SOC Names Camera Operator of the Year Nominees: The Changeling, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Eagle Eye and Milk

[Tim Tyler]

The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) celebrates the nominees for their annual Camera Operator of the Year award for outstanding merits of the “A” Camera Operator on a feature film. The 2009 nominees are: Will Arnot, SOC (Milk), Stephen Campanelli, SOC (The Changeling), Robert Gorelick, SOC (The Dark Knight), Kim Marks, SOC (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Martin Schaer, SOC (Eagle Eye).

 

 

This year’s Camera Operator of the Year winner will be announced at the February 21st SOC Lifetime Achievement Awards event where it honors its peers, supporters and industry heavyweights. The recipients will gather for the awards celebration at the Leonard Goldenson Theater of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on February 21, 2009.

 

 

SOC President’s Award is bestowed upon Mole Richardson Executive Larry Mole Parker in recognition of his tireless efforts to support the education of entering filmmakers and the enduring culture of the members of the SOC.

 

 

Longtime member of the SOC and top-tiered Panavision Executive Andy Romanoff will receive the Society’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition for his support and hard-working dedication to motion picture camera crews and Cinematographers throughout his professional career.

 

 

Honoring the Lifetime Achievements of the following crew members the SOC proudly presents their “CAMMY” award to: Camera Operator Michael Scott, SOC (Donnie Darko, Speed); Camera Technician Bob Hall (Dark Knight, The Pursuit of Happyness); Still Photographer Ralph Nelson (Frost/Nixon, Eagle Eye); Mobile Camera Platform Operator as Helicopter Pilot Al Cerullo (Spiderman, I am Legend).

 

 

Recognizing the Technical Achievement, the SOC honors George Paddock, Chris Haarhoff, Mark O’Kane and David Emmerichs of GPI for the PRO Camera Stabilization System.

 

 

Douglas Trumbull (2001, Brainstorm) is recognized by the SOC for his Technical Achievement in the development of the Slit Scan Photographic Process in Motion Picture Photography as featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 as well as many other film projects.

 

 

“The Lifetime Achievement Award enables our peers and the industry to acknowledge the importance of an individual’s contribution to Cinematography, the motion picture industry and the Society of Camera Operators,” says SOC Past President and Awards Event Producer David Frederick, SOC. “It is the one industry awards event that heralds the accomplishments of below the line individuals who make up the backbone of the industry.”

 

 

The process of selection, nomination and final choice of all of the award recipients falls upon the shoulders of the active members of the Society of Camera Operators.

 

 

“Most importantly”, concludes Frederick, “the SOC has shown its support to the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles since 1983. In those 26 years, the SOC has provided over $150,000 earmarked for the Vision Center’s special contact lens program that provides necessary postoperative lenses to families that cannot afford them. This awards event serves as the main fundraiser for the Society’s aid in these Children’s eye care. It is a noble and worthy effort by the members of the SOC which is graciously supported by the industry sponsors of the event.”

 

 

For more details on the event and the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles please visit http://www.soc.org.