Inducted into ACS Hall of Fame – 2009
Calvin was born in 1949, the second of three children of Jack and Nita Gardiner, both highly respected members of the Australian film industry. Jack a skilled lab technician, editor and cinematographer and Nita an experienced neg matcher and editor at Cinesound where they met in the late 1930s.
Cal’s father Jack Gardiner ACS was a past ACS Federal and State President.
Calvin’s early career started as an assistant cinematographer at Kingcroft Productions in 1967, after 18 months he went freelance. He then was then appointed as clapper-loader/focus puller on DOP Mick Borneman’s “Colour me Dead” followed by two more features “The Set” with DOP Sandor Siro, then “The Games” with DOP Bob Paynter. Then in the 1970s he went to work with his father Jack operating the 16mm film printing laboratory, Colour Transcriptions, later to become Cinefilm. Some years later upon his father’s retirement Calvin returned to his first love Cinematography.
Cal then joined with Larry Wyner to form ACME Photo Video, later to become the highly successful “Engine”, a full service post production company. Cal is currently Managing Director of Engine but still indulges regularly in his passion for cinematography.
Cal is a committee member of both the NSW and Federal Executive and was elected as NSW President in 2008. For the past several years he generously made his studio available for committee meetings, and on the second Thursday of each month opened his studio for members to gather until the opening of the ACS Headquarters/Club house on March 3, 2011.
Calvin is a driving force in the Society and has played a major role in the establishment of the clubhouse. Calvin was also Chairman of the very successful ACS 50th Anniversary celebrations held in Sydney in 2008.
Calvin received ACS Accreditation Certificate No 228 in 1995, then in recognition of his service to the ACS was inducted in 2009 into the ACS Hall of Fame.
