IEC
#1: From interview [2011]
#3: "Get Smart" [2007]
Born: 1943, Renmark, South Australia, Australia, as Dean William Semler.
Career: Started as tv-studio cameraman and floor manager at ABC-tv. Moved to Sydney and ph doc's before joining [in 1971] the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit/Film Australia shooting government sponsored films. Went freelance in 1981.
Ph commercials.
Member of the ACS since 1975 and ASC since 1998.
Also active as director. Member of the Directors Guild of America.
Gives lighting workshops at the Australian Film Television and Radio School [AFTRS].
His daughter Ingrid is a c.asst.
Appeared in the doc's 'Kodak Cinematography Masterclass Series - Lighting 'Dances with Wolves' with Dean Semler' [1993, Ray Argall; ph: Chris Fraser; prod: AFTRS; 29m], 'We Were Soldiers: Getting It Right' [2002; 26m], 'xXx: A Filmmakers Diary' [2002, Todd Grossman; 40m], 'Dances with Wolves: The Creation of an Epic' [2002, J.M. Kenny; ph: Alex Pappas, a.o.; 81m], 'Return of the Legend: The Making of 'The Alamo'' [2004; 18m], 'Harnessing Speed' [2005, Todd Grossman; 87m], 'Cinematographer Style' [2005, Jon Fauer; ph: J. Fauer, Jeff Laszlo, Brian Heller & David Morgan] & '"15ish" Minutes of Fame (Stories from the Veterans) - Cinematographer Dean Semler A.S.C.' [2011; interview; 45m21s].
Awards: AFI [Aus] Award nom [1982] for 'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1983] for 'Undercover'; ACS 'Milli' Award 'Australian Cinematographer of the Year' [1984] for 'Razorback'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1985] for 'The Coca-Cola Kid'; AFI [Aus] Award nom [1988] for 'The Lighthorsemen'; AFI [Aus] Award [1989] for 'Dead Calm'; ASC Film Award [1990], 'Oscar' AA [1991], CFCA Award [1991], BSC Award nom [1991] & BAFTA Film Award nom [1992] for 'Dances with Wolves'; ACS 'Hall of Fame' Award [1997]; Member of the Order of Australia [AM] [2002] for 'Services to the Arts as an Australian and internationally acclaimed cinematographer'; Hawaii IFF 'Excellence in Cinematography Award' [2003]; ASC Award nom [2007] for 'Apocalypto'; ASC Lifetime Achievement Award [2012].
FILMS [for documentaries see below] | |
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1971 |
Where Dead Men Lie [Keith Gow] c; short/15m; cph: Jon Rhodes; ep 'Outlook'-series |
1971 |
The Choice [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; short/34m |
1973 |
I Need More Staff [Donald Crombie] c; short/22m; cph: Jon Rhodes |
1973 |
One Good Reason [Donald Crombie] 16mm (+ 35bu)/c; comm short/19m; prod by Film Australia for the Australian Army |
1975 |
Let the Balloon Go [Oliver Howes] c; 2uc: Don McAlpine |
1976 |
Do I Have to Kill My Child? [Donald Crombie] c; short/52m |
1979 |
Chase That Dream [: The Pursuit of Home Ownership in Australia] [part 1 (12m) dir by Ken Cameron] 16mm/c; 3-part series of comm shorts (part 2 - Four Months Later; part 3 - Four Years Later); prod by Film Australia for the Department of Housing and Construction |
1979 |
The Earthling [Peter Collinson] p/c; 2uc; ph: Don McAlpine |
1980 |
Dancing [George Whaley] c; short/19m; prod Australian Film and Television School |
1981 |
Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior/Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior [George Miller] p/b&w-c; 2u cameraman: Geoff Simpson; doc cameraman: Andrew Lesnie |
1981 |
Hoodwink [Claude Whatham] c |
1982 |
Kitty and the Bagman [Donald Crombie] p/c |
1982 |
