"Get Smart" [2007]

DEAN SEMLER ACS/ASC

Born: 1943, Renmark, South Australia, Australia, as Dean William Semler.

Career: Started as tv-studio cameraman and floor manager at ABC-tv. Moved to Sydney and ph doc's before joining [in 1971] the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit/Film Australia shooting government sponsored films. Went freelance in 1981.

Ph commercials.

Member of the ACS since 1975.

Also active as director. Member of the Directors Guild of America.

Gives lighting workshops at the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

His daughter Ingrid is a c.asst.

Appeared in the doc's 'We Were Soldiers: Getting It Right' [2002; 26m], 'xXx: A Filmmakers Diary' [2002, Todd Grossman; 40m], 'Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic' [2002, J.M. Kenny; ph: Alex Pappas, a.o.; 81m], 'Return of the Legend: The Making of 'The Alamo'' [2004; 18m], 'Harnessing Speed' [2005, Todd Grossman; 87m] & 'Cinematographer Style' [2005, Jon Fauer; ph: J. Fauer, Jeff Laszlo, Brian Heller & David Morgan].

Awards: AFI [Aus] Award nom [1982] for 'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1983] for 'Undercover'; ACS 'Milli' Award 'Australian Cinematographer of the Year' [1984] for 'Razorback'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1985] for 'The Coca-Cola Kid'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1988] for 'The Lighthorsemen'; AFI [Aus] Award [1989] for 'Dead Calm'; ASC Film Award [1990], 'Oscar' AA [1991], CFCA Award [1991], BSC Award nom [1991] & BAFTA Film Award nom [1992] for 'Dances with Wolves'; ACS 'Hall of Fame' Award [1997]; Australia Day Honour [2002] for 'Services to the arts as an Australian and internationally acclaimed cinematographer'; Hawaii IFF 'Excellence in Cinematography Award' [2003]; ASC Award nom [2007] for 'Apocalypto'.

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Photo by Barry Ellson

1970

FILMS [for documentaries see below]

1971	Hector and Milly Save Uncle Tom [Chris McGill] 16mm/b&w; cph: Geoff Williams
1971	Where Dead Men Lie [Keith Gow] c; short/15m; cph: Jon Rhodes; ep 'Outlook'-series
1971	The Choice [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; short/34m
1973	I Need More Staff [Donald Crombie] c; short/22m; cph: Jon Rhodes
1973	One Good Reason [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; promotional film/20m
1975	Let the Balloon Go [Oliver Howes] c; 2uc: Don McAlpine
1976	Do I Have to Kill My Child? [Donald Crombie] c; short/52m
1979	The Earthling [Peter Collinson] p/c; 2uc; ph: Don McAlpine
1980	Dancing [George Whaley] c; short/19m; prod Australian Film and Television School
1981	Mad Max 2 [: The Road Warrior] [George Miller] p/b&w-c; doc ph: Andrew Lesnie
1981	Hoodwink [Claude Whatham] c
1982	Kitty and the Bagman [Donald Crombie] p/c
1982	Undercover [David Stevens] c; 100m & 85m (1984)
1983	Razorback [Russell Mulcahy] p/c; 2uc: Billy Grimmond, Ross Berryman & Steve Dobson
1984	The Coca-Cola Kid [Dusan Makavejev] c; 2uc: Andrew McLean & Colin Deane
1984	Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome/Mad Max 3 [George Miller & George Ogilvie] p/c; model unit ph: Ken Arlidge & Richard Merryman
1986	Bullseye [Carl Schultz] c
1986	Going Sane [Michael Robertson] c
1987	The Lighthorsemen [Simon Wincer] p/c; 2uc: Ian Jones & Richard Merryman
1987	Farewell to the King [John Milius] c; 2uc: Andrew Lesnie; water unit ph: Richard Edlund
1988	Young Guns [Christopher Cain] c
1988	K-9 [Rod Daniel] c
1988	Cocktail [Roger Donaldson] c
1988	Dead Calm [Phillip Noyce] p/c; opening seq ph: Geoff Burton; addph: Ross Berryman & Ian Jones
1989	Impulse [Sondra Locke] c
1989	Dances with Wolves [Kevin Costner] p/c; 2uc: John Huneck & Philip C. Pfeiffer
1990	Young Guns II [: Blaze of Glory] [Geoff Murphy] p/c; 2uc: Virgil Harper
1990	City Slickers [Ron Underwood] c; addph Spain: Robert Eber & Fernando Espiga; 2uc Spain: Martin Fuhrer; aph: Ron Goodman; matte ph: Paul Curley
1991	The Power of One [John G. Avildsen] c; matte ph: Glenn Campbell
1992	Super Mario Bros. [Rocky Morton & Annabel Jankel; uncred: Roland Joffé & Dean Semler] c; 2uc: James Devis; + co-2ud; D. Semler replaced Peter Levy, who was fired several weeks into filming
1992	Last Action Hero [John McTiernan] p/c; 2uc: David Nowell
1993	The Three Musketeers [Stephen Herek] p/c

