‘The Waiting City’ Filmmaker Returns To Fremantle

4 August 2010

Short Courses

Award winning Cinematographer, Denson Baker ACS, recently returned to Fremantle to share the techniques he used filming The Waiting City and The Black Balloon. The very special masterclass was one of the many courses at the Film & Television Institute WA, designed to fast-track students into the film industry.

Over the course of the weekend students such as were treated to some inside knowledge on how The Waiting City was able to achieve such an “organic” and cinematic look, using lighting and the immensely popular RED Camera. Denson also explained how the cinematography on The Black Balloon was employed to capture a nostalgic feeling without too much sentimentality.

Student Daniel Holliday, spoke of the value of attracting such an esteemed professionals to Fremantle:

“I knew that the course would be good because it was being run by Denson who is of course a seasoned professional. The real positive of the day was Denson’s ability to explain things, then show them using examples of his own work, then to go further and give us a shot at reproducing that image/effect with the use of industry standard equipment (RED).”

Another participant, Hannah Klassek said;

“The Denson Baker masterclass was a truly inspiring experience. After spending years of watching films it’s great to learn how to make them like you see them on the big screen. I’m currently studying Digital Production at FTI”

In 2002 Denson won the AFI Award for Best Cinematography in a Non-Feature for his work on the ScreenWest funded short film, Jack. Denson has worked internationally shooting in Europe, India, Korea, New Zealand, The Pacific and throughout Australia. He has shot films that have won awards and screened in most major international film festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, Clermont-Ferrand, Flickerfest, Berlin, LA, among others.

Denson’s recent cinematography credits include The Black Balloon, winner of the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, Steve Pasvolsky’s feature film Deck Dogz and Daniel Askil’s internationally acclaimed short film We Have Decided Not to Die as well as recent music videos for Old Man River, Jimmy Barnes, The Presets, Cut Copy and Paul Mac.

Denson began his film training at FTI, completing several short workshops, and FTI is pleased to have him return to teach Perth’s new crop of emerging cinematographers.

Image: Daniel Holliday, courtesy of Matt De Byl