President’s Desk — August 2024
It’s always fulfilling to meet new people so willing to dive with us into the deep end.
Celebrating each year’s Rising Stars of Cinematography (complete report here) — selected annually by a blue-ribbon committee of ASC members, with the help of the magazine’s editors — provides an opportunity to reflect on how one’s formative years evolve and grow into a career in film. Cinematographers love to tell stories, and we’re driven by how images make us feel. As we move through the decades, our “visual voice” seems to become more nuanced, balanced and concise. It’s a lifetime of growth on all fronts.
Consider, for a moment, the frame. Somehow, amid the typical film-set chaos, there exists a whole different world within the frame lines — organized and orderly, with everything placed to give the story clarity and meaning. Modern cinematographers find themselves preparing for a shoot in much the same manner an actor might. How can each scene have significance in the larger telling of the story? How can we make each shot — or even each take — speak as eloquently as possible? This process is about creating a headspace that allows us to see creative opportunity even when things are challenging on-set.
Much of this type of thinking is internal, but we rely on our crews to implement our ideas — to adapt when circumstances evolve, and to contribute alongside us as the story of the film unfolds. I’m convinced that this concentration of energy is something an audience can feel on the screen — even if they cannot see it as it happens.
This sort of soulful filmmaking has come early to our Rising Stars, and their wisdom at such young ages makes me excited for the forthcoming years of their careers — when their advanced refinement may reach levels we’ve never seen.
There is a reason our Rising Stars love shooting films: It’s deeply satisfying to hit an appropriate narrative note, and it’s always fulfilling to meet new people so willing to dive with us into the deep end. The film business can be unpredictable and demanding, but the camaraderie and creative rewards are sweet.
Best regards,
Shelly Johnson
ASC President
