David Watkin

Watkin wanted to be a musician, but his father wouldn't let him. His second choice was to work on movies "because I knew film-makers didn't have to wear a suit." He took up cinematography, and developed his style with early films featuring The Beatles, as well as The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Catch-22 (1970), and The Three Musketeers (1973). But he's best known as the director of photography for Chariots of Fire (1981) and Out of Africa (1985), the latter winning him an Academy Award for Cinematography, one of seven Oscars for the lushly photographed production. To achieve a natural look when filming at night, Watkin invented a huge lighting array that was hoisted 150' in the air by a crane. Dubbed the "Wendy Light" (film electricians nicknamed Watkin "Wendy" because he was gay), the light has become standard equipment for night shooting. In all, he worked on more than 60 films, and was given a lifetime achievement awards by the British Society of Cinematographers in 2004. Watkin died at home from cancer on February 19. He was 82. From This is True for 17 February 2008 Suggestions for further reading: Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film (Third Edition) (Book + DVD + Web ... by Richard Barsam, Dave Monahan Amazon Price: $74.47 Customer Review: The book is in perfect condition, and has all supplements intact. The shipping was slow, but the class schedule didn't create a stress for not having it the first week. The contents are comprehensive with great end-chapter references and lists. tha...   In the Blink of an Eye Revised 2nd Edition by Walter Murch Amazon Price: $10.04 Customer Review: "In the Blink of an Eye" is a great film editor's book on the editing of motion pictures. Walter Murch's book became a classic for people editing moving pictures soon after the book's 1995 release. Later, Mr. Murch revised the book to keep current wi...   The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age by Steven Ascher, Edward Pincus Amazon Price: $16.50 Customer Review: If you buy a used copy of the book, you might get sent an earlier edition. This book is subtitled "A comprehensive guide for the digital age" but the version I got didn't have that subtitle. It was printed in 1984 and only deals with analog concepts...   The Animator's Survival Kit--Revised Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles... by Richard Williams Amazon Price: $21.60 Customer Review: I liked this book, but I wish he had separated his autobiographical commentary from his thoughts and tips on animation.(The other artists he's encountered and worked with are fascinating, and it always seemed like there was more to tell, but it was l...   Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your... by Christopher Kenworthy Amazon Price: $16.47 Customer Review: great reference book and quick reference. ive no complaints, and i haven't heard anyone else with mixed feelings about it either.   Newsfeed display by CaRP

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