Keith Loone inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Keith Bryan Loone born on January 1st, 1930 began his film career in 1945 at Cinesound Studios, Ebley St, Bondi Junction under leading cinematographer Bert Nicholas, alongside leading newsreel cameramen of the day, Ron Horner and Bede Whitemen. Keith soon rose to be a top cinematographer. In 1950 Cinesound moved their studio and office to Rozelle, where Keith met and eventually married the studio’s receptionist, Frances.
In 1953, anxious to get involved in feature film work, he applied for, and was accepted as second unit camera operator on “King of the Coral Sea” under Ross Wood (DoP). He then worked on “Long John Silver” the first Cinemascope production to be shot in Australia, then worked for Lee Robinson and Chips Rafferty at Southern International Studios on films such as “Walk into Paradise”, “Dust in the Sun” and “The Restless and the Damned”.
Keith then shot a number of short films The Power Makers”, “Bring out a Briton” in 1957; and Made in Australia 1962.
In 1962 he was assigned by Brian Chilian of AJAX Films to work on the ‘doco’ Australia’s Challenge for the Americas Cup at Newport, Rhode Island. President Kennedy and his wife were to attend Mass at Rhode Island during the yacht races when Brian and Keith were overheard discussing how they planned to shoot the President and his wife — suddenly they were placed
under arrest by the FBI, and intensively questioned. They explained they were actually going to shoot Mr & Mrs Kennedy on film for the doco they were making and eventually released.
It was a true event and developed into one of Keith’s favourite stories of his experience in the film industry.
In 1966 he was the main camera operator on the widely acclaimed movie “They’re a Weird Mob” with UK Director of Photography, Arthur Grant BSC. Keith then got involved in photographing television commercials and documentaries.
In 1958 Keith served as a devoted committee member of the Australian Cinematographers Society, and did much valued work alongside the founding President Syd Wood and V/President Ron Horner towards making the ACS into the successful organisation it is today. Keith was one of Australia’s most respected cinematographers both professionally and personally.
Sadly, Keith died in 1988 aged 58.