Undercover [David Stevens] c; 100m & 85m (1984) |
1983 |
Razorback [Russell Mulcahy] p/c; 2uc: Billy Grimmond, Ross Berryman & Steve Dobson |
1984 |
The Coca-Cola Kid [Dusan Makavejev] c; 2uc: Andrew McLean & Colin Deane |
1984 |
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome/Mad Max 3 [George Miller & George Ogilvie] p/c; model unit ph: Ken Arlidge & Richard Merryman |
1986 |
Bullseye [Carl Schultz] c |
1986 |
Going Sane [Michael Robertson] c |
1987 |
The Lighthorsemen [Simon Wincer] p/c; 2uc: Ian Jones & Richard Merryman |
1987 |
Farewell to the King [John Milius] c; 2uc: Andrew Lesnie; spec water unit ph (Waimea Bay): Richard Edlund |
1988 |
Young Guns [Christopher Cain] c |
1988 |
K-9 [Rod Daniel] c |
1988 |
Cocktail [Roger Donaldson] c |
1988 |
Dead Calm [Phillip Noyce] p/c; opening seq ph: Geoff Burton; addph: Ross Berryman & Ian Jones |
1989 |
Impulse [Sondra Locke] c |
1989 |
Dances with Wolves [Kevin Costner] p/c; 2uc: John Huneck & Philip C. Pfeiffer |
1990 |
Young Guns II [: Blaze of Glory] [Geoff Murphy] p/c; 2uc: Virgil Harper |
1990 |
City Slickers [Ron Underwood] c; addph Spain: Robert Eber & Fernando Espiga; 2uc Spain: Martin Fuhrer; aph: Ron Goodman; matte ph: Paul Curley |
1991 |
The Power of One [John G. Avildsen] c; matte ph: Glenn Campbell |
1992 |
Super Mario Bros. [Rocky Morton & Annabel Jankel; uncred: Roland Joffé & Dean Semler] c; 2uc: James Devis; + co-2ud; D. Semler replaced Peter Levy, who was fired several weeks into filming |
1992 |
Last Action Hero [John McTiernan] p/c; 2uc: David Nowell |
1993 |
The Three Musketeers [Stephen Herek] p/c; 2uc: Rex Metz |
[Left] with dir Gregg Champion - "The Cowboy Way"
Photo by Barry Wetcher - Thys Ockersen Archive
1993 |
The Cowboy Way [Gregg Champion] c; uncred 2uc: Ron Fortunato |
1994 |
Waterworld [Kevin Reynolds] c; addph: Richard Merryman; 2uc: Gary Capo; uwph: Pete Romano; vfx ph: Alex Funke & Mark Vargo |
1995 |
Gone Fishin' [Christopher Cain] c; 2uc: Gary Capo (Florida; + add 2ud) & Richard Bowen (add 2uc New Jersey/South Carolina) |
1996 |
Trojan War/Rescue Me [George Huang] c |
1998 |
The Bone Collector [Phillip Noyce] s35/c; addph London: Tony Pierce-Roberts; 2uc Montreal: Geoffrey Erb; 2uc New York: Craig Haagensen |
1999 |
D-Tox [Jim Gillespie] p/c |
1999 |
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps [Peter Segal] 35mm+p-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig |
2000 |
Heartbreakers [David Mirkin] p/c; 2uc Florida: Mike McGowan Sr. |
2000 |
The Adventures of Pluto Nash [Ron Underwood] c; 2uc (Los Angeles); ph: Oliver Wood |
2000 |
Dragonfly [Tom Shadyac] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig; aph: Phil Pastuhov |
2001 |
We Were Soldiers [Randall Wallace] p/c; 2uc: Lloyd Ahern II, Michael Gershman & Richard Merryman; aph: David Nowell |
2001 |
xXx [Rob Cohen] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig |
2002 |
Bruce Almighty [Tom Shadyac] c; 2uc: Don McCuaig |
2003 |
The Alamo [John Lee Hancock] p/c; addph: Sebastian Vega; replaced doph Salvatore Totino |
2004 |
Stealth [Rob Cohen] p (+ D-Cinema)/c; uncred ph Thailand: Russell Boyd; 2uc: Brad Shield; aircraft carrier units ph: Jerry G. Callaway; SpaceCam aph: Dwayne McClintock; miniatures ph: Richard Bluck; vfx ph: Erik Nash |
2004 |
The Longest Yard [Peter Segal] p/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig; aph: Dwayne McClintock; remake of film (1973, Robert Aldrich; ph: Joseph Biroc) |
2005 |
