Canadian Society of Cinematographers

The idea to form the Canadian Society of Cinematographers originated from the inspiration of four cameramen:[1] Herbert Alpert csc asc, M. Jackson-Samuels csc, Fritz Spiess csc and Bob Brooks csc. In 1957, the cameramen decided to create an organization specifically designated for the art of cinematography after crossing paths numerous times in the lobby of a film studio at Woodbine and Danforth Then known as Meridian Films, in east-end Toronto. The society's goal was to be synonymous in Canada with the American Society of Cinematographers.

The Federal Government did not recognize the society as legitimate until 1960, when the Secretary of State made it official. The CSC served on the advisory committee for the Canadian Film Development Corporation which is now known as Telefilm Canada[2]

The Canadian Society of Cinematographers is a non-profit Canadian trade organization with over 700 members whose mission is to promote the artistic creativity and required skills for cinematography.

With Corporate Sponsorship and the help of leaders within the organization, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers fulfills its mission by:[3]

• Training its active members
• Educating its active members
• Disseminating the latest information in technology and product to its active members

The Canadian Society of Cinematographers consists of:

• One Canadian office located in Toronto, ON.
• approximately 580+ members
• volunteer positions, usually performed by its active members

The Canadian Society of Cinematographers has between 6-9 members elected to their board of directors, who each possess unique qualities and skills that contribute to the organization.

The Board of Directors are

• Jeremy Benning csc
• Guy Godfree csc
• Rion Gonzales assoc. csc
• Christina Ienna assoc. csc
• Alex Sandahl companion csc
• Claudine Sauvé csc
• George Willis csc, sasc
• Martin Wojtunik assoc. csc

The Board of Directors elect three individuals as chief officers:

• President: George Willis csc, sasc
• Executive Officer: Susan Sanaranchuck
• Board Chair: Guy Godfree csc

Vice Presidents

The Society is also composed of VP's across Canada which include

• Vice President (Eastern): Bruno Philip csc
• Vice President (Western): Philip Lanyon csc
• Vice President (Central): Penny Watie

Committees and Chairs

-Education Committee

• Co-Chair: Christina Ienna assoc. csc
• Co-Chair: George Willis csc, sasc
• Co-Chair: Martin Wojtunik assoc. csc

-Membership Committee

• Co-Chair: Arthur Cooper csc
• Co-Chair: Zoe Dirse csc

-Awards Committee

• Co-Chair: Arthur Cooper csc

-Diversity Committee

• Chair: Rion Gonzales assoc. csc

-Online Content Committee

• Co-Chair: Jeremy Benning csc
• Co-Chair: Christina Ienna assoc. csc
• Co-Chair: Carolyn Wong assoc. csc

-Mentorship Committee

• Co-Chair: Iris Ng assoc. csc
• Co-Chair: Nyssa Gluck assoc. csc

Editorial Department

• Editor in Chief: Fanen Chiahemen
• Editor Emiritus: Donald Angus
• Copy Editor: Patty Guyader
• Editor: George Willis csc, sasc
• Photo Editor: Claudine Sauvé csc
• Art Direction: Simon Evers
• Advertising Guido Kondruss

Staff

• Susan Sanaranchuck
• Patty Guyader
• Lucy Kayumov
• Francis Luta
• Karen Longland
• Gail Picco

The film and television industry is growing, yet diversity behind the camera continues to be a problem. Employment opportunities exist to train people for high level artistic and technical jobs including cinematographers and camera assistants.

Barriers also exist for marginalized communities to have access to training opportunities. CSC is conducting an unprecedented initiative to remove barriers to employment in the film and television industry.

The bridge will be created by:

• Establishing relationships with community partners on the ground and working with underrepresented communities.
• Reaching out to those community partners in a respectful way with practical opportunities to access film and television
• Offer robust online content so people can supplement their learning in whatever part of the country they live
• Building ongoing relationships with community partners, industry stakeholders and government to make our programs sustainable

The CSC is on target to raising $3.75 million pledged over the next 3 years by the end of 2022. On November 7, Paul Bronfman, chair of that campaign announced at the official launch of the campaign that we’ve raised 1.97 million dollars, over half of our 3.75-million-dollar campaign goal.

The four areas of investment include:

1. Outreach, Internship, Mentorship
2. Education: In-person and online
3. Advancing technology: Virtual production
4. Creating spaces: Western and central, plus 4 additional satellite offices

The Canadian Society of Cinematographers is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of corporate sponsors in order to serve their membership.

Some of their sponsors include: AC Lighting Inc., Aputure, Cooke Optics, Canon Canada Inc., Codes Pro-Media, Dazmo Camera, Fuji Film Canada, Henry's, Nikon Canada, Panasonic Canada, and Sony of Canada.

The full list of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers' corporate sponsors and contact information can be found on their website.[4]

Every year, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers hosts an Awards Gala in Toronto, ON to honour the works and achievement of Canadian cinematographers in the industry. In 2017, the CSC celebrated their 60th anniversary of the CSC Awards Gala[5] Their award categories are divided into sections, which are:[6]

• Special Awards and Honours
• Director of Photography Categories
• Cinematographer Categories

Each section contains multiple awards that may be given out to recipients each year.[7]

In 1962, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers published a magazine called Canadian Cinematography,[8] whose name changed to Cinema Canada in 1967. In 1989, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers changed the name of their magazine from Cinema Canada to the current title which is now called Canadian Cinematographer[9]

• American Society of Cinematographers
• British Society of Cinematographers
• Australian Cinematographers Society