Since completing his MA in Cinematography at the Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) in 2007, John has racked up an impressive and diverse range of credits working extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia.
His first 35mm short film Bird In The Wire was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and garnered an AFI nomination for Best Cinematography. In the same year, he won the Best Cinematography award at Tropfest for Like It Is.
John has a strong background in VFX and post, and in 2005 was VFX Supervisor on the Palme d’Or nominated short film Clara, which earned a rarely awarded special mention for technical achievement.
John’s first feature was the supernatural cult thriller Lake Mungo, directed by Joel Anderson. Lauded for its sophisticated and layered visual style, the film went on to a 2010 U.S. theatrical and DVD release through Lionsgate.
Another 2010 highlight was the world premiere of the gothic suspense thriller The Perfect Host at the Sundance Film Festival. Shot in Los Angeles, directed by Nick Tomnay and starring David Hyde Pierce, the film is scheduled for a forthcoming U.S. theatrical release.
Recent short credits include Celestial Avenue, winner of the Grand Prize for best film at the Academy Award-accredited Rhode Island Film Festival, as well as Best Australian Short at the 2010 Flickerfest Awards; and A Parachute Falling In Siberia which was selected for official competition at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards.
John’s MA graduation film fOUR, directed by Erin White, was nominated for both the AFI and IF Award for Best Short Film, and went on to win the IF Award.
Kate Miller Heidke’s latest music clip, directed by Mark Alston, for the song “Last Day On Earth” was nominated for an ARIA for best music clip.
John has broken new ground in Australian television, shooting the first episodic free to air series to be originated using RED. Lowdown is a delightful comedy TV series with Adam Zwar and narrated by Geoffrey Rush that aired on ABC 1 with a second series commissioned for 2011.
John has just wrapped his second season of Offspring, a new primetime tv drama series starring Asher Keddie and produced by John Edwards and Imogen Banks for Southern Star / Network TEN. He’s in pre-production now for the third series of the AFI award winning drama series Tangle.
Hello John,
I am currently putting together a pitch package presentation for my second short film that I wrote and have been researching for over the past 3 years. I have decided to shoot the story on 35mm over the ALEXA, RED, and 16mm for what I feel our stylistically appropriate reasons. In the presentation, I wanted to show the differences of each format to justify my choice of 35mm to potential investors. You’re available light test would fit perfectly into my presentation and I was wondering if I could have your permission to use it in my presentation?
If would you rather have this conversation through email I would completely understand and actually prefer it as that way I could also explain more about the project and who the presentation would be shown to.
Thank you in advance for any time this my take out of what I am sure is an extremely busy day.
Sincerely,
Adam Scheiner
Hi mister john we posted your video on our blog
Thanks for this great comparaison
http://www.oliandjoe.com/blog/?p=122
Hi, John,
Thanks for subscribing to my blog. I’ve added yours to my eReader, too. Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to connecting with you.
Merry Christmas!
John,
Can FCP 7 handle the RAW files that come out of the camera?
Thanks
John
HI.
Yes I beleive it can. You need to set the still frame import to a single frame and you can then use nested timelines. It takes a while to render. The main problem is that Apple doesn’t do a very good job of *previewing* the files so they don’t tend to look very nice.
jb
Just want to say thanks for everything you’ve been doing on the Blackmagic front. I’m on a few of the bulletin boards that you comment on, and the people can be ridiculously puerile and malicious. You’ve held your head above water brilliantly and with panache my friend. I can’t wait for this camera, side-by-side shot comparisons are really everything I need to know- it’s gonna be sweet.
Hi John, Ash’s dad Mike here. Thanks you for such an amazing insight to the complex work required to make visual entertainment in film so appealing. I loved your examples of the work in Puberty Blues and your explanations for us all. I also loved watching Ash and her fellow cast members doing such amazing work – but then again I am biased. Ash was so safe in Glendyn, Emma and your hands. She had such an amazing experience. Best Wishes, Mike
HI!
Now 2 Days with brand new BMC C and Zeiss CP2… what should i say… WOUWWWWWWWWW!!!
it fits in my handpainted lightexperimetal 3d oldfashion newlook film storrytellingworld
T R E M E N D E O U S E… by Mike
soory for short but now day has 72 hours…and 27 espresso burtale
Hi John, I’m currently in the US, and but I’m out shopping for an AUS Panasonic GH3 on the net, I need this particular model because of the continuous recording feature. Can you recommend a reputable camera shop in AU where I can place an order. Your help will be gratefully appreciated.Thanx.
Hi Bobby.
I couldn’t preference one over the other. I’ve tended to buy from Michaels in Melbourne (expensive but good service generally for an in store buy) and Camera Action or DCW for online.
jb
I’m a Digital Colorist and this is my demo reel, shot with the BMCC, tel me what you think and share if you like !!!
https://vimeo.com/64255302
Hi John
Just wanted to say thanks for the video presentation you did for ozdox at AFTRS in Sydney last week.
I look forward to seeing yer latest work.
cheers bP
Hi, John!
I’m an actor who wants to step behind the camera, and I would like to get your opinion. What would you recommend to a novice as a first camera? DSLR? Camcorder? I have about $2,000 USD to spend. If it helps, I am pretty quick to pick up on technical know-how.
Also, I have a small, cheap light kit (2 lights) that utilizes CFLs and a laptop with Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 software. As you can see, I have the bare minimum when it comes to light and video editing (remember – I’m a novice).
Thanks,
Michael Brian Montgomery
Hi Michael.
I’m probably not the best to ask.
I actually don’t spend a lot of time using cameras at that kind of price point so It’s hard for me to comment.
jb