[Left] with dir Gregg Champion - "The Cowboy Way"

Photo by Barry Wetcher - Thys Ockersen Archive

1993	The Cowboy Way [Gregg Champion] c; uncred 2uc: Ron Fortunato
1994	Waterworld [Kevin Reynolds] c; addph: Richard Merryman; 2uc: Gary Capo; uwph: Pete Romano; vfx ph: Alex Funke & Mark Vargo
1995	Gone Fishin' [Christopher Cain] c; 2uc: Gary Capo (Florida; + add 2ud) & Richard Bowen (add 2uc New Jersey/South Carolina)
1996	Trojan War/Rescue Me [George Huang] c
1998	The Bone Collector [Phillip Noyce] s35/c; addph London: Tony Pierce-Roberts; 2uc Montreal: Geoffrey Erb; 2uc New York: Craig Haagensen
1999	D-Tox [Jim Gillespie] p/c
1999	Nutty Professor II: The Klumps [Peter Segal] 35mm+p-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig
2000	Heartbreakers [David Mirkin] p/c; 2uc Florida: Mike McGowan Sr.
2000	The Adventures of Pluto Nash [Ron Underwood] c; 2uc (Los Angeles); ph: Oliver Wood
2000	Dragonfly [Tom Shadyac] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig; aph: Phil Pastuhov
2001	We Were Soldiers [Randall Wallace] p/c; 2uc: Lloyd Ahern II, Michael Gershman & Richard Merryman; aph: David Nowell
2001	xXx [Rob Cohen] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig
2002	Bruce Almighty [Tom Shadyac] c; 2uc: Don McCuaig
2003	The Alamo [John Lee Hancock] p/c; addph: Sebastian Vega; replaced doph Salvatore Totino
2004	Stealth [Rob Cohen] p/c; uncred Thailand ph: Russell Boyd; aph: Dwayne McClintock; vfx ph: Erik Nash
2004	The Longest Yard [Peter Segal] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig; aph: Dwayne McClintock
2005	Just My Luck [Donald Petrie] c; 2uc: Paul Hughen; concert footage ph: Daniel Pearl; replaced doph Anastas Michos
2005	Click [Frank Coraci] HD (Genesis)-to-35mm (+ D-Cinema)/c; New York ph: Jack N. Green; aph: Phil Pastuhov

[Right] with actor Ariel Galvan & dir Mel Gibson - "Apocalypto"

