Dean Semler

Dean William Semler ACS ASC (born 26 May 1943) is an Australian cinematographer and film director.

He is a three-time recipient of the AACTA Award for Best Cinematography and an Academy Award winner.

In 2002 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Life and career

Early years

Semler was born in Renmark, South Australia. His first work in the production industry was as a camera operator at a local television station. Later, he began making documentary and educational films for Film Australia. He was the cinematographer for '' A Steam Train Passes'' (1974), ''Moving On'' (1974), '' Let the Balloon Go'' (1976), and ''A Good Thing Going'' (1978).

1980s

His first film was ''Stepping Out'', in 1980. Allmovie praised his "stunning work" on the film '' Hoodwink'' (1981) with a screen play by Ken Quinnell. Semler was also the cinematographer for ''Mad Max 2'' (1981). Semler's vast panoramic shots of the Australian Outback's deserts "...convincingly conveyed a parched, dusty, post-apocalyptic world" and led to international attention for his work. Semler also acted as cinematographer for the follow-up film to ''Mad Max 2'', '' Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' (1985). Semler was also a cinematographer for the acclaimed Australian miniseries ''Bodyline'' (1984).The Australian Film and Television Companion – Compiled by Tony Harrison, Simon & Schuster, Australia (1994) In the late 1980s, Semler was the cinematographer for several popular films, such as ''Cocktail'' (1988) and '' Young Guns'' (1988).

1990s

In 1989, Semler was hired as cinematographer for Kevin Costner's '' Dances with Wolves'' (1990), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Semler lensed the comedy ''City Slickers'' (1991) and the action film ''Last Action Hero'' (1993) in the early 1990s. In 1995, Semler again worked with Costner on his film ''Waterworld''.
In 1992 Semler was the cinematographer of The Power of One.

2000s

In the 2000s, Semler was the cinematographer for a range of movies that included comedies ('' Nutty Professor II: The Klumps'' from 2000, and '' Bruce Almighty'' from 2003), action films ('' XXX'' from 2002 and '' The Alamo'' from 2004). In the mid-2000s, Semler was the cinematographer for the football comedy '' The Longest Yard'' (2005) and '' Just My Luck'' (2006). In 2006, Semler worked with Mel Gibson again for the film '' Apocalypto''. Semler's camera work conveyed the beauty of the lush Mesoamerican jungle setting in ''Apocalypto''.

Filmography

Feature film

Director
* ''Firestorm'' (1998)
* '' The Patriot'' (1998)

Cinematographer

Documentary film

Television

TV movies

TV series

Miniseries

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

American Society of Cinematographers

Australian Film Institute

BAFTA Awards

Chicago Film Critics Association

Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association

Satellite Awards

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Semler, Dean
1943 births
Australian cinematographers
Australian film directors
Living people
People from Renmark, South Australia
Best Cinematographer Academy Award winners
Members of the Order of Australia