This week began on sad note, as we learned of the passing of legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis, ASC. Many consider him the father of modern cinematography, and he is noted for both the precision of his compositions and the boldness of his lighting. Willis set the tone for Hollywood in the early 1970’s, shooting a string of classic films including “The Godfather I and II“, “Klute“, “Manhattan“, “All The President’s Men” and “Annie Hall” to name only a few.
Michael Pessah, Chair of the LA Cinematography School, has prepared a special lecture class to honor Willis’ contribution to the art form and present selected scenes from his films. Entitled “A Retrospective Look at the Works of Gordon Willis”, this lecture will take place at the LA campus on Thursday, May 22nd at 7pm. Willis’ images have inspired several generations of cinematographers, and New York Film Academy is proud to honor his legacy by presenting his work to our students.