The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) broke ground on the construction of the new ASC ARRI Educational Center on Tuesday (8/28). The contemporary building, located behind the historic ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood, will serve as a hub for the organization’s ongoing efforts to educate the next generation of filmmakers on the art and craft of cinematography. The structure also will be home to all print and digital publications staff. The ASC ARRI Educational Center offers a modern, inspired space with offices and meeting rooms, and is slated to be completed by 2019.
ASC president Kees van Oostrum was joined by ARRI Inc. president and CEO Glenn Kennel at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“When the ASC was formed in 1919, our founding members pledged to foster and artistically inspire rising cinematographers,” said van Oostrum. “That mission has made us the society we are today. Through our members and initiatives, we have aggressively continued that edict. As we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary next year, the new ASC ARRI Educational Center symbolizes our commitment to the future and provides an excellent gathering place for the exchange of ideas.”
The educational center is made possible through the patronage of ARRI, a pioneering technology company that has a longstanding relationship with the ASC and its membership.
Kennel said, “ARRI’s two founders were young filmmakers who produced movies and created lighting and camera equipment to make their visions a reality. We are thrilled to continue their legacy and help create a space to inspire emerging content creators.”
The ASC and ARRI previously collaborated on the launch of the International Master Class series, intensive workshops taking place around the world with acclaimed ASC members. ARRI will continue to sponsor the International Master Classes for the next decade and host various Los Angeles-based Master Classes beginning in 2019.
ARRI’s executive board member Dr. Joerg Pohlman noted, “Last year ARRI celebrated our centennial, so continuing to innovate side-by-side as the ASC enters into their 100th anniversary is an important collaboration for future generations. To have a hand in developing new talent and voices honors this legacy.”
“If we look back on 100 years, the ASC has evolved from a professional group of cinematographers into a formidable, international presence in artistry, technology and education,” van Oostrum added. “During the past couple of years, our educational efforts have grown tremendously, supported not only by the artistic endeavors of our membership but also through the work of our Motion Imaging Technology Council and our members’ commitment to illustrating the role of the cinematographer to the world. We are very grateful to have ARRI’s backing in so many of our educational initiatives, especially the one we are celebrating today.”
The ASC began its educational mission in 1920 with the publication of its flagship magazine, American Cinematographer, which covers the artistic approaches and motion-imaging techniques of filmmakers. The society has cultivated its educational efforts over the century by establishing a number of programs to promote learning on a global basis. Its Education and Outreach Committee organizes frequent events for the benefit of filmmaking students and the general public, including week-long Master Classes taught by renowned ASC members. Additionally, the organization hosts the annual Student Heritage Awards honoring both graduate and undergraduate film students; regular camera and lighting seminars; “Coffee and Conversation” Q&A sessions analyzing the work of cinematographers on a specific project; roundtable discussions featuring panels of professionals who address a variety of topics central to the work of camera people and other industry disciplines; and a bi-annual International Cinematography Summit bringing together participants from dozens of cinematography societies from around the globe to meet, share information, and prioritize an agenda that will forward the interests of cinematographers everywhere.
More recently, the ASC Vision Committee was inaugurated to promote diversity throughout the industry with a series of popular and highly engaging seminars and events devoted to nurturing an open dialogue and progressive hiring practices for women and minority filmmakers.
After 20 Years of Acting, Megan Park Finds Her Groove In The Director’s Chair On “My Old Ass”
Megan Park feels a little bad that her movie is making so many people cry. It's not just a single tear either — more like full body sobs.
She didn't set out to make a tearjerker with "My Old Ass," now streaming on Prime Video. She just wanted to tell a story about a young woman in conversation with her older self. The film is quite funny (the dialogue between 18-year-old and almost 40-year-old Elliott happens because of a mushroom trip that includes a Justin Bieber cover), but it packs an emotional punch, too.
Writing, Park said, is often her way of working through things. When she put pen to paper on "My Old Ass," she was a new mom and staying in her childhood bedroom during the pandemic. One night, she and her whole nuclear family slept under the same roof. She didn't know it then, but it would be the last time, and she started wondering what it would be like to have known that.
In the film, older Elliott ( Aubrey Plaza ) advises younger Elliott ( Maisy Stella ) to not be so eager to leave her provincial town, her younger brothers and her parents and to slow down and appreciate things as they are. She also tells her to stay away from a guy named Chad who she meets the next day and discovers that, unfortunately, he's quite cute.
At 38, Park is just getting started as a filmmaker. Her first, "The Fallout," in which Jenna Ortega plays a teen in the aftermath of a school shooting, had one of those pandemic releases that didn't even feel real. But it did get the attention of Margot Robbie 's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, who reached out to Park to see what other ideas she had brewing.
"They were very instrumental in encouraging me to go with it," Park said. "They're just really even-keeled, good people, which makes... Read More