American Cinematographer - March 2009 - (Page 47) Opposite: Director of photography Robert F. Liu, ASC, on the set of the hit series Family Ties. This page, left: Filming The Sand Pebbles, on which Liu (lower right, holding radio) was a first assistant director. Below left: Liu (center) and fellow Chinese exchange student Mr. Lin (right) visit with James Wong Howe, ASC, in 1960. Below right: Six years later, Liu’s father (second from left) sees the family off as they prepare to immigrate to the United States. obert F. Liu, ASC, who was recently honored with the Society’s 2009 Career Achievement in Television Award, forged a cross-cultural career at a time when such international experiences were rare. When he was a young man, his talent was recognized by Chinese film pioneer Chuang Kuo Chuen, and he found Stateside mentors in Photos courtesy of Robert F. Liu. R director Robert Wise and cinematographer James Wong Howe, ASC. Liu went on to earn Emmy nominations for his work on the hit series Lou Grant and Family Ties. Liu was born in Shanghai in 1926. He had six brothers and one sister. His father, who had been educated in the United States on a YMCA scholarship, worked as sen- ior clerk at Anderson Clayton, an American firm with offices in Shanghai. Young Bobby and one of his brothers shared an early interest in chemistry, and together they turned the family home into a veritable laboratory, making everything from batteries and soap to enlarging paper. As a child, Liu enjoyed the exploits of Tom Mix and other leg- American Cinematographer 47
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