Every year, the hallowed ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) hosts an open house the day before its annual award ceremony. I've been to a few in the past and almost missed it today, but remembered just in time. It's a casual event, a big group of folks milling around on the lawn and inside the clubhouse where they can inspect the vintage film cameras and paraphenalia.

For anyone who follows cinematography, it's an almost surreal event as every time you turn around, there's one of the legends standing two feet away. Today I saw Allen Daviau, Laszlo Kovacs, Haskell Wexler, Owen Roizman and Bill Butler, amongst others (Roger Deakins usually makes it but he's off on a feature at present). If you are patient, you can try to get a handshake in!

For those in LA who think this sounds like fun, mark your calendars for next year!

Count me in! Sounds like fun <g>

That is too cool!! I have been a subscriber to their excellent publication for many years.
C. Babcock

I just found out there also is a "American Society of Criminology"...

Ah yes

Haskell Wexler - Medium Cool

- the immortal line " I love to shoot film"


it helps if there's a naked lady running around your appartment too ... and before steadicams were invented!!

Am I to understand that anyone who has a keen interest in cinematography/camera operating is allowed to just walk in and mingle with the celebrities of image capture? For example, I'm a cop, not a full time working cinematographer. They'd let me in to check out the cool stuff and chat a bit with the working cinematographers?

Yup, that's the case on this particular day--it's a true open house. They have various other functions throughout the year that are invitation only, but this one is open to the public.

Hey Hugh, since you're a cop I don't think you have to ask anyone's permission to walk in!!!

At least not without a search warrant!