Seasoned Hollywood cinematographer Mark Irwin conducted a five-day master class for GMA-7’s Techno Creative Personnel.
Held at GMA Network's headquarters from November 14-18, 2022, thirty-six (36) cameramen, lighting directors, and lightsmen brushed up on best practices for cinematography.
With 162 movies under his belt, Irwin is a Canadian cinematographer who's a member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and American Society of Cinematographers.
Some of his works include Scream (1996), RoboCop 2 (1990), There's Something About Mary (1998), Old School (2003), Dumb and Dumber (1994), and American Pie 2 (2001).
On the last day of Irwin's master class last November 18, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) got the chance to see Irwin teach the participants techniques how to improve lighting and camera angles for an indoor interview set-up.
Irwin also demonstrated how to set-up proper lighting for a horror-themed shoot, based on how he did it for his successful Hollywood projects.
Sparkle artists Aidan Veneracion, John Clifford, Wynona Collings, Charlie Fleming, and Bryce Eusebio also joined the training to play as subjects for the cinematography workshop.
GMA-7's Head of Studio and Remote Operations Jeff Evangelista, who was among the participants, described Irwin's training as a give-and-take approach.
"He’s very much willing to share his knowledge," Evangelista said.
"Even with his credentials, he’s still open to suggestions and to train people. There are also times when he encourages the participants to speak up, ask questions, and share their own insights on how they do things.
"Coming from the participants’ inputs, that’s where he would give suggestions on how to improve."
Evangelista added that Irwin also acknowledged the GMA-7 staff's expertise in their respective roles which made the master class flow smoothly.
The initiative to get Irwin as a master class instructor for the GMA-7 staff was made possible through the coordination of GMA Network’s Supply and Asset Management Department with Hollywood film equipment provider Birns & Sawyer.
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MARK IRWIN ON WORKING WITH HOLLYWOOD STARS
Aside from observing the set, PEP.ph also had the opportunity to speak with Irwin.
Asked about his favorite Hollywood actors, Irwin noted the difference between stars who are professional and nice and those who are just there for the grind.
"My favorite to work with has been Will Ferrell, kinda old school. He’s a real person," Irwin told PEP.ph.
"There are a lot of professional stars, but when they are paid to be there, they are nice and all, but you know, when we’re wrapping up...
"For example, Will’s walking through the set, he’s like, 'Good night, guys! See you tomorrow! Hey! How you doin’? Are you okay?' That’s a real person.
"Or someone like Jim Carrey, he’s got two bodyguards, and Jim’s got his sunglasses on like he’s on a mission, and he’s a professional person.
"He’s almost saying, 'I’m not on the clock yet, don’t talk to me, you’re not paying to be nice so I’m not.' But, yeah, Will’s one of the nicest."
Mark had worked with Will in the movie Old School in 2003. The cinematographer did more films with Jim including The Mask (1994); Dumb and Dumber (1994); Me, Myself & Irene (2000); and Ace Ventura, Jr.: Pet Detective (2009).
HIS UNFORGETTABLE MOVIES
Irwin went on to say that one of his unforgettable movies is the meta slasher film Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) starring Robert Englund, Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxton, and Miko Hughes.
Robert is known for his Fred Krueger role in movie franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Recalling his past film, Irwin elaborated: "Yeah, I did a film called Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. Are you familiar with the Freddy Kreuger movies?
"So everyone in it was now playing themselves as an actor or as a director, they play themselves. Even Robert Englund named Freddy would play himself as Robert, then Freddy himself comes to the dreams, and that was the most memorable for me.
"Partly because that was the first film I did with Wes... This one’s a little more cerebral, more grown-up, had a better plot, and that’s what interested me."
IS HE OPEN TO DO A MOVIE IN PH?
Is Irwin open to do movie here in the Philippines, especially for GMA Films?
"I’m interested. It’s about the story and it’s about me being," Irwin replied.
While he feels sympathetic to the extra long working hours that the Philippine production people are used to, he pointed out, "The skill and talent, that is here.
"This is a hard job, and in Canada, it’s 18 hours."