Slocombe Will Receive ASC International Achievement Award

Douglas Slocombe, BSC, has been selected to receive the AmericanSociety of Cinematographers (ASC) International Achievement Award. Theaward is periodically presented to a cinematographer outside the UnitedStates who has made a significant and enduring impression on theinternational art of filmmaking. Slocombe will be honored during the16th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on February 17, 2002, atthe Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Slocombe has compiled approximately 75 narrative credits, rangingfrom low budget, independent features to studio blockbusters. He earnedOscar nominations for "Travels With My Aunt" (1973), "Julia" (1978),and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982). His body of work also includessuch memorable features as "The Man in the White Suit," "The Blue Max,""The Lion in Winter," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Never Say NeverAgain," "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea," "Murphy’sWar," "The Great Gatsby," "The Servent," "Rollerball," and suchlandmark television films as "Love Among the Ruins." Slocombe earnedhis most recent narrative credit in 1989 for "Indiana Jones and theLast Crusade."

“Doug Slocombe was in the front ranks of a new generation ofcinematographers who came from a non-traditional background and broughta different way of thinking to the film industry,” says ASCPresident Victor J. Kemper, ASC. “His credits range from comediesto naturalistic looking dramas and stylized action-adventure films. Heis a source of inspiration and a great role model forcinematographers.”

Slocombe joins a distinguished list of ASC International AchievementAward winners, beginning in 1992 with Freddie Young, BSC. The otherrecipients include Jack Cardiff, BSC, Gabriel Figueroa, AMC, HenriAlekan, Raoul Coutard, Freddie Francis, BSC, Giuseppe Rotunno, ASC,AIC, Oswald Morris, BSC, and Billy Williams, BSC.

“I am, of course, delighted to have been chosen for this honorand I am also deeply moved by it,” says Slocombe.“Throughout most of the history of cinema, the ASC has beenassociated with the names of so many of the world’s greatestcinematographers. This award, coming from my American peers, is onethat I will always cherish.”

In 1940, Slocombe earned his first cinematography credit for hiswork on a seminal United States documentary, "Lights Out in Europe,"which gave the Western world a grim, behind-the-scenes look at reality,including stark footage of the Nazi invasions of Poland and Holland.After that experience, Slocombe joined Ealing Studios in London as anaction photographer, shooting background materials for Ealing’swartime films.

Slocombe spent 17 years as a contract cinematographer at EalingStudios, segueing into narrative filmmaking after the war. He quicklyestablished his reputation by shooting such Alec Guinness films as"Kind Hearts and Coronets," "The Man in the White Suit," and "TheLavender Hill Mob," which are now considered classics.

Slocombe has collaborated with many high profile directors,including Fred Zinneman, John Huston, George Cukor, Norman Jewison, andSteven Spielberg, which is certainly no coincidence.

“I met Steven Spielberg when my crew and I spent a marvelousweek in Bombay shooting scenes with him for 'Close Encounters of theThird Kind.' Vilmos Zsigmond (ASC, who shot the film) was busy onanother project. Steven was very creative and extremely receptive toideas. He promised to keep me in mind for a future picture. It is thesort of promise that you often hear in situations like thisone.”

Spielberg was true to his word, however. Slocombe had mixed feelingwhen the director asked him to shoot "Raiders of the Last Ark."Slocombe wasn’t interested in shooting action-adventure films. Hepreferred “more literal” dramas, such as "Kind Hearts andCoronets" and "Julia," which “sparked his imagination.”

“My doubts dissolved as soon as we began preparation,”he recalls. “It was a completely new type of work for me. Ibelieve that one of the things I aim to do is apply a sense of whatfeels right, and translate that feeling into a look the director wants.Steven envisioned a sharp quality with no diffusion, although he didwant some contrast. We found the right look on the first day and stayedwith it.”

Slocombe has been honored many times in England. He received tophonors from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for"The Servant," "The Great Gatsby" and "Julia," and other nominationsfor "Guns at Batasi," "The Blue Max," "The Lion in Winter," "Travelswith My Aunt," "Rollerball," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Raiders of theLost Ark," and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." In 1993, hereceived a special award for lifetime achievement from BAFTA.

His peers in the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) alsoawarded him top cinematography honors for "The Servant," "The GreatGatsby," "The Lion in Winter," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Julia,"along with numerous other nominations. In 1995, Slocombe was awardedthe BSC Lifetime Achievement Award.

ASC was founded in January 1919 by 15 cinematographers who werededicated to advancing the art and craft of the new artform. Some 680cinematographers from around the world have subsequently earned theright to put the letters ASC after their names. Some 315 associatemembers from ancillary sectors of the industry have also been invitedto join ASC because of their demonstrated commitment to theartform.

The ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards were inaugurated in 1986 forthe purpose of recognizing and inspiring the pursuit of excellence inthe art of filmmaking.

For information about the ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards callPatty Armacost at 323-969-4333, or visit the ASC website atwww.cinematographer.com.