During his final year in high school, Warwick Field ACS did work experience with Total Film & Video Productions in Melbourne where the DP was Ernie Clark ACS. Warwick was hooked immediately; cinematography was what he wanted to do. He soon gained full time employment there and within two years had become the main in-house camera assistant, assistant editor and, when required, he would also paint the studio cyclorama.
In the early 1980s Warwick went freelance and over time was fortunate to work with some highly regarded DPs including Dan Burstall ACS, Vincent Monton ACS, David Eggby ACS, and Don McAlpine ASC ACS and eventually climbed the ladder to camera operator and then to DP.
Working consistently in the roles of DP, camera operator and 2nd unit DP, he found himself working across all sorts of genres and then, after shooting aerials for the Working Dog production of The Dish, this side of cinematography unexpectedly became a mainstay of Warwick’s assignments. He became one of three cinematographers world-wide that shot with Cineflex for the Sir David Attenborough series Planet Earth.
Warwick’s association with the ACS began early in his career and eventually led to him become ACS Victoria branch president in 2013, a role he held for five years. He was accredited in 2015.
Warwick arranged cinematography masterclasses with Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC and Peter James ACS ASC as a means of “giving back” to the industry which had given him so much. He also began the very successful and popular 2nd AC courses as a means of teaching the basics to those interested in a career in the camera department. Ultimately those ideas led to ShotClass – providing tailored masterclass events which allow camera professionals to refine and build on their skills to achieve a deeper understanding of all aspects of cinematography at a world-class standard.
The society is proud to welcome Warwick Field ACS into the ACS Hall of Fame.
