The chief cameraman on Oscar-winning film Gravity has won an award for his work at a ceremony in Los Angeles. Peter Taylor was named camera operator of the year ahead of a field of nominees including cameramen who worked on American Hustle and Saving Mr Banks. The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) also paid tribute to Sarah Jones, who was killed by a train in the US while working on the film Midnight Rider. The 27-year-old’s parents accepted an honorary membership on her behalf. Her father Richard said: “I know she is looking down with a smile. Her
enthusiasm is contagious and I hope it lives on.” The crew of the film had laid down a bed on a railway line in Georgia before the collision, which injured several other members of the crew. The SOC’s David Fredrick urged the 500 people attending the awards to sign a pledge calling for greater safety on film sets. In accepting the award for his work on Gravity, Peter Taylor dedicated it to the film’s camera and grip crew. He also thanked the film’s cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, for employing him. Lubezki was among members of the film’s team who were honoured at the Academy Awards for their contributions. The film, which charts an accident in outer space and stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, won technical prizes for film editing and sound mixing among its haul of seven statuettes. Its most high profile prize was best director for Alfonso Cuaron. The SOC awarded the best camera operator in television to Don Devine for Mad Men. – BBC News
