Academy Award®-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, ASC (whose credits include Silence, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Argo, Biutiful, Babel, Brokeback Mountain), has been named the 2016-17 Kodak Cinematographer-in-Residence at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT).
This is the 17th year of the residency program, which is sponsored by the Eastman Kodak Company. Prieto joins a distinguished group of cinematographers who have received this honor including John Bailey, ASC (American Gigolo, In The Line Of Fire); Dean Cundey, ASC (Back To The Future, Jurassic Park); Roger Deakins, BSC, ASC (No Country For Old Men, Skyfall); Guillermo Navarro ASC, AMC (From Dusk To Dawn, Pan’s Labyrinth) and Dante Spinotti, ASC, AIC (Hercules, Tower Heist, Public Enemies).
“As cinematographers, we manipulate light and utilize composition, texture, color and movement in an attempt to capture the essence of something very elusive: emotional truth,” Prieto said. “Even with fictional characters in make-believe costumes and sets, our goal is to transport the viewer into emotional states that feel authentic and palpable. Film negative is an essential tool for cinematographers to reproduce the subtle nuances of feelings on actor’s faces, as well as to create visual environments to embody these emotions. I am deeply honored and very grateful to the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and Kodak for naming me Cinematographer-in-Residence. I hope to continue the exploration of the expressive nature of cinematography along with the students and faculty at UCLA TFT.”
The Kodak Cinematographer-in-Residence Program was established in 2000 by UCLA TFT professor William McDonald to bring together the worlds of professional and academic cinematography, exposing theater, film and television students to critically acclaimed industry veterans who have attained the highest levels of achievement within the filmmaking industry. Students study with these experts for an entire academic year through a series of workshops and screenings.
“The excellence of Rodrigo’s work speaks for itself and we couldn’t be more pleased that he has agreed to be our Cinematographer-in-Residence this year,” McDonald said. “It is inevitable that our students will learn immensely from his vast expertise and expert guidance. We are truly appreciative of his efforts on their behalf.”
Steve Bellamy, president of Motion Picture and Entertainment, Eastman Kodak Company, said: “The Kodak Cinematographer-in-Residence Program is a very important part of our company’s ethos and history and we’re honored to continue to support it. Rodrigo Prieto is an amazing talent and a wonderful person whose masterful 35mm film photography on works of art such as Brokeback Mountain, Argo, The Wolf Of Wall Street and upcoming Silence, will stand the test of time like the greatest paintings and statues. Rodrigo joins an esteemed list of cinematographers generous enough to pass on their incredible knowledge and insight to the next generation.”
The residency begins in December with hands-on student workshops and continues for the remainder of the 2016-17 academic year.
The residency launches on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 with one of Prieto’s earlier projects, a screening of Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution. It starts at 8PM at the Darren Star Screening Room at UCLA TFT followed by a Q & A with Prieto. Tickets are free but space is limited. Click here to RSVP.
Ian Mackenzie and Ryan Bullock team to launch indie agency Memory
Ian Mackenzie, who’s known for his innovative work in the creative data space, has partnered with Ryan Bullock, a seasoned marketing executive with past roles as a client-side CMO and agency president, to launch Memory, an independent brand performance agency.
Memory is built on the belief that creativity, technology, data, and AI should work together to drive meaningful business growth. From the top of the funnel to the bottom, the agency ensures that creative work is not only engaging but also engineered for measurable outcomes. The goal is to create a world-class and technologically innovative creative product achieved through strong collaboration and business partnership.
The agency’s name was chosen for its triad of meanings--its emotional connection to nostalgia and human recall, its technical relevance to data storage and AI-driven intelligence, and its central role in advertising.
“‘Memory’ is inherently human, tied to the way we connect with what matters,” said Mackenzie, co-founder and chief creative officer. “But it’s also deeply technical--the foundation of data storage and retrieval--and the structures that enable advertising to drive recall and influence consumer choice.”
Memory’s focus is on big, innovative ideas that are built to perform across the entire ecosystem of data, technology and media.
“The twin growth drivers of innovation and creativity aren’t evenly distributed across the customer journey,” said Mackenzie, former global creative AI lead for McCann WorldGroup, and CCO/co-founder of Performance Art and FCB/SIX. “Upper-funnel work often prioritizes storytelling at the expense of measurable gains in the short term, while lower-funnel work tends to sacrifice creative ambition to... Read More