American Cinematographer - April 2010 - 102

Clubhouse News
true friend and ally. This honorary membership is the most definitive way we have of expressing the profound respect we have for him.” “I’ve always wanted to be a director of photography, and I have the utmost respect for their immeasurable talent, so receiving this honor means the world to me,” says Parker. “The ASC has always supported me in helping with the education of young filmmakers, and that’s what I intend to keep doing. “I love the ASC; I love what it stands for; I love the people in it, and to be recognized by them is unbelievable,” Parker continues. “I am so grateful and will remember this evening for the rest of my life. I’m still floating!” Leighton Becomes Associate After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in radio, television and film from San Francisco State University, new associate member Doug Leighton built a substantial foundation of practical experience over 12 years as a freelancer. He then founded RTS Systems, where he served for 16 years as vice president of marketing. After RTS’ successful sale, he worked for 360 Systems, ASC Audio Video Corp., Preferred Video Products and Scitex Digital Video. In 2000, Leighton joined Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems Co. as a product marketing manager. In 2001, he was made district sales account manager, his current title. Leighton has also distinguished himself as a regular contributor to the Society’s Technology Committee and Camera Subcommittee. Filmtools Hosts ASC Seminars The last week of February marked Filmtools’ Manfrotto Distribution Sale and Filter Trade-In Event, which the equipment and expendables retailer enlivened with a day of seminars presented by ASC members. Rexford Metz, ASC kicked off the series with a focus on optical filtration for HD shooting; Henner Hoffman, ASC, AMC then discussed new ways of expresAmerican Cinematographer

sion for emerging filmmakers; and a seminar by Dean Semler, ASC, ACS capped the day’s events. “Art of Light” Celebrates Deschanel, Menges In the week leading up to the ASC Awards, the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s screening series “The Art of Light” honored the work of International Award and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Chris Menges, ASC, BSC and Caleb Deschanel, ASC, respectively. Menges attended a screening of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which he photographed for director Tommy Lee Jones; following the screening, the cinematographer participated in a conversation with ASC publicist Bob Fisher. Deschanel’s work was celebrated with a screening of The Natural, which he shot for director Barry Levinson. Bailey on Silverado John Bailey, ASC recently joined director Lawrence Kasdan and editor Carol Littleton for a 70mm screening of their 1985 film Silverado at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre. Following the screening, the filmmakers took to the stage for an audience Q&A. Pros Judge DSLR Contests Shane Hurlbut, ASC is joining photographer Alexx Henry and Frank Rohmer of Rohmer Video Productions on a panel of judges for a DSLR-shot short-film contest sponsored by Samy’s Camera. Hurlbut is also joining Russell Carpenter, ASC and Rodney Charters, ASC on a panel of judges for the Canon U.S.A.-sponsored “Story Beyond the Still” contest, supported by Grey New York and hosted by Vimeo. Joining the ASC members on the judges’ bench are filmmakers Stu Maschwitz, Rick McCallum and Philip Bloom, photographer Vincent Laforet, Vimeo’s Blake Whitman and Grey New York’s Nick Childs. ●

ASC honorary member Larry Parker (left).

Parker Named Honorary Member During the 24th annual ASC Awards, ASC President Michael Goi took to the stage alongside Ralph Woolsey, ASC to deliver a surprise announcement: Larry Parker, executive vice president of Mole-Richardson Co., has been names an honorary member of the Society. The grandson of Mole-Richardson co-founder Peter Mole, Parker followed in the family business and tradition of manufacturing lighting equipment designed to satisfy the creative needs of filmmakers. Parker’s collaborative spirit and appreciation for cinematographers’ art and craft earned him associate membership in the ASC in 1977. He has also taught countless lighting workshops out of Mole-Richardson’s Hollywood facility, offering emerging filmmakers an opportunity to learn fundamentals in an interactive, hands-on environment. “Larry Parker may very well be one of the most influential individuals in the industry,” says Goi. “He has personally helped educate a large number of young filmmakers as to the nuts and bolts of their craft through the resources of MoleRichardson, and he holds the torch of respect high for the men and women who choose cinematography as their life work. Larry’s influence and generosity will be felt in this business for decades to come, every time one of his students steps onto a set or follows his example and teaches another young filmmaker respect for the tools and the craft. His selfless devotion to the people who create moving images makes him a
102 April 2010

Photo by Logan Schneider.

American Cinematographer - April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - April 2010