President’s Desk — September 2023
“I remember meeting all of my heroes and being struck by how open they were.”
While serving as one of the instructors at an ASC Master Class in New York City recently, I was reminded of a question cinematographers hear quite often: “Why are directors of photography so generous with their experience and knowledge?”
When I think back to my first contact with the ASC in 1989, at an Awards Nominees’ Dinner at the Society’s Clubhouse in Hollywood, I remember meeting all of my heroes and being struck by how open they were — how willing they were to talk with a young cinematographer who, up till that moment, had been a complete unknown. These amazing people answered all my questions and helped me learn very quickly that the cinematography community is very much a family. And, they were funny! The humor with which they related their experiences was entertaining and, let’s face it, good storytelling. They all wore smiles, they were positive, and they seemed younger than their years. It was quite a memorable group, because their collective energy was squared2 within the Clubhouse walls!
I met one of my earliest mentors, ASC member Allen Daviau, when I was just 18, and the man had no reason to be as forthcoming with me as he was through the subsequent decades of friendship — other than, perhaps, a desire to pay forward the debt he felt to the teachers of his own past. I think I’m starting to see why this is so important to us and such a meaningful part of what forms a cinematographer’s character. Since the beginning of this art form, fellow cinematographers have been collaborating and working together to further visual storytelling, inspire technical advances, and create a sense of loyalty and respect toward our fellow filmmakers. This knowledge has been passed on, refined and advanced — and passed on again and again. We wouldn’t be cinematographers if it wasn’t for this tradition of generosity.
By the end of my teaching experience at the New York Master Class, I felt a great sense of balance. I was not tired (ready for a beer, however), but quietly satisfied. My ego wasn’t pumped-up — I simply felt I had done my teachers justice, and perhaps created a few new teachers to pass along what there is to tell.
If you come to the ASC Open House (on October 7), our Awards (March 3, 2024) or any other ASC panel or event, you will experience this sort of sharing firsthand. I think this is one of the reasons American Cinematographer has been successful since its conception. The magazine is a way to tell our stories and put those experiences in front of others — both as a learning tool and as a means of giving cinematography a place in the filmmaking conversation.
Per our tradition, the ASC and American Cinematographer will be here for you to provide information and education that you can pay forward when the time comes.
Best regards,
Shelly Johnson
ASC President
