Roger Lanser started his journey with the ABC TV drama department as a clapper loader in 1976 on a series called The Outsiders, then went on to assist on the Alvin Purple TV series, along with Golden Soak, The Levkas Man,The Off Show and a lot more.
After many years as a Loader and Focus Puller he became camera operator to DP Peter Hendry on many ABC dramas such as Patrol Boat, Captain Cook, Lucinda Smith, Flight into Hell and Boy in the Bush where he met acclaimed British actor Kenneth Branagh.
Roger eventually left the ABC and went freelance in 1988. He was asked by Stephen Windon ACS ASC to be his camera operator on the Mission: Impossible series filming in Queensland.
In later years Sir Kenneth Branagh asked him to come to England and film the British comedy Peter’s Friends. Over the years he went on to do eight feature films for Branagh including three Shakespeare’s, a B&W comedy, an Oscar nominated short film, and the big screen opera Mozart’s The Magic Flute, set in the trenches of WW1. For this Roger was awarded the Gold Tripod and the ACS Cinematographer of the Year, Milli Award.
In Australia he has shot iconic Australian films like Wog Boy, The Cliff Young Story, Till Human Voices Wake Us, Charlie and Boots, and Strange Bedfellows, these last two with Paul Hogan.Roger has had the opportunity to work in the USA where he shot a comedy feature called A Weekend in the Country with Jack Lemon and Betty White and has photographed many USA co-pro tele movies here in Australia. He has been the cinematographer on three series of the very successful Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries based in Melbourne and many other ABC TV comedies and dramas.
Miss Fisher The Crypt of Tears, which Roger shot in Morocco and Melbourne, premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and opened in Sydney and Melbourne to booked out screenings. The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee and the psychological thriller series The Secrets She Keeps are also part of Roger’s lengthy list of credits.
Roger Lanser ACS is a consummate cinematographer, a man of the highest integrity. He is a past President of the NSW Branch of the Society who mentors and encourages diversity and inclusion within the camera department.
