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  • Auckland City Lights - Rosco Photo Competition

    31 Jul 2018 6:48 PM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    This is a chance to see your images on a grand scale as a backdrop to New Zealand’s best Cinematographers. At the 2018 NZCS Cinematography Awards we will continue with the tradition of the Rosco Day/Night Backdrop. This year we are holding a competition for the best series of Day/Night photos.  

    It will be judged by Phil Greenstreet (Advanced Backdrop Technologies) , Lizz Vernon (Sydney Photographer) from Rosco and Guy Quartermain and Mark Lappwood from the NZCS. 

    The competition requires two photographs from the same locked off position, one taken during the day and one at night so that image can fade from day to night.  The subject is 'Auckland City Lights'. 

    In addition to the aesthetics of a good photograph, there should also be emphasis on what makes a good backdrop - it needs to look good (and realistic) through a window, doorway, or other aperture, or behind an actor, without stealing the scene. The photos must be a minimum of 30 megapixel resolution.

    The winner will receive two free tickets to the Awards and sit at the Rosco table.

    NZCS and Rosco reserves the right to use the photos as they see fit and the judge’s decision is final.  

    The competition closes on the 10th September 2018.

    Email your entries here

    Competition for NZCS members only.


  • NZCS call for President and Vice President roles

    23 Jul 2018 9:12 AM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)
    Richard Bluck and Paul Richards have announced they will not stand for the President and Vice President roles for the NZCS at the AGM on the 21 August. This is a great opportunity for Senior NZ Cinematographers to take on the helm of the NZCS, and drive the advancement of the art and craft of Cinematography in New Zealand.

    The role of the President is to:
    • Represent the society at engagements
    • Fact as media spokesperson
    • Report to the membership at each AGM
    • Ensure that the Rules are followed
    • Convence Meetings and set the agenda
    • Chair meeting, deciding who may speak and when
    • Oversee the operation of the Society
    The role of the Vice President is to:
    • Stand in for the President, by arrangement or when the president is unavailable.
    Like all members of the committee they are voluntary positions, but with tangible rewards in the form of leaving legacy for future Cinematographers. This is an exciting time for visual media, with many issues including the economics of our industry and gender equality in play. If you think the time has come to give back to your professional community, please contact us for more information.

    We also welcome all interest in joining the Committee - again this is a rewarding experience, offering a unique insight to both the broader Cinematographer world through our relationships with Imago, the ACS and the other overseas guilds, as well as insight to other NZ guilds.

    Committee members duties include:
    • Develop strategy 
    • Appoint sub-committees
    • Authorise operational budget and expenditure
    • Approve annual plan and budget
    • Approve project plans and budget
    • Publicly support NZCS awards, projects and events 

    The Committee has overall decision making responsibility for the NZCS – so if you join your vote will make a difference to the future focus of the society!

    For more information about the President or other roles, please get in touch.

    Kind regards,

    Amber Wakefield
    Executive Officer

  • Leica-Park Opening 2018 - A report by Marc Swadel

    22 Jul 2018 9:42 AM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    Marc Swadle is a cinematographer member of both he NZCS and the ACS. He is also one of our valued NZCS committee members.

    On the 14th of June, I jumped on a plane from London to Frankfurt with an invite from cine lens manufacturer CW Sonderoptic, for the launch of The Leitz-Park, in Wetzlar, Germany. 

    To celebrate the event, 1,200 guests, photographers, cinematographers and journalists were invited from all over the world to witness the inauguration and experience the completed park, and to take part in a weekend programme of talks, seminars, exhibitions, tours, concerts and hands on areas where you could try your hand at food, automotive, sport, wildlife, portrait, macro, and cinematic, photography.

    So what is the Leitz-Park?

    The Leitz-Park is (mind the pun) the focal point of Leitz/Leica: a complex that contains The Leica Museum and shop, company archives, photo studios, the factories for CW Sonderoptic/Leitz Cine Wetzlar, Via Optic, Uwe Weller, the Leica Camera AG headquarters, luxury hotel, restaurant and café.

    CW Sonderoptic – becomes – Leitz Cine Wetzlar!

    The change makes a bit more sense when you realise that ‘CW’ stands for ‘Cine Wetzlar’, and the business has moved into a brand new high tech facility.


    After the logo unveiling, I had a talk to Seth Emmons, Director of Communications, and Gerhard Baier, Managing Director, about the move and name change.

    Seth: ‘The building started 18 months ago when we broke ground, and here we are. The CW factory was based in Via Optic over the road, where we were for the last ten years – we just outgrew it. We did the move in a week, first production, then the office staff, and here we are!

    Gerhard: ‘Our rebranding to Leitz marks a natural evolution - until the late 80’s all Leica lenses carried the name ‘Ernst Leitz Wetzlar‘. Our new name carries the weight and responsibility of this heritage.’

