American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 10

President’s Desk
It took a lot for me to move out to Los Angeles in 1991. It had absolutely nothing to do with anything negative about the city, but rather my perception of it. I grew up in Chicago, so I was drawn to cities like New York, where public transportation went everywhere and you found yourself in casual conversations all the time with complete strangers because, well, you just ran into them. In this atmosphere of constant human interaction, I felt like my artistic soul was being fed, and stories and images flowed through my imagination in a never-ending stream. But I knew the next logical step in my quest to be a director of photography on feature films and television programs would be to put myself where the deals were made, where the project got the greenlight and the search for a cinematographer would begin. So I put all my belongings in a large storage facility in Chicago — my fallback in case I just couldn’t stand L.A. — and moved west. I admit that I arrived with a really bad attitude. I don’t like to spend a lot of time in the car, and suddenly I was spending at least a third of my day that way just to get to three meetings. I walked into a joint that advertised “Chicago pizza,” and it would be polite to say that I was disappointed. I was a Bleacher Bum at Saturday Cubs games in Wrigley Field. My friends and I would go every week; we knew they would probably lose, but it didn’t matter. We and every other fan were there for the first pitch, and we stayed until the last batter was called out. When I went to my first Dodgers game, fans showed up sometime around the third inning and left somewhere around the seventh. I was convinced I was in hell. But worse, I could feel my creativity drying up. In my constant state of angst about where I was, fueled with my frustration about not being able to find a job on a production doing anything, I could feel myself becoming artistically impotent. The things that normally fed my imagination didn’t work anymore — not a visit to the museum, not attending an orchestral performance, and not even watching my favorite movie, The Graduate. It was as though I’d entered a vortex that drained every creative thought in my head. As I sat in my studio apartment one day, eating my three hot dogs for 99 cents from the AM/PM Mini Market, I got a call from my sister Frances in Chicago. The storage building that housed all my possessions was on fire. They were calling it one of the worst fires in recent Chicago history. The blaze engulfed an entire city block. Nothing would be left when it was over. For months afterward, my brain would take a mental inventory of what I’d lost: movies I’d shot when I was 8, baby pictures and high-school yearbooks, 16mm and 35mm prints of films I’d collected, and a complete collection of American Cinematographer from 1956 to 1991 that I’d purchased from an amateur filmmaker. All gone. About six months after the fire, something changed. I felt somehow better. What I realized was that I no longer carried any anger over where I was because everything that my life used to be had been essentially wiped out. Whatever my life became would start now. I started doing things that I could only do in Los Angeles, things that made me happy. I went to the Silent Movie Theater. While watching Metropolis there, I ran into Forry Ackerman, whose Famous Monsters of Filmland had been a key inspiration to me as a child. We discovered that we lived three blocks from each other, so I often walked to his place to hang out among his incredible collection of horror and sci-fi memorabilia. Steve Poster, ASC introduced me to QT Chicago Dogs, and Joe Mantegna opened Taste Chicago, so I could get a real Chicago hot-dog and beef-sandwich fix. And Steve Martin’s L.A. Story showed me that maybe I was taking my new home too seriously, and I should just lighten up. All this made me excited about creating images once again. Moms Mabley said, “If you always do what you did, then you always get what you got.” It took that fire for me to get to where I am today. And you know what? I’m feeling pretty good.

Michael Goi, ASC President

10

June 2011

American Cinematographer

Portrait by Owen Roizman, ASC.



American Cinematographer - June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - June 2011

American Cinematographer - June 2011
Contents
Editor’s Note
President’s Desk
Short Takes: TV on the Radio’s “Will Do”
Production Slate: The Mill & The Cross • Last Man Standing
Scalawags in Stereo
Hammer of the Gods
Tortured Souls
Decoding Digital Imagers: Part 2
Post Focus: Highlights from NAB
New Products & Services
International Marketplace
Classified Ads
Ad Index
ASC Membership Roster
Clubhouse News
ASC Close-Up: Dean Semler
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - American Cinematographer - June 2011
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 1
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 2
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Contents
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 4
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 5
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 6
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 7
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Editor’s Note
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 9
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - President’s Desk
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 11
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Short Takes: TV on the Radio’s “Will Do”
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 13
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 14
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 15
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Production Slate: The Mill & The Cross • Last Man Standing
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 17
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 18
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 19
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 20
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 21
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 22
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 23
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 24
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 25
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Scalawags in Stereo
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 27
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 28
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 29
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 30
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 31
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 32
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 33
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 34
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 35
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 36
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 37
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 38
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 39
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Hammer of the Gods
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 41
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 42
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 43
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 44
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 45
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 46
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 47
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 48
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 49
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 50
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 51
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 52
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 53
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 54
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 55
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Tortured Souls
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 57
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 58
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 59
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 60
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 61
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 62
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 63
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 64
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 65
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 66
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 67
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Decoding Digital Imagers: Part 2
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 69
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 70
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 71
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 72
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 73
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 74
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 75
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 76
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 77
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 78
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 79
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Post Focus: Highlights from NAB
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 81
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 82
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 83
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 84
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 85
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 86
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 87
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - New Products & Services
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 89
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 90
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 91
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 92
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 93
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 94
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 95
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 96
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 97
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 98
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 99
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - International Marketplace
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Classified Ads
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Ad Index
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 103
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - ASC Membership Roster
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 105
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Clubhouse News
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - 107
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - ASC Close-Up: Dean Semler
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - June 2011 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com