2/12/09

Jon Ratigan reports on his time at the CILECT Cinematography Masterclass 2009

This biennial masterclass, sponsored by Kodak, Panavision, CILECT and others, took place in the Korda Studios in Budapest, home to the biggest sound stage in the world.

Participants come from a network of international schools from as far and wide as Cuba, USA and Russia, and were either chosen as 'scholars' who get to work as DOPs or as 'participants' who either team up as part of a crew or just observe what’s going on.

I was one of the lucky 'scholars', a role which entailed firstly discussing lighting plans for a given scenario with the two 'masters'- Vilmos Zsigmond (DOP on The Deer Hunter & Close Encounters of the Third Kind, etc) and Elamier Regali (Journey of Hope), and then shooting the scene the next day using fellow students as actors.

We were assigned one of two dressed sets which we would light with the help of a best boy and a two electrician team; crews were made up of other participants and scholars. We shot on Panavision cameras and lenses with the Panavision rep’ at hand to give workshops on using the gear. Exposed film was developed and printed overnight and we then watched the results the next day under the critical eye of the masters.

As well as shooting scenes and observing, we also had the opportunity to listen to many visiting lecturers talk about cutting-edge technology and had a couple of days with a Kodak rep’ and in the Kodak labs in Budapest. Some of the most interesting times were had in open question and answer sessions with the master DOPs. All in all this was a really great opportunity to learn from two great DOPs and also from the other students, many of whom were already working at a very high level of technical and artistic excellence. The Indian and Russian crews come from courses where they only shoot on 35mm film.

I feel privileged to have been part of the masterclass and inspired to develop and improve my work further.

Jon Ratigan