The Society of Independent Cinematographers (S.I.C.) is an international fellowship of independent cinematographers and filmmakers.
The purpose of the SIC is to
promote the art and craft of cinematography and to bring together a fellowship of independent filmmaking professionals, from aspiring students and camera assistants to senior directors of photography
.
The SIC focusses on
independent
film professionals who are either self-employed and/or who are not affiliated or employed by e.g. a production company and do their work with complete independence.
The SIC was founded as an alternative to other established societies of cinematographers motivated by the following facts:
Not all countries or regions provide a society of cinematographers.
Most societies charge high annual subscription fees and joining fees beyond the budget of many independent cinematographer, usually hundreds of dollars annually and sometimes even nearing or exceeding a thousand dollars.
Most societies have very strict membership criteria that often can't be satisfied by independent cinematographers.
Society of Cinematographers
The
objectives
of the SIC are as follows.
Build a collaborative
environment for cinematographers
to share ideas and techniques, to improve their craft, and to promote their work and
the art of filmmaking
in general.
Promoting and showcasing our members and their work through our website, social media channels, online publications and special events.
Providing a members-only internet community website to serve and uphold these objectives.
The American Society of Cinematographers
The ASC believes cinematographers and their fellow filmmakers should reflect the diverse population of the world at large, irrespective of gender, race, religion, economic status or orientation, and is committed to encouraging and providing advancement for the underrepresented.
Who can join the society of independent cinematographers?
In short, every independent professional who you can meet on a filmset can join. For example (but not exclusively):
Director of photography
Camera operator
Camera assistant
Cameraman
Camerawoman
dop
How to become a member of the ASC. Society of American Cinematographers
Visual effects technician
Gaffer
best-boy
lighting technician
Focus puller
Visual effects technician
Pyrotechnician
Soundrecordist
Production designer
Producers
Directors
How to become a member of the BSC. British Society of Cinematographers
The British Society of Cinematographers
Netflix originals
The SIC has established a closed Social Network site for it's members at https://intsic.org. The SIC Social Network is the SIC's main communication channel and membership is mandatory. Members are encouraged to visit the website regularly. The SIC will publish news and updates in the "News space". The SIC Social Network features topic-bound "spaces" that can be compared to Facebook Groups, and a "followers" system. Members receive a profile page and can post messages, images, videos, comments and likes. Members can exchange direct messages and control their privacy/visibility settings.
We regard the SIC Social Network as "the LinkedIn for cinematographers".
Other spaces on the SIC Social Network include:
the disappearance of madeleine mccann
Cinematographer: Martin Beek
. The formation of special interest groups, and dedicated fora and 'spaces' on our website "The SIC Social Network" for the purpose of taking the craft to a higher level and to help fellow members to achieve a higher level of professionalism.
Organizing annual events such as gatherings and the SIC Online Film Festival
Providing several affordable membership types matching individual competence and budget.
The Canadian Society of Cinematographers
Martin Beek, S.I.C. Cinematographer
Martin Beek
was elected a full member to our society.
Martin Beek, S.I.C. is a Dutch cinematograper who has been a cameraman for Amblin Entertainment / Steven Spielberg for several decades.
The Society of Independent Cinematographers
Operating on a global scale, accommodating members from all around the world.
Allowing qualifying "full members" to carry the post-nominal title "SIC" after his or her name.
Charter - about the Society of Independent Cinematographers.
Version 1.21, July 2020.
Index
About the S.I.C.
The Society of Independent Cinematographers (SIC) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2018 by Martin Beek, Barry Johnson, Florian Bachman, Scott Ross and Robert Chapman.
The purpose of the SIC is to promote the art and craft of cinematography and to bring together a fellowship of independent filmmaking professionals, from aspiring students and camera assistants to senior directors of photography.
The SIC focusses on independent film professionals who are either self-employed and/or who are not affiliated or employed by e.g. a production company and do their work with complete independence.
The SIC was founded as an alternative to other established societies of cinematographers motivated by the following facts:
- Not all countries or regions provide a society of cinematographers.
- Most societies charge high annual subscription fees and joining fees beyond the budget of many independent cinematographer, usually hundreds of dollars annually and sometimes even nearing or exceeding a thousand dollars.
- Most societies have very strict membership criteria that often can't be satisfied by independent cinematographers.
