American Cinematographer - September 2019 - 110

t Richard Rutkowski, ASC. u Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC.

Society Welcomes Rutkowski
Richard Rutkowski, ASC attended
Harvard College, where during summers he
worked with stage director and visual artist
Robert Wilson - "my greatest teacher," he
says - on film- and video-based projects. In
the Harvard film program, "I began making
visually eccentric 16mm films which
merged animation with live action and electronic music soundtracks," he says. "It was a
great gift to have been able to learn on
film."

After graduation, Rutkowski worked
an internship at the Maine Media Workshops, where he met Edward Lachman,
ASC, who would later become Rutkowski's
"first long-term employer." After serving as
an AC for nearly 10 years, Rutkowski transitioned into the role of director of photography on the indie feature Kill by Inches,
followed by Interview With the Assassin,
which earned a Best Cinematography Film
Independent Spirit Award nomination. The
FX series Lights Out served as the springboard for his career in television.
The cinematographer's credits
include the series Boss, The Americans,
Manhattan, Divorce, Falling Water, Castle
Rock and Jack Ryan. The "true thrill," he
notes, "was to find a profession that

In Memoriam
Ed Phillips
ASC
associate
member Ed Phillips,
who helped launch Matthews Studio Equipment in 1969 and served
as the company's president for nearly 50 years, died on June 22. He
was 72 years old.
Phillips began his film industry career on the backlot of Universal Studios, where he pulled cable and operated machines. He built
MSE alongside original founder Roy Isaia before teaming up with
Carlos DeMattos in 1974 to form Matthews Studio Equipment Group.
Phillips was passionate about innovating and standardizing the
gear used on set. In the early '70s, he saw the need to unify lighting
and rigging standards in grip and electric departments, creating the
Combo Head and Combo Stand to serve both. Over the past five

110

September 2019

merged many of the things I'd initially
sought out - storytelling in changing
contexts merged with a technical medium
that exploited a beauty of engineering
with an invisibility of technique."

Angénieux ExcelLens
Honors Delbonnel
The Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in
Cinematography ceremony honored
Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC at the Buñuel
Theater, Palais des Festivals, on May 24 at
the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. "This event
turns the spotlight on worldwide masters
of light, directors of photography, without
whom cinema would not exist," officials at
Angénieux note. "[Delbonnel] enlightens
and finds inspiration in music, architecture
[and] abstract painting - challenging
himself [in such pursuits as] 'trying to
create a light between Mark Rothko and
Shostakovich.'"
Also honored at this year's ceremony was emerging director of photography Modhura Palit. Palit studied at Satyajit
Ray Film and Television Institute, one of
India's leading film schools, and is a
member of the Indian Women Cinematographers Collective.

For further coverage and additional
u
news, visit theasc.com/asc/news.

decades, in partnership with inventors and industry leaders, he shepherded Matthews through such innovations as the Cam Remote
Head, the Tulip Crane, Vator Cranking Stands and the Max Menace
Arm.
Under Phillips' leadership, MSE was honored with two Presidential "E" Awards for outstanding contributions in growing U.S.
exports, strengthening the economy and creating American jobs. His
focus on product innovation led to three Scientific and Technical
Academy Awards, as well as two Emmy awards.
With his son, Tyler, following in his footsteps as president of
MSE, Phillips enjoyed more time on his boat entertaining family and
friends. Never one to fully retire, though, Phillips still reported to the
office every week.
Phillips is survived by his wife, Norma; son, Tyler; and daughters Emily, Julie and Jamie.

ASC 100th Anniversary

Photo of Clubhouse by Isidore Mankofsky, ASC; lighting by Donald M. Morgan, ASC.
Delbonnel photo by Benjamin B.

CLUBHOUSE
NEWS

http://www.theasc.com/asc/news

American Cinematographer - September 2019

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