
Scott Westerlaken
Recently I had a conversation with someone who was bragging about their camera system and needing just one more lens to have a complete kit. I asked her if she had tried the full frame model from the same camera manufacturer she currently used. She replied that she had that model. Thinking that she didn’t understand, I asked her again. “Have you tried the 22 megapixel full frame version of that brand?” She repeated that was the one she has “BUT it wasn’t 22 megapixel, it’s a 10 megapixel, 35mm SLR.” I started to explain the different sensor sizes then stopped…why should I? This person shoots stills for her clients now and bills them for doing so. She should know the gear right?
As equipment becomes better and more affordable I am clearly getting more confused over what constitutes a pro photographer or videographer, or am I? Does act of selling or be paid for your work make you a pro? Does it mean that you can now go around saying you are a “pro photographer” or “videographer” even if you don’t know the basics taught in first year photography or film school? Not to say these folks don’t get great shots, but I have always thought there was more to being called a “pro” than that. If I performed CPR on someone, does that make me a Doctor?
SW
With over 25 years of award winning experience in marketing, television commercials, film, video, communications, web, radio, print, and events, Scott has the ability to maintain focus on the big picture and offer a wide range of solutions appropriate to the clients message and budget. He has been recognized with dozens of awards in business, communications, and filmmaking from around the world. For the client, this means a truly unique balance of hands on technical knowledge and high level strategic experience that always leads to unique and creative solutions.

Over the last 50 years we have all experienced incredible changes in the technology involved in presenting messages to the consumer. We have moved from an analog world to a digital world. We have moved from a film based silver halide technology through a magnoferris technology to silicon /transistor based technology. All very complicated, all very amazing and all mere waystations on the endless technology highway. For my sins I have worked in the advertising film production business for most of this self same time. I started when the first few colour TV commercials were being produced and all commercials where delivered to the TV stations as 16mm film prints by mail. So you ask or maybe more accurately “so what?” Well the “so what” is that over this time frame and through and beyond all this technology I have formulated three basic things that are required to make great visual communication. They are:
image capture formats… disc, hard drive, HD, XD, Red, and even film. This all matters nada! What to my mind is the most important element is in fact the “element(s) of the piece of glass between the idea and the image capturing media. The lens!!! Good lenses make great images. The best lenses will allow the idea to be clearly recorded. All modification to that image can be done … post can make something crisp and clean, soft and fuzzy, BUT NOT the reverse.
With over 42 years experience in Canadian film and television, James Hardie has dedicated his career both to supporting the established individuals and companies who have succeeded in our industry while always fostering and encouraging emerging talent. For his ongoing efforts and dedication in the advertising industry James was honoured with The Bob Mann Award from the Television Bureau of Canada at the 2006 Bessies. The award was created to ‘recognize an individual who has demonstrated a long term contribution to their craft’. The description epitomizes James Hardie. He has worked as an editor, a grip, a production manager, in almost every discipline of post production and currently is Manager Commercial Dailies, Independent and Student Films for Creative Post Inc. Working with filmmakers has been the paramount driving force for James to dedicate his career to our industry, our filmmakers and their stories. A tireless and vocal supporter of the depth and diversity of filmmaking talent across the country, James has volunteered his time and expertise throughout the years with the Academy as a juror consultant and sponsor. 