The SIC is a global organization and has it's foundation seat in the Netherlands, Europe. The SIC will be officially registered as a Non Profit Organization with the Chamber of Commerce of Amsterdam or other Dutch municipality during the coarse of 2019.
Objectives
The objectives of the SIC are as follows.
- Build a collaborative environment for cinematographers to share ideas and techniques, to improve their craft, and to promote their work and the art of filmmaking in general.
- Promoting and showcasing our members and their work through our website, social media channels, online publications and special events.
- Providing a members-only internet community website to serve and uphold these objectives.
- The formation of special interest groups, and dedicated fora and 'spaces' on our website "The SIC Social Network" for the purpose of taking the craft to a higher level and to help fellow members to achieve a higher level of professionalism.
- Organizing annual events such as gatherings and the SIC Online Film Festival
- Providing several affordable membership types matching individual competence and budget.
- Operating on a global scale, accommodating members from all around the world.
- Allowing qualifying "full members" to carry the post-nominal title "SIC" after his or her name.
Who can join
In short, every independent professional who you can meet on a filmset can join. For example (but not exclusively):
- Directors of photography
- Camera operators
- Camera assistants
- Visual effects technicians
- Gaffers, best-boys, lighting technicians
- Focus pullers
- Visual effects technicians
- Pyrotechnicians
- Soundrecordists
- Production designers
- Producers
- Directors
and more...
Check out the
membership criteria below.
Types of membership and criteria
The SIC offers the following types of membership.
- Full SIC membership
- Annual membership fee: $USD165 or €145, no joining-fee.
- Full members will be entitled to use the letters "SIC" after his or her name. On screen credits, the initials SIC must be written in capital letters.
- Full members will have access to all areas of the website, including the restricted "SIC Cinematographers space".
- Full members will be awarded a certificate.
- Full members have full voting rights in foundation board elections.
- Full members are be electable to the foundation board.
- Full members have access to all events and incentives free of charge.
- Full members can submit work to the SIC online filmfestival free of charge.
- Applicants have to satisfy the following criteria
- Applicant must be currently (self-) employed as - or retired from being - a Director of Photography
- Applicant must have an IMDb page (registration) as Director of Photography.
- Applicant must have completed at least one feature film or series (-episode) which has been shown publicly in the cinema, on television or via major streaming outlets. Only individual feature or episode runtimes of over 45 minutes will be taken into consideration.
- Applicant must be credited for the above work(s), "uncredited" IMDb nominations are not taken into consideration.
- If no IMDb registration or credit can be provided, festival wins will be taken into consideration, provided the festival is on the list of "IMDb qualifying festivals" and the credit is awarded is for "best film, best cinematography, best visual effects", et cetera.
- Associate membership
- Annual membership fee: $US90 or €80, no joining-fee.
- Associate members can be invited to vote in foundation board elections.
- Associate members have access to all events and incentives free of charge.
- Associate members have access to all areas of the website, except for the Full Members Space ("S.I.C. Cinematographers")
- Associate members can submit their work to the SIC online filmfestival free of charge.
- Applicants have to satisfy the following criteria
- Applicant must be currently (self-) employed in - or retired from - the field of Cinematograpy in general
- Applicant must have an IMDb page (registration), any category
- If no IMDb registration can be provided, festival wins will be taken into consideration, provided the festival is on the list of "IMDb qualifying festivals" and the award is solely credited to the applicant.
- There are no further membership criteria.
- Important: Associate members are NOT entitled to use the letters "SIC" after his or her name, or in any other way.
- Junior / student membership
- Annual membership fee: $US29 or €25, no joining fee.
- Junior members have no voting rights in foundation board elections.
- Junior members have access to all areas of the website, except for the Full Members Space ("S.I.C. Cinematographers")
- Junior members have access to all events and incentives with a 25% discount.
- Junior members can submit their work to the SIC online filmfestival free of charge.
- Important: Junior members are NOT entitled to use the letters "SIC" after his or her name, or in any other way.
SIC chairman
Interim chairman of the SIC is Florian Bachman, SIC.
Florian is director of photography and founding member of the association. He fulfills the role of chairman on an interim basis through the year 2019.
In 2022 new foundation board elections will be held.
SIC on social media
You can follow the SIC on
Contacting the S.I.C.
Please direct any questions and inquiries to info@intsic.org.
© 2019 SIC - all rights reserved