Bookshelf

Death of John Bailey, ASC, and Victor J. Kemper, ASC
By Marc Salomon

History of cinematography

We learnt of the death of John Bailey, ASC, just as the 31st annual Toruń Camerimage festival was about to begin. The most European of American cinematographers died on 10th November, in Los Angeles, at the age of 81. Two weeks later, on 27th November, Victor J. Kemper, ASC, one of the architects of the revival of American cinema in the 1970s, passed away at the age of 96. Let’s take a look back at two parallel careers that embody two different sensibilities in American cinema.

A real-life conference on virtual production
"Visual Media Lab Conference", University of Applied Sciences (HdM), Stuttgart

Panels, colloquies, seminaries, Cinema Lessons

This article to download below is a report on the "Visual Media Lab Conference" and on the activities of the Imago Technical Committee (ITC) on this occasion. You will find links to the speakers’ recordings. The article which features a selection of the most important presentations is dedicated to all those who work or will work in the field of virtual production and/or who teach.

Death of Bill Butler, ASC (1921-2023)
By Marc Salomon

History of cinematography

Bill Butler, who passed away two days before his 102nd birthday, was of the same generation as his colleagues William Fraker or Haskell Wexler and was hardly older than Conrad Hall. He was born Wilmer C. Butler on 7 April 1921 in Colorado. He began cinematography later in life (he was already 47 years old when he shot The Rain People, by Francis Ford Coppola in 1968), but Bill Butler left his mark on several films that remain hallmarks of a certain American cinema of the 1970s: The Conversation, Jaws, Grease, Rocky II (and III and IV). But he was careful not to allow himself to get locked into a specific genre or style, and he veered into commercial productions, which were better able to anonymize his talent.

About the shooting of "Athena", a film by Romain Gavras
"Matias Boucard, AFC, Joining Forces", by Ariane Damain Vergallo

Press and video interviews

Summer day 2022, hardly anyone on Parc aux Lièvres Square in Evry. These projects were supposed to be pulled down 5 years ago already, and the residents are leaving progressively. Some satellite dishes and bicycles on the balconies are signs that some indomitable locals persist, though they will soon be dispelled by bulldozers.

Sound is always ahead of the picture!

Columns

Following the double screening of lens tests of the Standard and Large Format lenses planned at Paris Images AFC Events 2022 at the Parc Floral de Paris, Eric Vaucher, former sound recordist and current project manager, sent the AFC the following letter, in which he judiciously compares the developments in sound recording to those in lens manufacturing!

The Leica Freedom Train
A story of Ernst Leitz II from Wetzlar

Bookshelf

During the trip to the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar, Germany, organised by the Leitz team to bring together some European cinematographers, we were able to visit the Leica Camera factory, the Leitz cine lens manufactory and the museum. In one of the rooms, we could read a text about an activity that Ernst Leitz II kept secret all his life and which mentions the rescue of Jews in the years before and during the Second World War. In doing so, Ernst Leitz II took incredible risks for himself, his family and his company.

Paris Images meets Eric Gautier, AFC

On Internet

While Paris Images announces its next edition, which will take place entirely online from January 25 to 29, 2021, its website offers an interview with director of photography Eric Gautier, AFC. On the occasion of the Micro Salon AFC 2020, he talks to us about his job and in particular about working with a director facing the language barrier.

Publication of "Angénieux and Cinéma : From Light to Image"

Books and Magazines

Already in bookstores in France, United Kingdom , Benelux, very soon in the United States and shortly worldwide: Angénieux and Cinema: from Light to Image, the book that relates the epic adventure of Angénieux, jewel of the French industry and must-have brand of cinema worldwide for more than 80 years.

"Angenieux and Cinema, from Light to Image"

Books and Magazines

Communiqué
For quite some time, Angénieux has been thinking of doing a book to trace the incredible rise of the Angénieux brand, since the creation of the company in 1935. The dream has actually come true and the 270-page book with a French and an English edition will be previewed at NAB2019 before its international release in bookstores.

A Page has Turned
By Jean-Noël Ferragut, AFC

Columns

It is with a pang in my heart that in late June 2018, I will hear for the last time the continuous purring of the AFC’s printer carrying out the task that was assigned to it for the last quarter century. Namely, the reproduction of nearly three hundred copies of the AFC’s monthly Newsletter. Indeed, in the name of prudent cost-saving measures, and with a few rare exceptions that will confirm the rule, the Newsletter will only be available in PDF format, which each recipient will be able to print out if need be.

About the questioning of the European Commission lighting directive

Columns

The association of lighting designers (ALD) alerted the profession against a possible revision of the European Community lighting directive to the entertainment (Scenic, event, film and TV). I signed the petition from the ALD and I participated in the European Union survey to defend the LEDs and tungsten lighting technologies. Imago asked me for my opinion on the question. And here is what I replied.