Enquiry on DOPs dead on the job
The Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) is appealing for information on the deaths of cinematographers which have occurred on the job.
The list will appear in the forthcoming photographic history of Australian cinematography The Shadowcatchers, written by Martha Ansara and scheduled for publication at the end of 2011.
The Shadowcatchers will include biographies of outstanding cinematographers in addition to a general history, anecdotes lifted from oral histories, and a selection of images of DOPs at work. It is an initiative of the ACS Book Committee.
According to Ansara, the majority of deaths she’s identified ocurred as a result of war or helicopter crashes. Currently, the list includes:
- Damien Parer • 17 September, 1944
- Keith (“Dig”) Milner • 29 November, 1960
- Frank Parnell • 10 December, 1966
- Colin Ennor • Date needed
- Gary Cunningham • 16 October, 1975
- Brian Peters • 16 October, 1975
- Tony Stewart • 16 October, 1975
- David Brostoff • Date needed, 1981
- Blake Hobart • 7 January, 1982
- Gary Hansen • August 7, 1982
- Joe Mooney • 24 October, 1983
- Neil Davis • 9 September , 1985
- Jonathan Daley • 25 September, 1992
- Brett Joyce • 22 February 1996
- Harry Burton • 19 November 2001
- Paul Moran • 22 March, 2003
If you have additional names to put forward, please contact Martha Ansara on hotdox@iinet.net.au or (02) 9573 1886
Dear Martha,
The best book for information is
Damien Parer’s War
by Neil McDonald
Cheers
Damien
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Message for Martha,
I was at Crawford Productions at the time that Colin Ennor died on the ‘Matlock Police’ film crew. Colin was not a camera assistant, he was a grip who was asked to pull focus on the shot in which he died. The accident occurred sometime in 1971 at Park Orchards. Grigor Taylor, one of the regular actors, was driving. Dan Burstall was the DP. I think George Miller was directing.
Colin’s death is significant because it led to all those employed on Crawford film crews joining the union (whatever it was called before the MEAA, the one where we were included with all the circus people and sideshow operators). The union then put pressure on Crawfords to put in place proper safety procedures and employ proper stunt drivers, mostly Police trainers. This became industry standard.
Dan himself was in a helicopter accident in SA but miraculously managed to survive when the chopper fell from the sky. All the occupants survived the crash.
Dan has had more lives than the proverbial. My brother, a grip, tells me that Dan once told him that he has been in three chopper accidents.
Another occupant of the chopper that Gary Hansen died in was his assistant, a lovely young guy. His first name was John and his surname was a Czech name. Sound Recordist Gary Wilkins was on the crew when Gary Hansen died and would know the date and circumstances of his death. He might also know the assistant’s name.
In terms of David Brostoff’s death, he was assisting Louis Irving on a film that Tom Burstall produced. They would be able to give you accurate information regarding this event.
I saw this link when I was looking up Gary Hansen’s biography. Because of the ABC chopper accident I was telling someone about the crew friends I knew who had died in chopper accidents.
Best wishes for the book Martha. It’s a great project.
Regards,
Anne
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