Donald McAlpine ACS, ASC is an Australian cinematographer.
Donald McAlpine | |
|---|---|
| Born | Quandialla, New South Wales, Australia |
| Years active | 1972–present |
Early life and education
editDonald McAlpine was born in Quandialla, New South Wales.[1]
Career
editMcAlpine was a physical education teacher in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia.[2] He began using a 16mm camera to film athletes preparing for the Melbourne Olympic Games.[2]
In 1962 he resigned from his teaching job and joined ABC Television as a camera assistant, and was promoted to cameraman in 1965. In 1968 he left the ABC to take up a position at the Commonwealth Film Unit (later Film Australia). There, he started to learn that there was art in cinematography and filmmaking, and was soon promoted to chief cameraman.[3]
In Australia, from 1972 to 1981, McAlpine collaborated with Bruce Beresford.[4] In 1974 he left Film Australia to work as a freelance DOP.[3] McAlpine filmed many of Beresford's early films, including The Adventures of Barry McKenzie,[5] Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, Don's Party, The Getting of Wisdom, Money Movers, Breaker Morant and The Club. McAlpine also worked with director Gillian Armstrong on My Brilliant Career.[citation needed]
Paul Mazursky offered McAlpine work on the film Tempest, released in 1982, and after that, his career took off.[3]
Recognition and awards
editMcAlpine is a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society (ASC) and the American Society of Cinematographers. In 1997, the ASC inducted him into its hall of fame, [3] and in 2009 honoured him with its International Achievement Award.[6]
In 2001, he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society and Australian film production.[1] In the same year, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in Moulin Rouge!.[1]
In 2011, he was honoured with the AACTA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Longford Lyell Award.[7]
In 2016 McAlpine received an honorary doctorate in arts from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia.[4]
In October 2024, he received the Adelaide Film Festival's Don Dunstan Award.[1]
Filmography
editShort film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Leonard French's Stained Glass Screens | Michael Thornhill |
| 1970 | No Roses for Michael | Chris McGill |
| 1973 | Irrigation: The Ord River Scheme and the M.I.A. | Oliver Howes Meg Stewart |
Feature film
editTelevision
editTV movie
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Children of An Lac | John Llewellyn Moxey | |
| 2009 | Mega Piranha | Eric Forsberg Stuart Gillard |
With Bryan Olinger |
TV series
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Lambs of God | Jeffrey Walker | Episode "The Devil into Paradise" |
| 2022 | Savage River | Jocelyn Moorhouse | Mini-series |
Documentary works
editFilm
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Or Forever Hold Your Peace | ||
| 1974 | Whatever Happened to Green Valley? | Peter Weir | With Nick Ardizzone |
Short film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Play Safe | Dennis Hill |
Television
- Our Asian Neighbours: Indonesia (1973)
Awards and nominations
editAcademy Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Cinematography | Moulin Rouge! | Nominated |
BAFTA Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Cinematography | Moulin Rouge! | Nominated |
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Best Cinematography | My Brilliant Career | Won |
| 1980 | Breaker Morant | Won | |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Won |
Satellite Awards
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Best Cinematography | Romeo + Juliet | Nominated |
| 2001 | Moulin Rouge! | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "AFF 2024 Don Dunstan Award". Adelaide Film Festival. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Don McAlpine". cinematographers.nl. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Don McAlpine ACS ASC". Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). 14 March 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Cinematographer Don McAlpine on his life behind the lens". Australia: ABC News. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Donald Mcalpine". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Cinematographers honor 'Slumdog': Anthony Dod Mantle wins big at ASC Awards". Winnipeg Free Press. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ Bulbeck, Pip (22 November 2011). "Don McAlpine Wins Australian Academy Lifetime Achievement Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Predator Dispenses Invisible Terror". American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 9 April 2023.