American Cinematographer - November 2017 - 68

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Polish Hospitality
Nigel Walters, BSC
"I have been attending Camerimage for 13 years. The
festival of 2005 was an unforgettable occasion. It was such a
privilege to share a cramped room with Vilmos Zsigmond
[ASC, HSC] and Lazlo Kovacs [ASC], and to listen to an
impressive ASC member, Kees van Oostrum, speak with
passion and eloquence on how to improve the working conditions of cinematographers.
"In 2008, when Anthony Dod Mantle [ASC, BSC,
DFF] returned to his seat alongside me after the screening in
Lód´
z of Slumdog Millionaire, I told him to remember the
applause, as he would never experience anything like it again;
the film had brought the roof down! He replied, simply, 'I
know.'
"One humorous experience was Bill Murray being
waved aside, unrecognized, after waiting his turn patiently to
have a drink at the bar in Lód´
z in 2009.
"There was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium in 2015
Matthew Libatique, ASC: My
favorite story was when Ed won the
Golden Frog for Carol. He got up faster
than I'd ever seen him move to make it
down [to the stage]. All the cameras and
attention were turned on Ed. I was so
happy for him.
Charles Herzfeld (ASC associate): Ed Lachman for me has always
been the mayor of Camerimage. He is
an icon at the festival. Like the late
Vilmos Zsigmond [ASC, HSC], he has
been a continuous presence, rarely missing a year.
Ed Lachman, ASC (Silver Frog,
Far From Heaven, 2002; Bronze
Frog, I'm Not There, 2007;
Cinematographer-Director
Duo
Award, shared with Todd Haynes,
2011; Golden Frog, Carol, 2015):
Cinematographers don't really meet
other cinematographers all that often, so
it's a wonderful opportunity to spend
time with so many people who have had
similar experiences and whom we
respect and honor. I become a student
myself, spending time with people
whose work I'm in awe of - so many
people, like Chris Menges [ASC,
BSC], Peter Biziou [BSC], Chris Doyle
[HKSC] and Slawomir Idziak [PSC].
It's always rejuvenating to be there, to be
around students who are so interested in
cinematography, and cinematographers
whose work you respect. Of course, they

November 2017

when three great servants of film were brought to the stage.
Firstly, the modest Chris Menges, ASC, BSC, for his
Lifetime Achievement Award. Then the world's most popular
cinematographer, Ed Lachman, ASC, to receive the Golden
Frog for Carol. They were followed by the man responsible for
founding Camerimage, [honorary ASC member] Marek
Zydowicz. In 25 years of the festival, I doubt there has ever
been anything as emotionally charged as the standing ovation
which greeted them that evening in Bydgoszcz.
"Marek has created a festival of which all cinematographers can be proud. It has introduced all ages to the generosity
and friendship - indeed, the very soul - of this remarkable
profession."
Walters is a former president of Imago, the European
Federation of Cinematographers, which will celebrate its own 25th
anniversary this December.

also honor directors, production designers and actors, but the focus is primarily
on cinematography and how the others
contribute to what our work is about. I
think all of us who have gone appreciate
that about the festival.
Albert Hughes (director): I don't
want to hang out with actors or producers - it's the cameramen that interest
me. I got to know the personalities of
the cameramen, and spend time in the
jury room with them. There are guys I
love bumping into over there, like
Michael Seresin [BSC], Phil Méheux
[BSC], and especially Dick Pope [BSC]
- he's my favorite. Dick is such a sweet
man, but he has no filter! I grew up like
that, expressing my opinions in a very
direct way, so I almost never meet a guy
who beats me in that department. [In
the jury room] I was glad he kept beating me to it, because then I didn't have
to say those things.
Karl Walter Lindenlaub, ASC:
The intense hours of watching movies
for their cinematic qualities, discussing
them in a jury, and then meeting until
the late and sometimes early hours at
parties have made for unforgettable
memories. Never before had I spent this
much quality time with fellow cinematographers and students from all over
the world. I think I have gone seven
times by now, and I am looking forward
to another visit this year. Hopefully I'll
American Cinematographer

see Ed Lachman and Steve Fierberg
[ASC], who always have the most
stamina for visiting with students at the
disco.
Roberto Schaefer, ASC, AIC
(Cinematographer-Director Duo
Award, shared with Marc Forster,
2013): It is the best week of the year.
Where else can you meet and get to
know so many of the world's most interesting people in our sector of the business, and talk casually, and watch an
amazing variety of movies - all placed
on an even playing field - and have our
art be the center of attention? It's an
opportunity for small films from faraway places to be appreciated on a world
stage. I tell every cinematographer,
operator and AC that I meet to do
whatever they have to and attend
Camerimage at least once.
Kuras: Go with an open heart
and a notebook. Get lots of sleep
beforehand so that you can watch loads
of films, and be prepared to stay up until
4 a.m. every night!
Hoffman: If you think you love
cinematography, this is the most important film festival in the world. Full stop.
Herzfeld: Bravo to Marek and
Kazik!
Laskus: Dzieki, dzieki, dzieki.
For more Camerimage memories,
visit ascmag.com in November.
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http://www.ascmag.com

American Cinematographer - November 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - November 2017