    A recap on the company:

    CW Sonderoptic GmbH was founded in 2008 to design, manufacture and market Leica-branded cine lenses for film, television and commercial production.  
    The game-plan was to design and develop what became the Leica Summilux-C cine lenses, for them to be the most advanced cinema lenses yet created in regards to size, performance, mechanical precision, and optical characteristics. The first sets delivered in early 2012, and the following year they, began working on a new product line, the Leica Summicron-C cine lenses – which offer a smaller, lighter, and a top slower lens. 

    In 2015, underlining this development, and pursuit of quality, Iain Neil and André de Winter (optical and mechanical design, respectively) received technical Oscars for the Leica Summilux-C lenses from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

    Leitz as a whole has a pretty cool history. A specialty microscope manufacturer since the mid-1800s, in 1914, in Wetzlar, the company invented the 35mm photography film which is the standard for stills photography, and the original compact photography camera. Some of the most iconic images in the world have been shot on Leica cameras – that of Che Guevara, the famous kiss of the sailor and nurse at the end of World War 2, and the harrowing Vietnam picture of the child napalm victim to name a few. 

    90% of what Leitz Camera (renamed from Leitz in the mid-1980s) makes is exported, and 1200 people work in the Leitz-Park optic industry cluster - which has a 2.8 billion euro turnover in the Wetzlar region – making not only cameras and lenses, but automotive sensors, and aeronautic, military and industrial products.

    The Launch Event

    To kick it all off, a Launch event was held in a giant purpose built marquee, on site, with many speakers from the company, government and local government.

    Wolfgang Kisselbach, managing director of Leitz-Park:
    ‘In order to make the possible emerge the impossible must be dreamed’

    Andreas Kaufmann Chairman of Leitz:
    'About the buildings style – quoting Goethe – Architecture is frozen music’.


    After the formalities we headed for the Leitz Cine Wetzlar hospitality area, which had all manner of goodies to sample (of the food/drink and camera/lens variety), where I found my old mates Louis-Phillipe Capelle SBC, Richard Andry AFC and Alfredo Altamirano AMC.

    We all then went off on a tour of the lens manufacturing facilities – a rare chance for us camera types to experience. 

    First up, Seth Emmon took us on a tour of the Sumilux plant.

    As we saw, all production elements happen in one room, that is totally sealed - it is a faster process to make lenses, and cleaner. The clean rooms have positive pressure.. so if a door is opened the air blows outwards.

    The question was asked – ‘How many lenses do you make a year?’ 

    Seth relates: ‘In the last year we’ve manufactured over 300 Thalia Lenses and more each of the Summilux-C and Summicron-C lenses. In the new factory our production output is near 20% improved and we’re still refining and improving it. To date we’ve produced nearly 3000 Summilux-C lenses and over 3000 Summicron-C lenses’.

    The lenses optics themselves are from Leica Camera, and Leica Portugal (where the M series of stills lenses are made). The Summilux-C lenses are individually focus tested on a 16 metre long bench – and the focus markings are dead accurate, and bespoke marked for each lens.

    We then crossed the road to Uwe Weller Feinwerktechnik - where the lens housings are made, and where taken on a tour by Michael Weller, Chief of Operations.

    Each lens is amazingly complex – there are 30 parts (none plastic!) in a 135mm Summilux (excluding glass) 80% of which is aluminium in various alloys – the outer alloy is optimised for anodising, other alloys come from the Aviation and Military worlds, and is stress tested and x-rayed before delivery.

    The factory is ultra-clean – the air is filtered, and every scrap of waste metal is carefully collected and recycled. I counted more than 40 CNC machines – each working to multiple passes, milling specific parts. Each machine can cost as much as 700K Euro, and will last at least 20 years on the job.
    Finally, we came to the engraving department – where they still do the classic deep milled engraving after the lens housing is anodised, then the markings are filled with paint, then the excess rubbed off with alcohol.

    After the tour, I have a much deeper appreciation for the lenses – the sheer quality that arises from taking the path to be the best.

    The weekend was a great one – I got to try other photographic disciplines, enjoyed the gallery and museum, had some great food, met Ed Lachman ASC, Guillermo Navarro ASC AMC and ASC President, Kees van Oostrum ASC, and photographer Bruce Davidson.


    A huge thanks for Seth and his team for making the weekend what is was – a model of German efficiency and hospitality.

    If any of you are in the Frankfurt area

    I definitely suggest taking the 40- minute trip to the Leitz-Park and immersing yourself in all things Leica at the Leica Experience Centre.

    Drop them a line on the link below to on in mailto:leicatour@leica-camera.com

    - Marc Swadel

  • Creating culture change around sexual harassment in the NZ screen industry

    29 May 2018 7:36 PM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    SWAG held two forums (in Auckland and Wellington) earlier in the year to reach out on a grass roots level with industry women. Below is a draft of proposed recommendations from Screen Women Action Group (SWAG) based on their findings.

    Part of their process has been to refine and collate all the feedback from the forums and consult with sexual harassment specialists and educators, to craft a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem of sexual harassment in our industry. 

    At this stage the document is a draft and SWAG would like to reach out further for consultation and feedback. 

    This impacts us all - please take the time to read and offer feedback.  SWAG are asking for responses by the 11th June. 

