Don Devine takes TV honor on the basis of “Mad Men”
The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) tonight announced winners of the Camera Operator of the Year Awards in film and television. Peter Taylor, ACO, SOC, won Camera Operator of the Year in Feature Film for “Gravity.” His counterpart on the TV side was Don Devine, SOC, for “Mad Men.”
Honors were bestowed during a black-tie event in Herscher Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center. The event took place before an audience of 500, including SOC and International Cinematographer Guild (ICG) members, industry executives and press. SOC VP and Awards executive producer David Frederick, SOC, presided over the event with emcee Bruce Carse. All proceeds from the show are donated to the Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The honor was accepted by Dr. Thomas Lee, director of the Retinal Center.
A special In Memoriam tribute to Sarah Jones, the 27-year-old assistant camerawoman killed by a train while filming Midnight Rider on February 20, was included in the evening’s proceedings. Frederick, former SOC president Dan Kneece, and SOC VP Mark August presented an honorary associate membership certificate to Jones’ parents, Richard and Elizabeth, to a standing ovation.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, previously announced, included Chris Haarhoff, SOC, Camera Operator, presented by Colin Anderson; Bill Coe, Camera Technician, presented by Steve Campanelli; Barry Wetcher, SMPSP, Still Photographer, presented by Will Gluck; Jack Carpenter, Mobile Camera Platform Operator, presented by Duncan Henderson. The Distinguished Service Award was given to the founder of Filmtools, Inc., Stan McClain, SOC, presented by Michael Frediani. Leonard Chapman, founder of Chapman-Leonard Studio Equipment, received the President’s Award, presented by SOC President Chris Tufty. Accepting the Technical Achievement Awards were president Tom Hallman, on behalf of Pictorvision, presented by McClain, and Dave Grober, founder and president, on behalf of Motion Picture Marine, presented by David Emmerichs. The honor for Historical Shot went to J. Michael Muro for his zip line shot in “The Mighty Quinn,” presented by Jerry Holway.
Guests included ICG president Steven Poster, ICG national executive director Bruce Doering, SOC president Chris Tufty, president of Local 871 Michele Tedlis Sorbo, and president of Local 80 Russell Nordstedt. Richard Crudo, president of the American Society of Cinematographers, presented the Camera Operator of the Year Awards.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More