The Cinematographers Guild Turns 100, With Holiday Parties Planned Across the US
The International Cinematographers Guild marks its 100th anniversary on Sunday, according to Deadline. The guild is part of IATSE Local 600, the union for film and television camera crews.
Local 600 represents more than 9,000 people. Its members include directors of photography, who decide how each shot is lit and framed, along with camera operators, camera assistants, digital imaging technicians, visual effects supervisors, still photographers and publicists. Publicists are the people who promote films and shows to the press and public.
The union's roots go back to 1926, when the first camera union was founded in New York. Unions in Los Angeles and Chicago followed. The organisation took its national form in 1996.
To mark the occasion, the guild has launched a campaign called "100 Days to 100 Years." It has released a teaser video built from archival footage and memorable moments, honouring generations of camera and publicity workers. National President John Lindley leads the organisation.
The celebrations continue through the holiday season. The guild has scheduled centennial events in several cities:
- Chicago, December 5
- Los Angeles, December 6
- Atlanta and New Orleans, December 12
- Santa Fe, December 13
- New York, December 14
The guild's magazine, Inside 600, has also devoted its fifth issue to the anniversary, according to the guild's website.
For anyone who has ever watched a film and noticed how the light fell across an actor's face, the anniversary is a chance to see the people behind those images. The century-long story of the union is also a story about the crews who have worked the cameras since the 1920s.
