2008-2009 ASC Board of Governors Elected
Daryn Okada, ASC has been chosen by his peers to serve a third one-year term as president of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). The other officers are vice presidents Michael Goi, ASC, Owen Roizman, ASC, and Richard Crudo, ASC; Treasurer Victor J. Kemper, ASC; Secretary Isidore Mankofsky, ASC; and Sergeant At Arms John Hora, ASC. The board members include Curtis Clark, ASC, Caleb Deschanel, ASC, John C. Flinn, III, ASC, William A. Fraker, ASC, BSC, Stephen Lighthill, ASC, Robert Primes, ASC, Nancy Schreiber, ASC, Dante Spinotti, ASC, AIC, and Kees Van Oostrum, ASC.
“It still amazes me that 15 cinematographers met 90 years ago in Hollywood to organize the ASC as a forum where they could discuss ideas and advocate progress in the art and craft of visual storytelling,” says Okada. “The motion picture industry was still in its infancy, and this was the first organization of its type in the world. Our members have been true to that heritage by exploring and sharing the creative utilization of new technologies for the advancement of cinematography. I feel privileged to be a part of this extraordinary group of dedicated filmmakers.”
ASC membership is by invitation based upon the individual’s body of work. In 1934, the organization created an associate membership category for individuals in other sectors of the motion picture industry who have made notable contributions to advancing the art and craft of cinematography.
Okada was 21 years old when he earned his first narrative film credit as a cinematographer for Nomad Riders in 1981. A short list of his subsequent credits includes Anna Karenina, Lake Placid, My Father the Hero, Dr. Doolittle 2, Cradle 2 The Grave, Mean Girls, Stick It, Just Like Heaven, Baby Mama and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The latter two films opened first and second at the box-office on the same weekend earlier this year. The Goods: The Don Ready Story and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past will be released later this year.
“We are looking forward to a banner year,” Okada says. “ASC has broken ground for the renovation of our historic Hollywood clubhouse, where our members and friends have met for 70 years. It contains a treasure trove of early film history and is a constant reminder of our mission. We are indebted to those who preceded us and we have an obligation to the next generation of filmmakers who will follow us.”
ASC has evolved into a global organization. There are 250 active members today who have national roots in some 20 countries. There are also 150 associate members.
Contact:For additional information about the ASC, visit www.theasc.com
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More