Dean Semler
Dean Semler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dean William Semler 26 May 1943 Renmark, South Australia, Australia |
| Years active | 1968–2023 |
| Organization(s) | Australian Cinematographers Society American Society of Cinematographers[1] |
| Spouse | Anne Stockman |
Dean William Semler AM ACS ASC (born 26 May 1943) is an Australian cinematographer and film director.[2][3]
He is a three-time recipient of the AACTA Award for Best Cinematography and an Academy Award winner.
In 2002 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).[4]
Life and career
[edit | edit source]Early years
[edit | edit source]Semler was born in Renmark, South Australia. His first work in the production industry was as a camera operator at a local television station. Later, he began making documentary and educational films for Film Australia. He was the cinematographer for A Steam Train Passes (1974), Moving On (1974), Let the Balloon Go (1976), and A Good Thing Going (1978).
1980s
[edit | edit source]His first film was Stepping Out, in 1980. Allmovie praised his "stunning work" on the film Hoodwink (1981) with a screen play by Ken Quinnell. Semler was also the cinematographer for Mad Max 2 (1981). Semler's vast panoramic shots of the Australian Outback's deserts "...convincingly conveyed a parched, dusty, post-apocalyptic world"[5] and led to international attention for his work. Semler also acted as cinematographer for the follow-up film to Mad Max 2, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). Semler was also a cinematographer for the acclaimed Australian miniseries Bodyline (1984).[6] In the late 1980s, Semler was the cinematographer for several popular films, such as Cocktail (1988) and Young Guns (1988).
1990s
[edit | edit source]In 1989, Semler was hired as cinematographer for Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves (1990), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Semler lensed the comedy City Slickers (1991) and the action film Last Action Hero (1993) in the early 1990s. In 1995, Semler again worked with Costner on his film Waterworld. In 1992 Semler was the cinematographer of The Power of One.
2000s
[edit | edit source]In the 2000s, Semler was the cinematographer for a range of movies that included comedies (Nutty Professor II: The Klumps from 2000, and Bruce Almighty from 2003), action films (XXX from 2002 and The Alamo from 2004). In the mid-2000s, Semler was the cinematographer for the football comedy The Longest Yard (2005) and Just My Luck (2006). In 2006, Semler worked with Mel Gibson again for the film Apocalypto. Semler's camera work conveyed the beauty of the lush Mesoamerican jungle setting in Apocalypto.
Filmography
[edit | edit source]Feature film
[edit | edit source]Director
- Firestorm (1998)
- The Patriot (1998)
Cinematographer
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Stepping Out | Chris Noonan |
| 1984 | In Memory of Malawan | Ian Dunlop |
Television
[edit | edit source]TV movies
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Do I Have to Kill My Child? | Donald Crombie |
| 1978 | A Good Thing Going | Arch Nicholson |
| 1986 | Passion Flower | Joseph Sargent |
| 1998 | The Clean Machine | Ken Cameron |
TV series
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-1970 | This Day Tonight | 10 episodes | |
| 1980 | The Russians | Arch Nicholson | Documentary series |
| 1988 | Great Performances | Rodney Fisher | Episode "Melba" |
Awards and nominations
[edit | edit source]| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Academy Awards | Best Cinematography | Dances with Wolves | Won |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| American Society of Cinematographers | Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| 2006 | Apocalypto | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | ||
| 1980 | Australian Film Institute | Best Cinematography | Mad Max 2 | Nominated |
| 1983 | Undercover | Nominated | ||
| 1984 | Razorback | Won | ||
| 1985 | The Coca-Cola Kid | Nominated | ||
| 1988 | The Lighthorsemen | Nominated | ||
| 1989 | Dead Calm | Won | ||
| 1990 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | Dances with Wolves | Won |
| 2006 | Apocalypto | Won | ||
| 1990 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | Dances with Wolves | Won |
| 2006 | Apocalypto | Won | ||
| 2010 | Satellite Awards | Best Cinematography | Secretariat | Nominated |
References
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- ^ Allmovie biography by Hal Erickson
- ^ The Australian Film and Television Companion – Compiled by Tony Harrison, Simon & Schuster, Australia (1994)
External links
[edit | edit source]- Dean Semler at IMDb
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