2005	Apocalypto [Mel Gibson] HD (Genesis)+35mm+s16-to-35mm (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc: Richard Merryman; Costa Rica ph: Mario Cardona; UK ph: Daryn Okada
2006	I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry [Dennis Dugan] HD (Genesis)-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig & (New York) Ron Fortunato
2007	Get Smart [Peter Segal] HD (Genesis)+35mm-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig & David Insley; skydiving unit ph: Norman Kent; Flying Cam ph: Mike Kirsch
2007	Appaloosa [Ed Harris] p/c; 2uc: Phil Pfeiffer
2008	Bedtime Stories [Adam Shankman] HD (Genesis)+s35-to-35mm scope (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc; ph: Michael Barrett
2008	Justice League: Mortal [George Miller] pre-production; project was abandoned

[Left] with dir Roland Emmerich - "2012"

Photo by David Strick

2008	2012 [Roland Emmerich] HD (Genesis)+s35-to-35mm scope/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig; aph: Hans Bjerno & Anna Foerster; uwph: Pete Romano & (2u) Ian Seabrook; vfx 2uc (Paris/London): Mark H. Weingartner
2009	Date Night [Shawn Levy] HD (Genesis)-to-35mm scope (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc: Paul Hughen; aph: Hans Bjerno; vfx ph: Alden Anderson
2009	Secretariat [Randall Wallace] s35+HD (Genesis)+Olympus PEN+Phantom HD-to-35mm scope (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc: Brad Shield & Kris Krosskove; aph: Ron Goodman
2010	Mad Max: Fury Road [George Miller] scheduled to start shooting in August (back-to-back with the sequel 'Mad Max: Furiosa'), later February 2011, and now February 2012
2010	In the Land of Blood and Honey [Angelina Jolie] s35/c; 2uc: Igor Meglic

DOCUMENTARIES [e.g. 'Yirrkala Film Project', a 22-part doc series*]

1971

Pain for This Land [: Footage from the Early Years] [Ian Dunlop] c; 43m; ph in 1971; cph: Bruce Hillyard (in 1970)*

1971

Dundiwuy's House Opening [Ian Dunlop] c; 35m; ph in 1971; cph: Bruce Hillyard (in 1970)*

1971

This Is My Thinking [Ian Dunlop] c; 51m*

1971

At the Canoe Camp [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 39m*

1971

Purification Ceremony [for a Woman Injured at Yirrkala] [: Caledon Bay 1971] [Ian Dunlop] c; 15m*

1971

One Man's Response [- A Film About Narritjin Maymuru at Yirrkala in 1971] [Ian Dunlop] b&w-c; 52m*

1971

In Memory of Mawalan [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 88m*

1971

Water for a City [Bruce Moir] c; 13m; ep of 12-part series 'Australian Geography', 1970-75

1972

President Suharto in Australia [Don Murray] 16mm/c; 24m; cph: John Hosking & Leo Elia

1972

Golf the Australian Way [Don Murray] 16mm/c; 28m

1972

Dhapi Ceremony at Yirrkala - 1972 [Philip Robertson] c; 91m*

1972

The Gathering Flame [Don Murray] c; 22m; cph: Don McAlpine

1973

The Koala: Phascolarctos cinereus [John Shaw & Vincent O'Donnell] c; 23m; cph: J. Shaw & Jon Rhodes

1973

The Fifth Facade [Donald Crombie] c; 28m; cph: Michael Edols, Don McAlpine, a.o.

1973

The Vintage [Brian Hannant] 16mm/c; 7m; ep #40 of series 'Australian Colour Diary'

1973

Moving On [Richard Mason] c; 57m

1973

Kilkenny Primary School, South Australia [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; 31m; ep series 'Through My Eyes'

1974

The Care Behind the Smile [Debby Kingsland] 16mm/c; 17m

1974

Marrakulu Funeral [: Yirrkala 1974] [Ian Dunlop] c; 53m*

1974

From a Long Time Ago: Hollow Log Painting [Ian Dunlop] c; 20m; cph: Philip Robertson & I. Dunlop*

1974

Singing in the Rain [: Yirrkala in 1974] [Ian Dunlop & Philip Robertson (footage 1972)] c; 53m; cph: I. Dunlop*

