Imagine a motion picture camera whose movement was powered by a crank attached to a…bicycle chain.  Well, that was precisely the case with this c.1910 Williamson Kinematograph model.          According to the British entity, Science Museum Group, it was…             …manufactured by The Williamson Kinematograph Co. Ltd., London and Brighton.  ‘English Pattern’ upright cine … Continue reading “APPARENTLY, DURABILITY WAS THE GOAL”

         As much as I enjoyed Robert Elswit, ASC’s amazing cinematography in the Netflix production of Ripley, I find it incomprehensible that anyone would reject it outright because it was created in black and white.  But since there’s no accounting for taste, I’m bringing you Maira Butt’s April 10th article in the British publication, The … Continue reading “DOES IT EVER END…?”

         The currently-running Netflix limited series, Ripley, is one of the best shows I’ve seen in quite some time.  Drawn from Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley, I was a bit dubious going in.  I hadn’t been a fan of Anthony Minghella’s 1999 feature version (John Seale, ASC, ACS) and thus had to be … Continue reading “RIPLEY (2024; Netflix)”

         Last year’s award-winning Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan\Hoyte van Hoytema, ASC, FSF, NFC) and Maestro (Bradley Cooper\Matthew Libatique, ASC, LPS) made good use of multiple formats within a single framework.  To once again remind us that there’s very little left that hasn’t already been shown in some form or another, below is an article from the … Continue reading “HAS EVERYTHING BEEN DONE ALREADY…?”

         This snippet from the Hollywood Bulletin Board column in the April 1957 issue of American Cinematographer proves that ignorance and irresponsibility on part of award-granting organizations is nothing new.  Apparently, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences caught the bug early.  At the time, the Emmys had only been on the scene for eight … Continue reading “STUPIDITY IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE”

         I recently enjoyed one of those on-set moments during which someone tosses out an odd assumption with absolute certitude, then defies the residents of video village to prove them wrong.  The issue concerned a moment from the famous crop duster pursuit of Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959; Robert Burks, ASC).  … Continue reading “YOU BE THE JUDGE”

         An interesting quote from the great director, James Cameron:          “I’ll cry in a movie before I’ll cry in a similar situation in real life.  Which I think is interesting.  In real life, my defenses are up.  I’m supposed to be the strong guy.  I’m supposed to be the guy that everybody relies on.  … Continue reading “HE WHO DOES NOT CRY CANNOT SEE”

         The ASC Clubhouse continually amazes me.  Every time you think there’s no more history to be drawn from its hallowed walls, someone digs deeper and unearths another amazing treasure.          And when I say ‘unearths,’ I’m not kidding.  The signers of the letters featured below were the first humans to set foot on the … Continue reading “MOON MATTERS”

         My recent posts regarding the LED volume seem to have touched a nerve; I’ve been inundated with inquiries about how and where to learn about this incredible – and intricate – technology.          As always, the best way to inform oneself is by doing, but barring those random or unattainable opportunities, I’d highly recommend … Continue reading “LEARN SOMETHING NEW…!”

         In keeping with Friday’s post, a visit to the Netflix LED volume in Hollywood informed me of a modification to what was already a great innovation: an extending of the LED screen to some fifteen feet of the floor, measured from the base of the wall.          It may not seem so earth-shattering, but … Continue reading “THE TIP OF THE SPEAR”