Just My Luck [Donald Petrie] c; 2uc: Paul Hughen; concert footage ph: Daniel Pearl; replaced doph Anastas Michos |
2005 |
Click [Frank Coraci] HD (Genesis)-to-35mm (+ D-Cinema)/c; New York ph: Jack N. Green; aph: Phil Pastuhov |
[Right] with actor Ariel Galvan & dir Mel Gibson - "Apocalypto"
2005 |
Apocalypto [Mel Gibson] HD (Genesis)+35mm+s16-to-35mm (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc: Richard Merryman; Costa Rica ph: Mario Cardona; UK ph: Daryn Okada |
2006 |
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry [Dennis Dugan] HD (Genesis)-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig & (New York) Ron Fortunato |
2007 |
Get Smart [Peter Segal] HD (Genesis)+35mm-to-35mm/c; 2uc: Don McCuaig & David Insley; skydiving unit ph: Norman Kent; Flying Cam ph: Mike Kirsch |
2007 |
Appaloosa [Ed Harris] p/c; 2uc: Phil Pfeiffer |
2008 |
Bedtime Stories [Adam Shankman] HD (Genesis)+s35-to-35mm scope (+ D-Cinema)/c; 2uc; ph: Michael Barrett |
2008 |
Justice League: Mortal [George Miller] pre-production; project was abandoned |
[Left] with dir Roland Emmerich - "2012"
Photo by David Strick
DOCUMENTARIES [e.g. 'Yirrkala Film Project', a 22-part doc series *] | |
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1971 |
Pain for This Land [: Footage from the Early Years] [Ian Dunlop] c; 43m; ph (1971); cph: Bruce Hillyard (1970) * |
1971 |
Dundiwuy's House Opening [Ian Dunlop] c; 35m; ph (1971); cph: Bruce Hillyard (1970) * |
1971 |
This Is My Thinking [Ian Dunlop] c; 51m * |
1971 |
At the Canoe Camp [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 39m * |
1971 |
Purification Ceremony [for a Woman Injured at Yirrkala] [: Caledon Bay 1971] [Ian Dunlop] c; 15m * |
1971 |
One Man's Response [- A Film About Narritjin Maymuru at Yirrkala in 1971] [Ian Dunlop] b&w-c; 52m * |
1971 |
In Memory of Mawalan [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 88m * |
1971 |
Water for a City [Bruce Moir] c; 13m; ep of 12-part series 'Australian Geography', 1970-75 |
1972 |
President Suharto in Australia [Don Murray] 16mm/c; 24m; cph: John Hosking & Leo Elia |
1972 |
Golf the Australian Way [Don Murray] 16mm/c; 28m |
1972 |
Dhapi Ceremony at Yirrkala - 1972 [Philip Robertson] c; 91m * |
1972 |
The Gathering Flame [Don Murray] c; 22m; cph: Don McAlpine |
1973 |
The Koala: Phascolarctos cinereus [John Shaw & Vincent O'Donnell] c; 23m; cph: J. Shaw & Jon Rhodes |
1973 |
The Fifth Facade [: The Making of the Sydney Opera House] [Donald Crombie] 16mm + 35bu/c; 28m; co-c.op; ph: Bruce Hillyard |
1973 |
The Vintage [Brian Hannant] 16mm/c; 7m; ep #40 of series 'Australian Colour Diary' |
1973 |
Moving On [Richard Mason] c; 57m |
1973 |
Kilkenny Primary School, South Australia [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; 31m; ep series 'Through My Eyes' |
1973 |
Stradbroke Infants School, South Australia [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; 26m; ep series 'Through My Eyes' |
1974 |
Parent Teacher Interviews [Donald Crombie] 16mm/c; 29m (5 seg); c.op; ph: Guy Furner & Gus Howard |
1974 |
Hattie [Debby Kingsland] 16mm/b&w; 9m; ep series 'Putting a Face to an Issue' |
1974 |
The Care Behind the Smile [Debby Kingsland] 16mm/c; 17m |
1974 |
Marrakulu Funeral [: Yirrkala 1974] [Ian Dunlop] c; 53m * |
1974 |
From a Long Time Ago: Hollow Log Painting [Ian Dunlop] c; 20m; cph: Philip Robertson & I. Dunlop * |
1974 |
Singing in the Rain [: Yirrkala in 1974] [Ian Dunlop & Philip Robertson (footage 1972)] c; 53m; cph: I. Dunlop * |