1974

Hard Time Now... For the Children [Ian Dunlop] c; 53m; cph: Ian Dunlop; filmed 1974-76*

1974

State Visit to Australia by Their Imperial Majesties the Shahanshah Aryamehr and the Shahbanou of Iran 1974/The Shah of Iran's Visit to Australia [Jason Ollivier] 16mm/c; 30m

1974

A Steam Train Passes [David Haythornthwaite] b&w/c; 20m

1974

Monarch of the Rails: N.S.W. Railways [David Haythornthwaite] 16mm/c; ?m; ep series 'Cinesound Review'

1974

A Race of Horses [Kit Denton] 16mm/c; 10m; cph: Geoffrey Williams

1975

Landscape: A Pattern of Change [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 20m; cph: Peter Smith; part of series 'Australian Geography'

1975

And Their Ghosts May Be Heard [Keith Gow] 16mm/b&w-c; 50m

1976

Djungguwan at Gurka'wuy [Ian Dunlop] c; 5-part series/235m*

1976

Madarrpa Funeral at Gurka'wuy [Ian Dunlop] c; 84m*

1976

Why Can't They Be Like We Were? ['Kathy and Tracey' (14m) dir by Graham Chase; 'Niki' (12m) & 'Robin' (12m) dir by Jan Sharp; 'Susan' (11m) & 'Rui' (14m) dir by Jason Ollivier; 'Gary' (15m) dir by David Haythornthwaite; 'Craig and Steve' (14m) dir by Karl McPhee; 'Amy' (14m), 'Greg' (14m) & 'Mick' (15m) dir by Phillip Noyce] 16mm/c; 10-part series

1976

Reading for Meaning: The Goodman Model [Karl McPhee] b&w; 18m; cph: Lee Chittick

1976

Asian Insight [ep 'Indonesia - Unity in Diversity' (53m), 'Japan - The Bamboo Bends and Does Not Break' (52m), 'Malaysia - Sparrow with Sparrow, Raven with Raven' (52m), 'Philippines - The Furthest Cross' (52m), 'Thailand: Do Good Receive Good, Do Evil Receive Evil' (52m) & 'Hong Kong, Singapore - Fragrant Harbour, Lion City' (53m) dir by Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 6-part series

1977

Granville [John Shaw & Philip Robinson] c; 9m; cph: Jon Rhodes, Kerry Brown & Mick von Bornemann

1977

All in the Same Boat [Deborah Kingsland] 16mm/c; 15m

1977

Hassles [Jason Olliver] 16mm/c; 9m

1977

Thirst [Graham Chase] 16mm/c; 18m

1977

Kerry [Jan Sharp] c; 9m; ep series 'Growing Up'

1977

Wendy [Jan Sharp] c; 10m; ep series 'Growing Up'

1977

Outback Supply [David Haythornthwaite] 16mm/c; 29m; ep series 'Frontiers Down Under'

1978

Helpem Mifala: Aid for Solomon Islands [Graham Chase] 16mm/c; 17m

1978

Co-ops at Work in Solomon Islands [Graham Chase] c; doc/19m

1978

Five Bells [: Sights and Sounds of Sydney Harbour] [Dean Semler] 16mm/c; 27m

1978

Narritjin in Canberra [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 41m*

1978

People of the Sea - Changing Traditions in Solomon Islands [Martin Cohen] 16mm/c; 18m

1978

Iu Mi Nao - Solomon Islands Regains Independence [Graham Chase & Martin Cohen] c; 88m; cph: John Hosking

1979

Chase That Dream: The Pursuit of Home Ownership in Australia [Ken Cameron] 16mm/c; 34m

1979

Baruya Muka Archival [Ian Dunlop] c; 17-part series (804m); released in 1991

1979

Please Don't Leave Me [Stephen Ramsey] 16mm/c; 41m; cph: Tony Wilson

1979

War Without Weapons [Curtis Levy] c; 27m; cph: Geoff Burton & Malcolm Richards; part of series 'Aspects of Australia'