    Email them directly to - screenwomensactiongroup@gmail.com

    SWAG Consultation final.pdf


  • International Colorist Academy - Warren Eagles Auckland Training Week

    20 May 2018 2:48 PM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    For the first time in NZ, ICA Colorist training classes at Rebel Fleet.

    These classes whilst run using DaVinci Resolve v15 are designed as an around colour class. That means great for DPs, DITs, Editors and all in one production companies.

    The there classes are designed to dovetail, so it is possible to take all three together. They also work as independent classes for each level.

    Your training machine, media and a number of different control surfaces and grading monitors will be supplied for the duration of the class. Students are encouraged to bring and discuss their problem material. The ICA welcomes class participation and they will try to tailor each class to their students needs.

    RG101 - Resolve for beginners, 11-12 June
    RG201 - Advanced Resolve Techniques, 13-14 June
    RG301 - Looks and Matching Masterlocks, 15-16 June


    20% DISCOUNT FOR NZCS MEMBERS

    For more booking information, please contact Pete Harrow 
    For further course information, including pricing click here

  • Demystifying Lighting

    09 May 2018 8:28 PM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    Do you have questions about lighting and dollies that you always have wanted to ask… but just haven’t had the chance to? 

    Are there questions about the role and responsibilities of gaffers and grips? 

    Would you like some more insight into the things you’re asked to pay for?

    Well here is your opportunity!!

    WIFT and PLS have teamed up together for an upcoming workshop in Auckland.

    This  is an amazing opportunity to find out how to overcome the most common hurdles with lighting.

    It’s time to demystify lighting and dollies, which will help with your understanding and efficiency.

    It will be a workshop for technical crew, production assistants, production managers, producers and anyone else on set who wishes to increase their knowledge.

    Date: Wednesday 30th May

    Time: 6pm for 6.30pm start

    Venue: Professional Lighting Services, 66 Cook Street, Auckland CBD

    Fee: $15 for non WIFT members

  • ARRI Certified User Training in Auckland

    14 Apr 2018 12:12 PM | Amber Wakefield (Administrator)

    Isn’t it great that ARRI are holding some training sessions in Auckland!!

    Even better they’re offering a 10% discount for NZCS members!!

    The senior trainer from ARRI will be travelling from Munich for two Certified User Training sessions in April/May. They're offering a two day workshop on Camera Systems and a one day workshop on their Electronic Control System.

    Limited to 12 participants, each course will enhance your knowledge of topics such as exposure for HDR and carrying metadata from pre-production into post. Whether you're an industry professional looking for a refresher on new technologies or a camera assistant looking to step up in the industry, these courses will extend your skill-set and give you confidence in your abilities.

    Please email me on EO@nzcine.com for the discount code (NZCS members only).

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arri-certified-user-training-for-ecs-auckland-tickets-43307639315?aff=ARRIcom

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/enhance-your-camera-skills-and-master-new-trends-like-hdr-auckland-tickets-42977992332?aff=ARRIcom

  • SWAG forums disturbs but there are things we can do

    14 Mar 2018 12:54 PM | Peter Parnham (Administrator)

    Cinematographer and NZCS member Ginny Loane sat on the panel at recent Screen Women's Action Group (SWAG) forums held in Auckland and Wellington. 

    She says the results of the SWAG screen industry survey were disturbing to say the least. The survey revealed 66 per cent have encountered some form of sexual harassment in the workplace.

    "However, I know that there are a heap lovely of men in our industry who don’t want it to be like this and to a certain extent have felt helpless to do anything about it," added Loane.

    She asks that we all take the time to watch these two TED talks to work out how we can intervene and help stop this behaviour on set.

    Bold, blunt TED talk from Jackson Katz.

    Tony Porter makes a TED call to men everywhere: Break free of the man box. 



  • Air New Zealand 2018 Lithium Battery memo

    26 Feb 2018 12:53 PM | Peter Parnham (Administrator)

    Here is a copy of the Air NZ updated 2018 lithium battery document. This memo now includes a limit of 20 spare batteries.

    Download PDF Memo

    IATA Lithium Battery Guidance 2017


  • Screen Women's Action Group forum

    24 Feb 2018 11:05 AM | Peter Parnham (Administrator)

    Prior to their forums in Auckland and Wellington,The Screen Women's Action Group (SWAG) asked guilds for a paragraph on what they have done to date about this issue. Here's what NZCS put forward:

    "NZCS believes that discrimination, bullying, and any form of harassment in the screen industry should be addressed and supports industry-wide initiatives in this area. To date NZCS has put its weight behind the proposed combined guilds code of ethics in the screen industry which we anticipate will cover these topics and the work of ScreenSafe in this area. 

    NZCS recognises that NZ cinematography, like overseas cinematography is currently gender imbalanced and this year is stepping up the Camera Pathways programme to help address this issue by attracting more women into cinematography."

    We are pleased that one of our highly respected cinematographers, Ginny Loane is on the panel at the SWAG forum in Auckland, and at least two of our women committee members have indicated they also will be attending, so NZCS will be well represented.


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