Universal Film
52
www.ufmag.biz
Al Mayer JR
moving to digital technology, the lan- dscape of the industry completely changed. GENESIS was the first major camera that complimented the look of 35mm film with its chip size (equiva- lent to super 35mm), dynamic range and colorimetry. Productions adapted to this right away and many of todays cameras follow suite.
UFM: Tell us a bit about the experience of being OSCAR and EMMY Winner for camera design?
ANS: It was an honor for my father to win these awards along with his team, and be acknowledged by his peers in the industry for the hard work and effort they put in.
UFM: What does the future camera looks like? In the recent film produc- tion of US Cinematography we saw the film “Simon”, where the main star in the film is a computer generated cha- racter ‘Simon’ by Andrew Niccole but no one really knows that she only exists in the computer and on the screen. How important really is the camera in the film and entertainment industry?
ANS: Technology is an interesting thing. You’ll always need to acquire,
edit, and exhibit the story. There are so many ways people are doing this nowadays, and with the power of the computer and the internet, storytelling and distribution are not a problem. The future of the industry I believe will be hybrids of many technologies. CGI, Animation, live action, etc. As long as the storyteller has the imagination, technology will make it happen. UFM: Can you tell us about your com- pany now, what does it do when it comes to a film-based 3D projection technology system? Are there specu- lations about the feasibility of the system in the camera design, when it comes to a low-cost 3D lens and print format of 35mm movie projectors? Tell us some tehnical aspect of the design?
ANS: this specific technology (3D film projection), although sound, was never developed in mass. My current com- pany, Excelsis Engineering, is involved with various products. Examples being professional 3D camera systems, high-end small sized 2D cameras, len- ses, etc that are for the entertainment industry and the US military. I consult for many different companies from start-ups to well established corpora- tions at many different levels.
UFM: At the Serbia FEST 2013, Serbian filmmaker Predrag Bambic presented the film Albert´s Way, a documentary about your father´s childhood in Ser- bia before and during the Second World War. Can you tell to UFM readers a bit about this film?
ANS: To begin with , I have to thank Bambi and the entire crew for creating this piece of Mayer family history. The story is one of determination, perse- verance, and forgiveness. My ance- stors (all of German decent) had lived in Perlez for 6 generations prior to the outbreak of World War 2 assimilating to the local culture but still maintai- ning their German heritage. They worked and played with their neighbors and lived a relatively pea- ceful life as farmers. After the war, my father and his family were forced to leave their home by the communist regime and were placed into a concen- tration camp near their home village. They lived there undernourished, cold and in poverty for several years and many of them died, including my grandfather, because of these ele- ments. A few mass graves holding up to 20,000 people, were built close to the camp to bury those who perished there.
Issue 10 - 2012
he Film Finance Awards (FFA) is working together with UFFO, Universal Film Magazine and Movie Money Magazine for the next Film Finance Awards Gala, to be held in London on October 26, 2013.
MM – What does the Film Finance Awards do?
FFA – Our team hosts a series of high-end film and entertainment investment events during the year, with the final Awards Gala taking place in the finance capital of the world, London, England, on October 26th. The Film Finance Awards jury will vote on all of the nominations to determine which will make the short list for 2013. The jury dinner and vote will take place the night before the awards ceremony. FFA recognizes structural, inspirational and creative investment across a range of film finance categories. During the year, the FFA team organizes several awards events in Berlin (February), Basel (April), Cannes (May), and Beverly Hills (September).
On the night of the Awards, government organizations, the investment community, and individuals working on behalf of and within the film industry and film finance communities will be recognized for their achievements in more than 20 categories of investment.
Common to all nominees is a shared goal: to promote and finance the production of critically and commercially successful films. The program consists of opening VIP cocktails, seated dinner, awards ceremony, evening entertainment and networking.
MM – Why have you brought Film Finance Awards to London?
FFA – After successful events in the Martinez Hotel in Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival and the Lux Hotel in Beverly Hills, we started receiving requests to run the Film Finance Awards in London. With the ever-increasing importance of international finance for local and international film, and the fact that London is the capital for international finance, it seems to be the logical location to hold the Film Finance Awards.
You can send in your nominations for the 2013 Film Finance Awards through the FFA website.
Tickets: www.filmfinanceawards.com www.moviemoneymag.com