Press release from Kodak
Swinburne University of Technology’s film student, Simon Walsh has won the Australia national first prize of the 2009 Kodak Filmschool competition for his cinematography on Dirt.
The short film, written and directed by fellow student, Kate Dehnert, takes you into the mind and home of an unsuccessful writer, who after an apocalypse is the last one standing. Dirt takes you on his journey of finding meaning to carry on.
“I spent a lot of time with my light meter trying to get exposures on deep browns and blacks, scratching my head as they sucked up any light I threw at them. Kate, the director, had just as much passion for her characters as I had in photographing them, which is probably the most inspiring thing for any cinematographer, and indeed what pushed me further and further creatively as each shoot day passed,” says Walsh.
The national competition was judged by Director of Photography, Ron Johanson ACS, who also works as President of the Australian Cinematography Society. “The decisionmaking process regarding the judging of the winner in this particular competition just gets harder and harder,” comments Johanson. “The overall standard was very high, but Simon’s work stood out.”
“He made really good use of the 7217 200T and it’s latitude,” Johanson continues, “while not being at all afraid of the good solid blacks, which were always going to be evident, given the title of the film, ‘Dirt’ and the subterranean interior location.” Jill Holt, Coordinator of the School of Film and Television at Swinburne University is delighted to learn of the win.
“We are immensely proud to acknowledge Simon Walsh as the recipient of the best cinematography award for the 16mm film production, ‘Dirt’. We aspire to high-production levels in all areas of our coursework, with cinematography a strong component in our teaching program. On behalf of Swinburne School of Film & Television, I would like to thank Kodak for it’s ongoing support of student films, and congratulations again to Simon, a worthy recipient of this award.”
The annual competition, which forms part of Kodak’s Worldwide Education Segment initiatives, is designed to encourage outstanding young filmmakers who specialise in cinematography and provides international recognition and tangible support for talented young filmmakers at an important juncture in their careers.
The winner from the Asia Pacific Region judging will receive the major prize of a trip to the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France.
Kodak’s ongoing support of student filmmakers and educators encourages excellence in the field of motion picture education. The company’s efforts include a range of opportunities that enrich the knowledge and learning experience of the art and craft of filmmaking. Initiatives range from scholarships, educational materials, and product grants to awards, seminars and workshops. Student film showcases and the annual Kodak Filmschool Competition also contribute to raising the profile and recognition of emerging talent.
For more information, visit www.kodak.com/go/filmschoolcompetition
About the Kodak Filmschool Competition
Launched in 2000 as part of Kodak’s education initiatives, the Kodak Filmschool Competition recognizes outstanding achievement in cinematography. Entries must be produced on film by a student crew and are open to students and recent graduates from Asia, Latin America, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, and the U.S. and Canada. The competition provides international recognition and tangible support for talented young filmmakers at an important juncture in their careers. For more information, visit www.kodak.com/go/education.