Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC (1 January 1956 – 27 April 2015) was an Australian cinematographer. He was best known as the cinematographer for The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) and its prequel The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), both directed by New Zealand director Peter Jackson. He received the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2002.

Andrew Lesnie
Born1 January 1956
Died27 April 2015(2015-04-27) (aged 59)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationCinematographer
Years active1978–2014
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Cinematography
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Early life

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Lesnie was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 1 January 1956,[1] the son of Shirley (Lithgow) and Allan Lesnie, who worked for the family's company, butcher suppliers Harry Lesnie Pty Ltd.

He was educated at Sydney Grammar School. Andrew was well liked and popular at school. Lesnie finished 6th form and his Higher School Certificate in 1974.[2] He started his career in 1978 as an assistant camera operator on the film Patrick (1978) while he was still in school at Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS).[3] sd

His first job after graduation in 1979 was as a cameraman on the Logie Award-winning Australian magazine-style afternoon TV show Simon Townsend's Wonder World. Simon Townsend gave Lesnie almost daily opportunities to develop his craft with little restriction over a wide variety of stories and situations, and to experiment with camera and lighting techniques in hundreds of locations and situations. After two years of working on the show, Lesnie moved on to numerous Australian film and television productions, including the mini-series Bodyline.[4]

Later, he worked as a second camera assistant on the film The Killing of Angel Street (1981).[3]

Lesnie would then go on to develop his craft as he photographed films such as Stations (1983), The Delinquents (1989), Temptation of the Monk (1993), and Spider and Rose (1994).[3]

Career

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Lesnie's work began receiving major attention after the release of the anthropomorphic pig story Babe (1995) and its sequel, Babe: Pig in the City. He was director of photography on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and received an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2002. Since then, he filmed several other Jackson-directed films, including King Kong and The Lovely Bones, and also filmed The Hobbit films directed by Jackson.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–03)

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Lesnie used motion picture camera company Arri's Arriflex 435, Arriflex 535, and ArriCam Studio 35mm film cameras for the trilogy. He used Carl Zeiss Ultra Prime Lenses and Kodak's 5279 (tungsten-balanced) film stock to photograph the films.[5]

Lesnie planned far ahead into the production with Peter Jackson with previsualisation programs to help establish frame sizes and angles, as well as construction of sets.[6] During filming, Lesnie emphasised earthy colours in the makeup and wardrobe of the cast and extras.[7]

At the acceptance speech for his Oscar win for Fellowship of the Ring, Lesnie dedicated his acceptance to chief lighting technician Brian Bansgrove, who he described as a major contributor to the quality of the film's cinematography.[8]

The Hobbit trilogy (2012–14)

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For production, Lesnie used Red Digital Cinema's Epic cameras as well as Carl Zeiss Ultra Prime Lenses to photograph the film. Jackson and Lesnie decided to shoot the film in 3D with as many as 15 stereoscopic camera rigs (2 cameras each) with 3ality.[9] They also decided to shoot the film in an uncommon frame rate of 48 frames per second versus the industry standard of 24 frames per second. This would make Lesnie the first cinematographer to employ such a method that claims to induce more clarity, reduce motion blur, and make 3D easier to watch.[10][11]

The Water Diviner

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Lesnie's final film, The Water Diviner, directed by and starring Russell Crowe, was released in Australia in December 2014 and in America in April 2015, one week before his death.

Personal life and death

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Lesnie lived on Sydney's north coast. He was a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society and the American Society of Cinematographers. Lesnie died of a heart attack in his Sydney home on 27 April 2015, after having suffered from a heart condition for half a year.[12][13]

Filmography

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Film

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Documentary film

Year Title Director
1980 The Comeback Kit Laughlin
1988 Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild

Short film

Year Title Director Notes
1981 The Same Stream James Bradley
1983 Stations Jackie McKimmie
1984 The Man You Know Steve Jacobs
2013 Reunion Simon Stone Segment of The Turning[14]

Feature film

Year Title Director Notes
1984 Fantasy Man John Meagher
1985 Emoh Ruo Denny Lawrence
Unfinished Business Bob Ellis
1986 Fair Game Mario Andreacchio
1987 Australian Dream Jackie McKimmie
Dark Age Arch Nicholson
1989 The Boys in the Island Geoff Bennett
The Delinquents Chris Thomson
1990 The Shrimp on the Barbie Michael Gottlieb Australian unit
1992 The Girl Who Came Late Kathy Mueller
1993 Temptation of a Monk Clara Law With Arthur Wong
1994 Spider and Rose Bill Bennett
Fatal Past Clive Fleury
1995 Babe Chris Noonan
1996 Two If by Sea Bill Bennett
1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline Chris Kennedy
1998 The Sugar Factory Robert Carter
Babe: Pig in the City George Miller
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Peter Jackson Shot back-to-back
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004 Love's Brother Jan Sardi
2005 King Kong Peter Jackson
2007 I Am Legend Francis Lawrence
2009 Bran Nue Dae Rachel Perkins
The Lovely Bones Peter Jackson
2010 The Last Airbender M. Night Shyamalan
2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes Rupert Wyatt
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Peter Jackson
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014 Healing Craig Monahan
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Peter Jackson
The Water Diviner Russell Crowe

Television

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Year Title Director Notes
1979-1986 Wonder World! 497 episodes
1986 Cyclone Tracy Donald Crombie
Kathy Mueller
Miniseries
1988 Melba Rodney Fisher 6 episodes
The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy Chris Thomson Miniseries
1990 Winners George Whaley Episode "Mr Edmund"
1994-1995 House of Fun Rebel Penfold-Russell

TV movies

Year Title Director Notes
1980 Stages: Peter Brook and the C.I.C.T in Australia Robert Mellor Documentary film
1989 The Saint: Fear in Fun Park Donald Crombie
How Wonderful! Lynn Hergarty

Awards and nominations

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Year Title Award/Nomination
1993 Temptation of a Monk Nominated- Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography
1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline AACTA Award for Best Cinematography
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography
Nominated- Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography
Nominated- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
2004 Love's Brother Nominated- AACTA Award for Best Cinematography
2005 King Kong Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography
Nominated- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
2009 The Lovely Bones Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography

References

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  1. ^ "Acclaimed cinematographer Andrew Lesnie leaves staggeringly influential oeuvre". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Acclaimed cinematographer Andrew Lesnie leaves staggeringly influential oeuvre". 17 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Moran, Albert and Vieth, Errol (2005).The A to Z of Australian and New Zealand Cinema Scarecrow Press, Inc.
  4. ^ The Australian Film and Television Companion – compiled by Tony Harrison, Simon & Schuster, Australia (1994)
  5. ^ "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". shotonwhat.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014.
  6. ^ Gray, Simon (December 2002). "A Fellowship in Peril (p.3)"
  7. ^ Gray, Simon (December 2002). "A Fellowship in Peril (p.2)"
  8. ^ "The contenders: Nominees for 16th annual ASC awards. (ASC Awards).(American Society of Cinematographers)". 15 February 2002. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey". shotonwhat.com.
  10. ^ Egan, Jack (21 December 2012) "Contendor – Director of Photography Andrew Lesnie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
  11. ^ Kilday, Gregg (13 November 2013) "Despite 'The Hobbit,' Hollywood Isn't Adopting 48 Frames Per Second"
  12. ^ "Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died from a heart attack". Herald Sun. 27 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Oscar-Winning 'Lord of the Rings' Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie Dies at 59". 28 April 2015.
  14. ^ "THE TURNING" (PDF). ABC Online. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
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