ICG Presents Three Special Awards, Screens 2017 ECA Films

By: Marjorie Galas

September 22 – 24, 2017 could be called three days of cinematic glory.  Beginning with the annual Emerging Cinematographers Luncheon and concluding with a showcase screening the work of the 2017 Emerging Cinematographers honorees, the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) recognized and feted the outstanding achievements of companies, individuals and artist who’ve made a lasting impact on the art of cinematography, and those newcomers who will move the art form into the future.

On Septebmer 21, this year’s eight Emerging Cinematographer Award honorees received their first taste of the longstanding tradition and comradely of two key organizations: the ICG and the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) .  Sitting alongside longstanding members and invited professionals from varying facets of the production community at the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood, CA, the honorees dined and witnessed an award presentation that honored three esteemed members of the cinematography community.

ICG President Steven Poster, ASC, kicked off the event by emphasizing the rich history of ASC Clubhouse the ECA honorees were now a part of.  The ASC, founded in 1919, purchased the clubhouse in 1935.  “You’ll always remember your first time walking into this special building,” remarked Poster. Prior to the presentation of three special awards, ICG’s National Executive Director Rebecca Rhine also welcomed the new honorees, stating she was proud to be part of a union that went beyond the role of contract negotiations.  “(The guild) is focused on mastery, career development and service.”

The Canon Award for Advancement in Technology, was presented to the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES).  Initiated three years ago, ACES has widely been promoted to an industry standard for digital file interchange, color management and archiving for motion pictures and television.  All Canon cameras and monitors are loaded with the ACES software to help advance this rising standard.  After accepting the award on behalf of ACES, Annie Chang, VP Technology for Marvel Studios and chair of the ACES committee for the AMPAS Science and Technology Council stated the was excited to be part of an invention that allowed “HDR and other new technologies to come in first.”

Editor in Chief and Publisher of the American Cinematographer magazine, Stephen Pizzello was awarded the Technicolor William A. Fraker Award for his journalistic contribution for covering the film and television industry from the perspective of cinematography. Upon receiving the award, Pizzello noted he was particularly honored to receive an award from people “who know and understand what I do.”  Pizzello also stated he payed homage to the memory of William Fraker regularly, and was particularly touched to receive an award bearing his name.

Bill Bennett ASC, was presented with the ASC Cinematography Mentor of the Year Award.

Bill specializes in shooting national television commercials for major automobile companies and has mentored many of the Cinematographers shooting commercials today. Sending a pre-recorded thank you from the floor of IBC, Bennett stated it was “incumbent to mentor the next generation of cinematographers”

The luncheon concluded with the honorees partaking in a raffle of gifts, ranging from six month camera package rentals to gels and light packages, donated by the ECA sponsors.

On September 23^rd, the ICG and ASC took an active role in mentoring the ECA honorees by hosting a networking day with agents at the clubhouse.  Topics discussed included finding and securing representation, self-marketing and reel creation.

The weekend concluded the Los Angeles screening of the ECA honorees shorts on September 24th at the Directors Guild of America. Selected from 104 submission, the names of this year’s honorees, along with the film that secured their honor, are:

David Auerbach (Red Lopez)

George Billinger (The Gate)

Kristen Correll (La Sirena)

Daniel Friedberg (LoveBird)

Michael Lockridge ((le) Rebound)

Jeff Powers (Will Wilson)

Roham Rahmanian (Break the Will)

Jen Schneider (Unbound)

The ECA honorees will take part in two additional showcases where their films will be screened in their entirety.  The Emerging Cinematographers Award NY event will take place October 29^th.  The Emerging Cinematographers Award Atlanta will take place November 4^th.  To learn more about the ECA and to purchase tickets for the upcoming events, please visit: http://www.ecawards.net/