Insider Chat: ASC President Shelly Johnson Talks Upcoming Plans for the Organization

29/09/2023

By Alyssa Heater

Shelly Johnson was elected president of the esteemed American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) in May of this year and has already made strides to embrace new technologies that benefit the cinematography community, build on the successful Master Classes and additional educational programs, and return to in-person events at the Clubhouse and beyond.

Johnson has had a successful and extensive career as a cinematographer in a diverse range of films (Jurassic Park III, Captain America: The First Avenger, and the recent AppleTV+ drama Greyhound), miniseries (1997's The Shining), and television series (The Others). A member of the ASC since 2000, Johnson's busy shooting schedules often prevented him from participating in as many of their programs as he would have liked. In recent years, he opted to dedicate more time to his involvement in the organization by taking part in their Master Class program, which ultimately led to his joining their governance. He served one year as vice president to previous ASC president, Steven Lighthill, ASC, then decided to run for president when Lighthill ended his term in 2023.

In his first year of presidency, Johnson is prioritizing education for both the organization's members and the community. Continuing the programs that Lighthill was focused on during his last term, Johnson intends to continue to build the Master Classes, not only for non-member attendees but also Master Classes for masters, which are designed to help members stay current with changing technology. Coming out of the pandemic, the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood has now re-opened with a full-time, on-site staff to bring these events and functions to the filmmaking community.

Currently, five ASC Master Classes are planned for the year, each following a specialized topic, including shooting for commercials, documentaries, and film, as well as general lighting and cinematography. Live classes typically take place in Los Angeles, but Johnson intends to also host Master Classes on the East Coast, internationally, and online to serve a broader global audience.

Explains Johnson, I'd love for the ASC to serve as a reminder of why we all became cinematographers in the first place. To be a place where we can reinitiate our creative energy and prepare ourselves for the opportunities to come.

Another program Johnson is prioritizing is the ASC Vision Mentorship program, which pairs mentees with ASC mentors to learn invaluable knowledge about the craft of cinematography, as well as allow mentees to fine-tune their individual skills, and focus on their career goals. The program runs from September 2023 through August 2024 with applications currently under review.

From its inception in 1919, the ASC has positioned itself as being at the forefront of exploring and embracing new technology to further empower storytelling and create meaningful screen moments. The ASC is taking a leadership role in defining how modern technologies, such as virtual technology and artificial intelligence (AI), can be utilized in artistic ways. In the case of AI, Johnson acknowledges that there are questions and confusion around the polarizing topic. The ASC is exploring AI as a creative tool, and how cinematographers and directors can use it to pre-visualize and extend that vision to the final look. The director of photography will always be vital as the keeper of the visual narrative, and AI is a tool similar in the ways digital cameras, or a light is utilized. The ASC is working to understand and create interesting new ways to use this new technology.

When asked how he sees the ASC evolving over the year and into the future, Johnson explains, Currently, we are welcoming a more diverse group of members than ever before as a reflection of the landscape that composes the modern film industry. At the same time, it is important that we acknowledge that the society is built on a foundation that has been strengthened by over a hundred years of collaboration with industry professionals and fellow cinematographers. The fact The ASC remains a respected and relevant group is the result of consistent work by the brilliant artistic minds that make up our legacy. He concludes, Something that I have always loved about the ASC is that everything is done with a positive spirit. I am very much interested in continuing that energy as we move forward.

LINK:	https://hpaonline.com/insider-chat-asc-president-shelly-johnson-talks-...
	See more stories from hpa

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026