Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Sol Negrin to Receive ASC Presidents Award

By Staff
posted Dec 22, 2009, 11:38

Sol Negrin, ASC will receive the Presidents Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) during the 24th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards. The celebration will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on February 27, 2010.

"Sol Negrin has not only made an impact with his six-decade career as a cinematographer," says ASC President Michael Goi, "but his constant efforts to organize industry events and teach the next generation of image makers their craft is selfless and without compare."

Negrin earned five Emmy� nominations, three for episodes of the television series Kojak (1975, 1976, 1977), one for the television movie The Last Tenant (1978), and one for an episode of the series Baker's Dozen (1982). His artful cinematography in television commercials earned four CLIO Awards, including the iconic American Tourister Bouncing Suitcase campaign during the early 1970s.

Some of Negrin's other television credits as a director of photography include episodes of the classic series McCloud, The Lucie Arnaz Show, The White Shadow, St. Elsewhere, Rhoda, Lime Street, Eischied, and Our Family Honor, as well as the telefilms Best of Friends, Dempsey, And Your Name is Jonah and Women at West Point. His feature film credits include The Concert for Bangladesh, Amazing Grace (1974), Proof of the Man, and Parades. He also contributed additional cinematography to many feature films which included Crazy Joe, Superman, Coming to America, King Kong (1976), Jaws 2, Elodia (A Forgotten Tune for the Flute) and Robocop.

"Sol's work touched millions of people," says ASC Awards Committee Chairman Richard Crudo. "His peers in ASC are uniquely qualified to recognize and applaud his mastery of the art and craft of cinematography. His dedication to educating the next generation exemplifies the ASC's motto: Loyalty, progress, artistry."

Negrin was born in New York City in 1929 and graduated from the High School of Industrial Arts (now the High School of Art and Design), where he majored in art, photography and photoscience. He studied cinematography at City College Film Institute and took courses at the RCA Institute though the International Photographers Guild.

"At first, photography was just a hobby," says Negrin. "I was hoping to be a naval architect, but my math was not up to par."

While in school, Negrin took a part-time job that later became a full-time position with a commercial/industrial film company called Hartley Productions. He worked as an assistant cameraman from 1948 to 1960, often with renowned cinematographers including Torben Johnke, ASC, Jack Priestley, ASC, Lee Garmes, ASC, Joe Biroc, ASC, Leo Tover, ASC, Harry Stradling, Jr., ASC, Hans Koenekamp, ASC, Charles Lang, Jr., ASC, Charles "Buddy" Lawton, ASC, Mario Tosi, ASC, Joseph Brun, ASC, and Boris Kaufman, ASC.

Negrin subsequently stepped up to camera operator on the mainstream television series The Naked City, The Defenders, Car 54, Where are You?, and The Patty Duke Show; andfeature films ranging from Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster to Where's Poppa?, and Across 110th Street.

"I enjoyed collaborating closely with directors to achieve a mutual understanding about lighting and composition in order to make their films as interesting and exciting as possible," says Negrin. "Satisfaction came from knowing I had done my very best."

Negrin was a member of ADTFC/NABET from 1948 to 1952, when he became a member of Local 644 New York International Photographers Union, IATSE. He has been a loyal member of what is now the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) for 57 years, and has served that organization in a wide variety of capacities, including president of the New York local. He has been a member of ASC since 1974.

Negrin often shares his wealth of experience and expertise with students and aspiring filmmakers through mentorships, seminars, demonstrations and speaking engagements. For the last decade, he has taught courses on cinematography and the evolution of filmmaking techniques at Five Towns College in Long Island, New York, where he earned an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree in 2002. He is also co-chair of the ICG Educational and Training Committees.

The ASC was chartered in January 1919. There are more than 300 active members of ASC, and 150-plus associate members from sectors of the industry that support the art and craft of filmmaking. Membership and associate membership is by invitation based on contributions that individuals have made to advance the art of visual storytelling. For more information regarding the 24th ASC Awards, visit www.theasc.com or call 323-969-4333.