President’s Desk — October 2023

I’m writing this column from the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood, where we’re hosting a memorial for the great key grip Herb Ault, who passed away recently. Many family members, along with Herb’s “filmmaking family,” are here to pay their respects. The outpouring of support cements the idea that film crews are, indeed, very much a family. In many cases, we work more closely with our crews for long periods of time while on location. We see each other through our creative journeys, weather extremes, births, divorces, illnesses, lack of knowledge of a needed foreign language — just about everything there is and back again. Good or bad, we experience it all together, which makes our industry different than most. It’s possible for us to not see someone for 15 years and, upon being reunited, pick up the same conversation right where we left off.

Here in the United States, we’re faced with a work stoppage related to labor negotiations involving several branches of our industry. While we wait for a resolution, we can take care of ourselves and each other. We all care about our crews and value this tight community, which manages to stay small even while existing on a global scale. Let’s all look in on our filmmaking family and provide some help if it’s needed. At the very least, we can share a laugh over a meal and prepare together so we’re ready to accept the challenge of our next opportunity.

The film business is made of people, and in the age of AI and virtual production, we need to bear in mind that the best movies are made by hand, by skilled and talented artists and technicians. The relationships we develop in moviemaking are essential to the part of us that tells the stories that audiences experience on the screen.

The legacy of the artists that came before us — along with our departed teachers, mentors, crewmembers, family and friends — contributes to the depth of our stories and creates resonance. Let’s keep looking forward and continue to nurture this amazing collective that we’re all fortunate to be part of.

Best regards,
Shelly Johnson
ASC President