you his publicist? I doubt many predicted Bale would take on a project such as Terminator with McG directing, so I wouldn't go around making statements like that. Especially, when Bale has once never said he is done playing Batman once he is done with Nolan's trilogy. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm not ruling it out either (WF with Routh).

 

[KBX]

No, Im not his publicist.

Him taking on the role as John Connor is not surprising to me, since he took on the role as Bruce Wayne. Of course, Bale will not say anything about when he is done with the character, especially since a 3rd movie hasn't even come out yet. If Bale does do a WF movie, I would think Nolan doesn't want to do a 3rd Batman movie, and they would just combine that with Rouths 3rd Superman movie.

Nolan, I believe he once stated that he doesn't want to make Batman campy, thus the reason why he won't be using Robin, and being base in a realistic world. So how would Superman work.

Never say never, money does change people's mind, but Bale would probably want to take on different roles in his career.... plus throwing twice the money at an actor for half the screen-time isn't all that great of a decision for a studio