AEC and TAI join forces to illuminate the role of the director of photography in cinema

The TAI University of the Arts and the Spanish Association of Authors of Cinematographic Photographic Works develop a collaboration agreement to promote knowledge and training about this professional activity.

The University of the Arts THIS last weekend hosted the Assembly of the Spanish Association of Authors of Cinematographic Photographic Works (AEC), an act that highlighted the collaboration agreement signed between both institutions, and by which TAI becomes a protective member of the AEC. As a result of this agreement, the Association strengthens its circle of alliances with the main film schools in our country, and at the same time adds synergies in the professional field of the arts since TAI is considered the university center of reference in interdisciplinary artistic training in Spain, with teaching programs in very diverse subjects: cinema, photography, fine arts, performing arts or contemporary music composition.

This initiative seeks, among other objectives, to contribute to highlighting the dissemination of the work and profession of cinematographers as co-authors of an audiovisual work. A challenge that TAI has decidedly joined for some time now, integrating among its extensive teaching offerings the Professional Master in Photography and Camera Direction for Cinematography and New Media. A Master taught by AEC Directors of Photography among other teachers, qualified active professionals.

The director of photography, in the cinematographic field, is a capital figure in the production process of a film, and sometimes this profile is somewhat unknown, at least for the general public. This alliance, without a doubt, will benefit an activity in which our country has very outstanding professionals (Javier Aguirresarobe, Alex Catalán, Nestor Almendros, José Luis Alcaine, Oscar Faura...), as well as training programs of undoubted quality.

The company in the classrooms

In this context, and after the signed agreement, the TAI University of the Arts, through its Bachelor's degree offer and especially its professional Master's degree, will strengthen the direct link of its students with companies, professionals and suppliers in the sector (which corresponds to the objective 'The company in the classrooms' of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Professional Development). A very relevant support especially in postgraduate training, since during the coming year the proposal of workshops, master classes, conferences and especially demonstrations and presentations of top-level filming and filming technological equipment will be promoted, optimizing the national and international possibilities of the AEC, together with its Protector members and the agreements they have with their main suppliers of film production equipment.

Thus, it is worth remembering that the Spanish Association of Authors of Cinematographic Photographic Works is part of the European Federation of Directors of Photography (IMAGO), made up of more than forty associations from around the world.

At the same time, TAI students who complete their 4th Grade studies, specializing in Photography Direction, or the Master in Photography and Camera Direction, and obtain the grade of outstanding or remarkably high in these teachings, will enjoy free admission for one year as Associate members of the AEC. Furthermore, the collaboration between TAI and the AEC will be articulated through a series of very diverse actions, focused on the dissemination of the aforementioned profession, the development of measures aimed at strengthening the audiovisual sector, or the reinforcement of training initiatives linked to the activity of the director of photography in the world of cinema.

Thanks to this agreement, TAI students have already enjoyed a master class on colorimetry and color reproduction in LED lighting, and the presentation for the first time in Europe of the new lighting equipment exhibited at this year's NAB in Las Vegas, a master class given by Moncada and Lorenzo, protective member of the AEC and its partners Cineo, Litepanels and LiteGear.