1974 |
Hard Time Now... For the Children [Ian Dunlop] c; 53m; cph: Ian Dunlop; filmed 1974-76 * |
1974 |
State Visit to Australia by Their Imperial Majesties the Shahanshah Aryamehr and the Shahbanou of Iran 1974/The Shah of Iran's Visit to Australia [Jason Ollivier] 16mm/c; 30m |
1974 |
A Steam Train Passes [David Haythornthwaite] b&w (archive 1943) + c; 21m; ep series 'Outlook' |
1974 |
A Race of Horses [Kit Denton] 16mm/c; 10m; cph: Geoffrey Williams |
1975 |
Landscape: A Pattern of Change [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 20m; cph: Peter Smith; part of series 'Australian Geography' |
1975 |
And Their Ghosts May Be Heard [Keith Gow] 16mm/b&w-c; 50m |
1976 |
Djungguwan at Gurka'wuy [Ian Dunlop] c; 5-part series/235m * |
1976 |
Madarrpa Funeral at Gurka'wuy [Ian Dunlop] c; 84m * |
1976 |
Why Can't They Be Like We Were? ['Kathy and Tracey' (14m) dir by Graham Chase; 'Niki' (12m) & 'Robin' (12m) dir by Jan Sharp; 'Susan' (11m) & 'Rui' (13m36s) dir by Jason Ollivier; 'Gary' (15m) dir by David Haythornthwaite; 'Craig and Steve' (14m) dir by Karl McPhee; 'Amy' (14m), 'Greg' (14m) & 'Mick' (15m) dir by Phillip Noyce] 16mm/c; 10-part series |
1976 |
Reading for Meaning: The Goodman Model [Karl McPhee] b&w; 18m; cph: Lee Chittick |
1976 |
Asian Insight [ep 'Indonesia - Unity in Diversity' (53m), 'Japan - The Bamboo Bends and Does Not Break' (52m), 'Malaysia - Sparrow with Sparrow, Raven with Raven' (52m), 'Philippines - The Furthest Cross' (52m), 'Thailand: Do Good Receive Good, Do Evil Receive Evil' (52m) & 'Hong Kong - Fragrant Harbour; Singapore - Lion City' (53m) dir by Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 6-part series |
1977 |
Granville [John Shaw & Philip Robinson] c; 9m; cph: Jon Rhodes, Kerry Brown & Mick von Bornemann |
1977 |
All in the Same Boat [Deborah Kingsland] 16mm/c; 15m |
1977 |
Hassles [Jason Ollivier] 16mm/c; 9m |
1977 |
Thirst [Graham Chase] 16mm/c; 18m |
1977 |
Kerry [Jan Sharp] c; 9m; ep series 'Growing Up' |
1977 |
Wendy [Jan Sharp] c; 10m; ep series 'Growing Up' |
1977 |
Weekend [Jan Sharp] c; 11m; ep series 'Growing Up' |
1977 |
Outback Supply [David Haythornthwaite] 16mm/c; 29m; ep series 'Frontiers Down Under' |
1978 |
Helpem Mifala: Aid for Solomon Islands [Graham Chase] 16mm/c; 17m |
1978 |
Co-ops at Work in Solomon Islands [Graham Chase] c; doc/19m |
1978 |
Five Bells - Sights and Sounds of Sydney Harbour [Dean Semler] 16mm/c; 27m |
1978 |
Narritjin in Canberra [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 41m * |
1978 |
People of the Sea - Changing Traditions in Solomon Islands [Martin Cohen] 16mm/c; 18m |
1978 |
Iu Mi Nao - Solomon Islands Regains Independence [Graham Chase & Martin Cohen] c; 88m; cph: John Hosking |
1979 |
Soviet Style [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 5-part series: 'Farming... Soviet Style' (27m), 'Working... Soviet Style' (27m), 'A People's Music... Soviet Style' (23m), 'Politics... Soviet Style' (27m) & 'School's In... Soviet Style' (27m) |
1979 |
The Russians [Arch Nicholson] 16mm/c; 3-part series: 'People of the Cities [- Urban Life Styles]' (87m), 'People of Influence [- Politics and the People]' (81m) & 'People of the Country [- Rural Collectivism]' (83m); also shorter (91m) 3-part version |
1979 |
Baruya Muka Archival [Ian Dunlop] c; 17-part series (804m); released in 1991 |
1979 |
Please Don't Leave Me [Stephen Ramsey] 16mm/c; 41m; cph: Tony Wilson |
1979 |