1979

Farming: Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 27m; ep series 'Soviet Style'

1979

Working: Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 27m; ep series 'Soviet Style'

1979

People of Influence [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 83m; ep series 'Soviet Style'

1979

Politics: Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson & David Brownlow] 16mm/c; 27m; ep series 'Soviet Style'

1979

The People's Music: Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 24m; ep series 'Russian Education'

1979

School's In: Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; ?m; ep series 'Russian Education'

1979

Saturday [Dean Semler] 16mm/c; 22m; + scrpl

1979

Solomon Islands [ep 'Totora and Siwa' (8m) dir by Martin Cohen] 16mm/c; 10-part series, 1979-82

1980

Stepping Out: The Debolts Grow Up [Chris Noonan] c; 50m

1980

Stepping Out: The Birth of a Theatre of the Mentally Handicapped [Chris Noonan] 16mm/c; 50m

1980

Narritjin Maymuru [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 42m*

1980

My Country, Djarrakpi [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 16m; cph: I. Dunlop*

1980

Solomon Islands [ep 'Bifo Kam' (6m), 'Moro: Melanesian Bigman' (35m) & 'Nambo' (6m) dir by Graham Chase; ep 'Araha Ana Romo' (14m) dir by Martin Cohen] see 1979

1982

Conversations with Dundiwuy Wanambi [Ian Dunlop] c; 51m; cph: Ian Dunlop & Gary Kildea; filmed 1970-82*

1982

Solomon Islands [ep 'Wogasia' (53m), 'People of Niupani' (21m), 'Volo momoru: The Turtle Net' (26m) & 'Taem Bifo Long Lauru: Choiseul Customs' (24m) dir by Graham Chase; ep 'Ha'a alahanga ni ulawa' (21m) dir by Martin Cohen] see 1979

1984

The Human Face of Russia [Keith Gow] ?; ?m

TELEVISION

1977	A Good Thing Going [Arch Nicholson] tvm/16mm
1978	Cass [Chris Noonan] tvm/16mm; 2uc; ph: Mick von Bornemann
1982	The Dismissal [various] 6-part miniseries
1983	Return to Eden [Karen Arthur] 6, 3 or 2-part miniseries; also pilot for 22-part series, 1986
1984	After the Flood [Gregory Reading] doc/b&w-c/22m/16mm
1984	Bodyline [: It's Not Just Cricket] [Denny Lawrence, Carl Schultz, a.o.] 5-part miniseries; other ph: Andrew Lesnie
1985	Passion Flower [Joseph Sargent] tvm
1986	Melba [Rodney Fisher] 4-part miniseries; other ph: Andrew Lesnie
1988	The Clean Machine [Ken Cameron] tvm; 2uc: Richard Merryman
1988	Lonesome Dove [Simon Wincer] 4-part miniseries; 2uc (+ 2ud); ph: Douglas Milsome
1991	Son of the Morning Star [Mike Robe] 2-part tvm; 2uc; ph: Kees van Oostrum

FILMS & TELEVISION AS DIRECTOR

1968	Art of Film: About Television [+ scrpl; 2-part tv-doc/b&w/16mm] ph: ?
1978	Five Bells [: Sights and Sounds of Sydney Harbour] [+ ph] see Documentaries
1979	Saturday [+ scrpl/ph] see Documentaries
198?	A Man Called Possum [+ scrpl] unrealized
1991	The Kangaroo Kid [unfinished] ph: Andrew Lesnie
1992	Super Mario Bros. [uncred co-d; + ph/co-2ud] see Films
1996	Firestorm [ph: Stephen Windon]
1997	Eye of the Tiger [project based on novel by Wilbur Smith] status unknown
1997	The Patriot [ph: Stephen Windon]
1999	The Dam Busters [announced as dir] status unknown