British Cinematographer issue 51 - Imago

British Cinematographer
Covering International Cinematography
www.britishcinematographer.co.uk
Issue 051 ––– May 2012 30
Petition to UNESCO film’s
World Heritage status
In Rome two years ago IMAGO supported an initiative
from Guillermo Navarro AMC ASC, the distinguished
Mexican cinematographer, which proposed that film
be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Guillermo’s
idea was revived in London earlier this year in an
address in support of film by the president of IMAGO. On
22 February 2012, an event was held in the Turbine Hall
of London’s Tate Modern called ‘A Celebration Of Film’.
Presented and hosted by organisations and companies
from the British Film industry, it brought together over 800
professionals to celebrate and call for the protection of
the medium of film – photochemical film - in the digital
age. It inspired the British artist Tacita Dean, also being
celebrated at the event, to renew the cudgels of the
cause of heritage status by involving many friends and
acquaintances, including Larry Kardish, senior curator of
film at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Stuart
Comer, curator of film at the Tate.
Navarro has commented: “Film is the Rosetta Stone
of our times. Since film was invented a little more than
100 years ago, it has become a universal medium for
telling stories that has entertained and enlightened
people in every corner of the world. I believe that it is both
important and appropriate for cinematographers, and
other filmmakers, from around the world to unite by asking
UNESCO to recognise the important role that film has
played in our culture, by declaring it a World Heritage.”
Over the past century, film has changed humankind.
From the earliest fragments of captured movement, it
has allowed us to see ourselves, document ourselves
and invent ourselves using just the mechanics of light,
lenses and chemistry. Film and photography are
our cultural and historical memory. They hold in their
emulsion the imprint of time: how we have lived, worked
and created in communities across the world, for as a
means of depiction, film belonged to everyone. It was
our universal language, and despite a century divided
by conflict, everyone could still gather together to share
the imagery and emotion created by film.
Now, with the invention of the digital process, the
medium of film as an irreplaceable artistic language is
gravely threatened and will, unless action is taken, simply
disappear. We cannot allow this to happen. Film is too
wondrous and unique an invention to be forfeited for
the sake of short-term economic gain. Just as one would
not think of simply photocopying a medieval manuscript
before dispensing with the original, or hanging a
postcard in a museum in lieu of a prized oil painting, film
has its own particular inherent beauty and is not simply
replaceable as a medium by digital technology. Its
obsolescence will result in irretrievable losses that we may
no longer be able to see and experience, and in what
we will no longer be able to make, because we will have
forfeited the technology and knowledge to do so.
Many in the cinema industry and in the art,
museum and archive communities are reaching
the consensus that such cultural irresponsibility and
short-sightedness cannot be allowed to take place in
what is seen as a critical moment in film’s survival. We
are therefore coming together as a body to petition
UNESCO to protect the medium of film as a World
Heritage so that future generations will be able to
experience film as we have done.
Signees: Tacita Dean, artist: Laurence Kardish, senior
curator of film at the Museum of Modern Art, New York;
Stuart Comer, curator of film, Tate London; Nicholas
Cullinan, curator of Modern Art, Tate; Guillermo Navarro
AMC ASC, cinematographer; Judith Petty, head of
marketing ARRI; Nigel Walters BSC, president of IMAGO,
European Federation of Cinematographers; Rani Singh,
Getty Research Institute, LA; Paolo Cherchi Usai, director
of National Film & Sound Archive Australia/curator motion
picture dept, George Eastman House, Rochester; Peter
Tokofsky, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.
31
British Cinematographer
Covering International Cinematography
www.britishcinematographer.co.uk
Issue 051 ––– May 2012
Sans frontières
Over the past four years of my service as IMAGO
president, contained in the mail occasionally comes
a phrase or sentence which is poetic and memorable
in its imagery. To the words “Barriers of the Mind” I am
indebted to that great Hungarian cinematographer and
director, Lajos Koltai HSC.
IMAGO helps to break down many barriers of
the minds for many of us; those of prejudice, bigotry,
discrimination, intolerance and injustice to name a few.
It does this by encouraging international understanding
through the brotherhood of a group of individuals
bonded by a love of imagery and cinema. We meet
and talk and enjoy one another’s company, and come
away with a greater understanding of mutual problems.
Our Masterclasses are designed to broaden the minds of
our young cinematographers.
In the privileged role of president it is my duty to
reflect the wishes of our societies. Such an opportunity
has arisen with the welcome formation by twelve
cinematographers of the state of Bosnia and
Herzegovinian of a new society dedicated to improving
standards of their craft in their country.
The Balkans is an area steeped in the history of film.
Every year, in September, IMAGO supports the oldest
festival dedicated to the craft of cinematography –
that of the Manaki Brothers in the small town of Bitula,
Macedonia, a cradle of civilization. The fledging Bosnian
society, the ASBH has not asked for assistance. When
such a request arrives support has been pledged
from the neighbouring societies, including Serbia and
Croatia. IMAGO finds itself in the unique opportunity of
being able to assist the process of bringing our societies
together. Our fellow creative artists have the right to be
regarded everywhere as true colleagues and equals.
The only barriers left to break down in some parts of the
world are those of the mind. Fortunately, these are slowly
crumbling as time heals and tolerance and respect
returns to humanity.
IMAGO congratulates our colleagues in the
ASBH for their determination and fortitude, especially
their president, Mustafa Mustafic. Their colleagues in
Serbia have been actively encouraging this welcome
addition to our fellowship. IMAGO is proposing
that the societies active in that region meet at the
Manaki Festival in Macedonia in September to hold a
Conference of friendship and solidarity to discuss ways
of mutual cooperation.
The Manaki Festival, under its director Labina
Mitevski, has welcomed this initiative and pledged
support for representatives of the societies of all the
countries of the region at a September mini-conference.
The Manaki Festival runs from September 15th to 21st in
Bitula, Macedonia.
If this happens one can also hope that the members
of the society representing Macedonia, the former
republic within Yugoslavia, will exchange news on fertile
soil with delegates from the re-vitalized Greek society.
If this conference could take place, IMAGO would
more than justify its existence. Balkan cinematographers
could resume their proud historical role in the history of
European cinema.
Universal... shots from Tacita
Dean’s installation at Tate
Modern take during the recent
Celebration Of Film event.
Summit special... Michael Goi
ASC brought cinematographers
worldwide together at the ASC
Clubhouse in LA. Photo by
Douglas Kirkland.
In praise of… Michael Goi ASC
In these heady days, when the world is truly too much
with us, and there is hardly time for a well-earned “thank
you”, IMAGO would like to express its appreciation of
Michael Goi, the retiring president of the ASC. A year ago,
thanks to his initiative and guidance, the ASC hosted the
first International Cinematography Summit Conference
in Los Angeles.
This was an important landmark in progressing
International understanding between cinematographers
of his American society and the rest of the world.
Together with his vice-president Richard Crudo ASC, the
ASC has moved forwards to embrace a world anxious
for a closer understanding between cinematographers
everywhere. IMAGO is grateful and wishes Michael well
as he returns to the real world of shooting movies.