War Without Weapons [Curtis Levy] 16mm/c; 27m; cph: Geoff Burton & Malcolm Richards; part of series 'Aspects of Australia' |
1979 |
Saturday [Dean Semler] 16mm/c; 22m; + scrpl |
1979 |
Solomon Islands [ep 'Totora and Siwa' (8m) dir by Martin Cohen] 16mm/c; 10-part series, 1979-82 |
1980 |
Stepping Out: The Debolts Grow Up [Chris Noonan] c; 50m |
1980 |
Stepping Out: The Birth of a Theatre of the Mentally Handicapped [Chris Noonan] 16mm/c; 50m |
1980 |
Narritjin Maymuru [Philip Robertson] 16mm/c; 42m * |
1980 |
My Country, Djarrakpi [Ian Dunlop] 16mm/c; 16m; cph: I. Dunlop * |
1980 |
Solomon Islands [ep 'Bifo Kam' (6m), 'Moro: Melanesian Bigman' (35m) & 'Nambo' (6m) dir by Graham Chase; ep 'Araha Ana Romo' (14m) dir by Martin Cohen] see 1979 |
1982 |
Conversations with Dundiwuy Wanambi [Ian Dunlop] c; 51m; cph: Ian Dunlop & Gary Kildea; filmed 1970-82 * |
1982 |
Solomon Islands [ep 'Wogasia' (53m), 'People of Niupani' (21m), 'Volo momoru: The Turtle Net' (26m) & 'Taem Bifo Long Lauru: Choiseul Customs' (24m) dir by Graham Chase; ep 'Ha'a alahanga ni ulawa' (21m) dir by Martin Cohen] see 1979 |
1984 |
The Human Face of Russia [Keith Gow] ?; ?m |
TELEVISION & INTERNET | |
---|---|
197? |
Keith Smith's 'The Pied Piper Show' [various] series, 1967-71 |
"Hector and Milly Save Uncle Tom"
1973 |
Hector and Milly Save Uncle Tom [Chris McGill] musical/15m/16mm; cph: Geoff Williams; during the prod a making-of doc, 'The Tale of Hector the Cat' (11m), was shot; prod for the National Road Safety Campaign |
1977 |
A Good Thing Going [Arch Nicholson] tvm/16mm |
1978 |
Cass [Chris Noonan] tvm/16mm; 2uc; ph: Mick von Bornemann |
1982 |
The Dismissal [various] 6-part miniseries |
1983 |
Return to Eden [Karen Arthur] 6, 3 or 2-part miniseries; also pilot for 22-part series, 1986 |
1984 |
After the Flood [Gregory Reading] doc/b&w-c/22m/16mm |
1984 |
Bodyline [Carl Schultz (ep #1 & #5-7), Denny Lawrence (ep #2-3), George Ogilvie (ep #2-4) & Lex Marinos (ep #5 & #7)] 7-part miniseries; 2uc: Andrew Lesnie |
1985 |
Passion Flower [Joseph Sargent] tvm |
1986 |
Melba [Rodney Fisher] 8-part miniseries; other ph: Andrew Lesnie; in USA 4-part ep of PBS-tv series 'Great Performances' (1989) |
1988 |
The Clean Machine [Ken Cameron] tvm; 2uc: Richard Merryman |
1988 |
Lonesome Dove [Simon Wincer] 4-part miniseries; 2uc (+ 2ud); ph: Douglas Milsome |
2015 |
The Ridiculous 6 [Frank Coraci] HD/c; 2uc: Paul Elliott; for Netflix |
2015 |
The Do-Over [Steven Brill] HD (ARRI ALEXA XT)/c; ph Puerto Rico: Brad Shield; 2uc (Georgia): Chris Moseley; aph 2u (Puerto Rico): Michael Kelem; for Netflix |
2016 |
Sandy Wexler [Steven Brill] HD/c; for Netflix |
FILMS & TELEVISION AS [2u] DIRECTOR | |
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1968 |
Art of Film: About Television [+ scrpl; 2-part tv-doc/b&w/16mm] ph: ? |
1978 |
Five Bells - Sights and Sounds of Sydney Harbour [+ ph] see Documentaries |
1979 |
Saturday [+ scrpl/ph] see Documentaries |
198? |
A Man Called Possum [+ scrpl] unrealized |
1990 |
Son of the Morning Star/Morning Star [Mike Robe] 2-part tvm; 2ud; 2uc: Richard Merryman; ph: Kees van Oostrum |
1991 |
The Kangaroo Kid [unfinished] ph: Andrew Lesnie |
1992 |
Super Mario Bros. [uncred co-d; + ph/co-2ud] see Films |
1996 |
Firestorm [ph: Stephen Windon] |
1997 |
Eye of the Tiger [project based on novel by Wilbur Smith] status unknown |
1997 |
The Patriot [ph: Stephen Windon] |
1999 |
The Dam Busters [announced as dir] status unknown |