In August, participants and instructors gathered at the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood for an exclusive FX2-focused “Mini Master Class” on composition and framing, presented in partnership with Sony.
From left: Adam Bricker, ASC; ASC Sergeant-at-Arms Charlie Lieberman; ASC President Mandy Walker; and Society members Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, Scott Cunningham and Gavin Kelly speak with participants.
On both mornings of the two-day event, held August 26-27, the class was given an introduction to the fundamentals of composition and framing, presented by Michael Pessah, ASC. Pessah’s credits in scripted and unscripted work include Emmy-nominated doc Scandalous and Oscar shortlisted doc Viva La Causa, as well as Block Party, Smiley Faced Killers, Saving Flora, and numerous commercials and music videos. His talk addressed composition and framing as components of visual language that help guide emotion, reveal character, and pull audiences deeper into a story.
Instructors also included Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, ASC, who started her career as a still photographer and who has shot productions including One Piece, Lioness, Bad Sisters, Shining Vale, Jupiter’s Legacy, On the Verge, Patriot,Truth Be Told and Perpetual Grace, LTD; and Gavin Kelly, ASC, whose range of work includes Ballard, American Horror Story, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Little America, 9-1-1, LUV, The Dry Land, Cabin Fever and West Bank Story.
Rounding out the instructor lineup was Adam Bricker, ASC, a seven-time Emmy nominee and four-time ASC nominee on the strength of Hacks and Chief’s Table, with additional credits including American Vandal, The Magicians and Sorry for Your Loss.
Bricker leads a tutorial session.
As part of the Master Class, participants experimented in two shooting environments crafted by ASC members with several cameras, including Sony’s FX2 full-frame cinema camera. The setup included professional models under both cinematic and natural lighting, with time to experiment with angles, movement and expressive techniques.
The “hands-on” portions of the day allowed participants to test the FX2 with lighting setups designed by the event’s instructors.
Photos by Danyael Alcaraz.