August 2024

The CSC Welcomes New Full Member, Justin Black csc

Justin Black csc is a cinematographer from Toronto, Canada. His credits include Hardy Boys Season 3 on Hulu for which he won a CSC award for Cinematography in a Dramatic Commercial Series, Circuit Breakers and Ghostwriter Season 3 on AppleTV+, feature film Run Woman Run by Zoe Hopkins, and dramatic scenes for the hybrid cinematic doc Wilfred Buck by Lisa Jackson, shot on 16mm. His short film Terminally In Love for which he was DP and co-director was selected for Telefilm Canada’s Not Short on Talent showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, received Best Short Film at the Canadian Film Festival and was featured in Canadian Cinematographer. His latest short film as director and cinematographer Amaranth won the Kodak Cinematic Vision Award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

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CFC & CSC Introduce Groundbreaking Cinematography Intensive for Female-Identifying Artisans

The Canadian Film Centre and Canadian Society of Cinematographers are pleased to launch a Cinematography Intensive, welcoming five female-identifying directors of photography for a comprehensive two-week workshop in collaboration with the 2024 Norman Jewison Film Program residents. This intensive is geared towards helping DPs elevate their narrative storytelling, teamwork and technical skills while also building their professional network. With support from the Paul Bronfman Family Foundation, talented cinematographers from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia will begin the Cinematography Intensive on August 12.

The DPs will take part in a series of workshops and meetings led by mentors Zoe Dirse csc and Arthur Cooper csc. They will also be working collaboratively with CFC directors, producers, writers and editors to prepare and shoot several productions as they continue to refine their visual approach. Following the two-week intensive and over the next month, the DPs will take part in a series of post sessions that will see them leave the intensive with high-quality, original material for their reels.

“We’re proud to help launch this important training program with the CFC and CSC to foster emerging talent with tools and opportunities needed to excel in their craft,” said Paul Bronfman, CFC Board Member. ”We hope these cinematographers will feel empowered to push boundaries and elevate their storytelling skills, ultimately enriching the Canadian film/tv industry.”

“I find this a timely and inspiring initiative that will elevate the participants’ already impressive filmmaking skills and hopefully encourage greater female participation in the industry,” said Dirse, who is also president. ”I am looking forward to seeing what these unique collaborations produce.”

“We are thrilled to be working with the CSC and to be welcoming these talented artists into the CFC community,” said Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. ”This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term partnership celebrating the important role cinematographers play in the storytelling process. We’re so grateful for the generous support of the Paul Bronfman Family Foundation to help elevate these artists who are shaping the future of cinema.”

The Cinematography Intensive also receives vital support through in-kind services and equipment from Keslow Camera Toronto, Urban Post and Sunbelt Rentals.

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CSC A Player in Manitoba Film Boom with IndigiLens Workshop

Manitoba is witnessing a surge in film production, according to media reports, which comes as the Canadian Society of Cinematographers has made a significant contribution to the province’s film industry through its first-ever workshop tailored for Indigenous cinematographers.

The projected production volume for 2024 is set to break records in the province, estimated at $434.9 million, a significant leap from the previous fiscal year, according to media reports. This boom is not only drawing major productions and renowned actors but also enriching the local economy and providing exciting opportunities for filmmakers.

In the midst of this renaissance, the CSC offered IndigiLens, a three-day workshop aimed at enhancing the skills of Indigenous filmmakers. Held in Winnipeg this past May in collaboration with Film Training Manitoba (FTM), the program was led by cinematographer Luc Montpellier CSC ASC, with Winnipeg-based cinematographers Andrew Forbes and Luther Alexander. It focused on advanced techniques in digital cameras, cinema lenses, lighting, and camera movement, providing both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The participants received not only invaluable training but also a one-year CSC membership, offering further opportunities for professional development and networking. The workshop also included the creation of a lending bank of lighting and camera gear, ensuring that Indigenous cinematographers have access to high-quality equipment for their projects.

As Manitoba continues to attract significant film productions, the IndigiLens workshop represents a vital step in ensuring that the local Indigenous filmmaking community benefits from this growth. By providing advanced training and resources, the CSC is helping to nurture the next generation of Indigenous cinematographers, ensuring their voices and stories are an integral part of the booming film industry in Manitoba.

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CSC Members Partake in Special ASC Master Class

Last month, CSC members were invited to partake in a special learning experience by the American Society of Cinematographers. The ASC’s one-day master class, sponsored by SONY in cooperation with the CSC and held in Vancouver on July 20, brought together cinematographers from across the industry for a day of hands-on learning and professional networking. Held at Capilano College’s Bosa Pavilion, the event featured instructors Jon Joffin ASC and C. Kim Miles ASC CSC MYSC, who provided in-depth guidance on the latest gear, techniques, and workflow practices. CSC President Zoe Dirse CSC, who attended as an ambassador, described the event as brimming with “general excitement,” noting the “vast array of attendees, the level of diversity, and the genuine sincerity of the ASC and Sony reps.”

Dirse emphasized the value of the master class for advanced cinematographers, highlighting the “hands-on experience to witness how world-class DPs work,” including their lighting approaches and equipment decisions, such as the use of the Sony Venice 2. She also underscored the importance of such gatherings in fostering a “sense of unity and community amongst cinematographers” and praised the event for its “wealth of exchange of ideas and support.” The collaboration between ASC and CSC, not only provides practical insights but also “elevates our presence on the world stage,” Dirse said.

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CSC President Visits Sunbelt & Keslow in Vancouver

While in Vancouver last month, President Zoe Dirse csc took the opportunity to visit representatives of CSC sponsors Keslow and Sunbelt. Aside from meeting key figures at both companies, Dirse got the chance to tour the facilities, update them on some of the CSC’s upcoming initiatives and thank them for their continued support. An added bonus for Dirse was meeting former camera assistant now DP Kim McNaughton, who was prepping an underwater shoot at Keslow, as well as former student Spencer Ennis now a 1st camera assistant, who was wrapping a major production at Sunbelt.

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CSC Members Discover the Wide World of Leitz Lenses

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CSC congratulates the following members whose films were selected for the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

PLATFORM
Gayle Ye, Paying For It (dir. Sook-Yin Lee)

DISCOVERY
J Stevens, Really Happy Someday (dir. J Stevens)
Jonathon Cliff csc, Seeds (Kaniehtiio Horn)
Peter Hadfield, Shook (dir. Amar Aala)

CENTREPIECE
Nikolay Michaylov, Matt and Mara (dir. Kazik Radwanski)

SHORT CUTS Programme 1
John Ker, Julian and the Wind (dir. Connor Jessup)

SHORT CUTS Programme 2
Farhad Ghaderi, One Day This Kid (dir. Alexander Farah)

SHORT CUTS Programme 4
Alice Stephens, Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail (dir. Bec Pecaut)

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Luc Montpellier CSC ASC, On Swift Horses (dir. Daniel Minahan)

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CSC Welcomes New Members

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