Top cinematographers earn recognition

May 22, 2012

Top cinematographers earn recognition

Five of New Zealand's top cinematographers have earned the highest possible praise from their peers in the inaugural round of accreditation awards from their professional body, the New Zealand Cinematographers' Society (NZCS).

The new awards represent a maturing of the New Zealand screen production industry and recognises that the country's best cinematographers can stand alongside their counterparts around the world, says NZCS chairman, Simon Riera.

Three of the recipients now hold dual accreditation. Stuart Dryburgh previously won accreditation from the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) while recipients John Toon and James Bartle hold accreditation from the highly regarded Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). All now have the right to place the additional letters NZCS after their names as film credits roll.

The new NZCS accreditation is based on professional recognition models of the American, Australian and British societies, but Mr Riera says it has been adapted for New Zealand where cinematographers often work on a variety of production types.

"As we developed the system up our main concern was to keep the standard high despite the relatively small size of the New Zealand industry," says Mr Riera.

"As a result the criteria are tough and the process is rigorous. To gain accreditation you need to produce a body of outstanding work, and it is based on the skills that you bring to projects, rather than the format or genre you have worked in.

"You need to demonstrate not just technical competence, but imagination, an eye for interpretation, innovation, sensitivity and authenticity."

Mr Riera says the purpose of the accreditation path is to encourage original and outstanding work and to offer a career aspiration to NZCS members, but also to promote professional recognition from other people in the local industry and elsewhere.

"For example overseas directors and producers can take for granted NZCS accredited members work to the highest levels," he says.

Two other cinematographers, John Mahaffie and Leon Narbey were also recognised in the first round of accreditations.

Leon Narbey is known for shooting Whale Rider and more recently The Orator, and his career stretches back to his first experiments with cameras in the late 1960s.

Being a good cinematographer is not just about pretty pictures, he says.

"Good images reinforce the heart and intent of the story. Circumstances are not always ideal but the images need coherence and force, and that comes down to a triangle of collaboration between the director, the editor and yourself as cinematographer.

"So I feel it is a great honour to be recognised in this way."

Mr Riera says the initial round of accreditations was limited to five cinematographers who will form the accreditation committee that will meet once a year to consider new accreditations.

Cinematographers accredited by NZCS in 2012 (listed alphabetically)

James Bartle, NZCS, ACS
Stuart Dryburgh, NZCS, ASC
John Mahaffie, NZCS
Leon Narbey, NZCS
John Toon, NZCS, ACS

For more information on cinematographers and their credits see http://www.nzcine.com/index.php/members

About The New Zealand Cinematographers Society

A Cinematographer, also known as director of photography (DP, DoP), heads the camera and lighting crews on a motion picture or television production, and is responsible for technical and artistic decisions related to the image.

NZCS was created in 2008 to foster the art & craft of cinematography in New Zealand for the benefit of all members and the wider New Zealand Screen Production Industry. Membership is made up of professional cinematographers currently shooting the world over as well as at home in New Zealand. NZCS serves as the international representative body for New Zealand Cinematographers.

www.nzcine.com

ENDS

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