HOLLYWOOD—The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) recently announced plans to build a new $8 million campus on the Hollywood site where the organization’s headquarters are located. The plan includes construction of a museum dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of cinematography.
In conjunction with its new campus, the ASC will also be establishing an endowment fund to help young filmmakers establish themselves in the industry. "We are committed to preserving the integrity of the history of our art form by establishing a museum that will be easily accessible to the public, scholars, students and filmmakers around the world," said Victor J. Kemper, president of the ASC. "We will also build a screening room and conference area where filmmakers can discuss their work. The endowment fund will be used to assist young filmmakers who also will be mentored by our members."
Kemper noted that the endowment fund figures into the $8 million cost of the new project. The ASC has already received $3.5 million in donations from companies such as Kodak, Panavision, and Technicolor. The current headquarters of the ASC, called The Clubhouse, is actually a three-bedroom house. When the new campus is constructed, the Clubhouse will become the site of the new museum. Kemper noted that through the years, members of ASC have donated cameras, scripts, photographs and other memorabilia, and he expects that the collection will continue to grow. In addition to the museum, the new buildings will contain some 15,000 square feet of space, including the screening room, conference area, and offices for the staffs of ASC and for American Cinematographer magazine.
While the plans are in place, no groundbreaking date has been announced. The ASC currently counts 235 cinematographers in its membership, as well as 106 associate members from various fields within the filmmaking industry.
