James Neilhouse, IMAX and NASA cinematographer will be lecturing and presenting some of his film works at Reynolds Performance Hall at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16.
?An Evening with James Neilhouse? is co-sponsored with UCA?s Department of Mass Communications and Theatre and the College of Fine Arts and Communication on behalf of the Conway Christian School. The event is free and open to the public.
Neilhouse grew up in Paris, Arkansas, where he began perfecting his photography skills as a self-taught photographer for his high school yearbook. He attended yearbook workshops at the University of Central Arkansas (then SCA) while in high school and also completed his basic college courses at UCA before attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, in the late 1970s.
It was at Brooks Institute where Neilhouse?s interest in underwater photography brought him in contact with cinematographer Graeme Ferguson, who worked closely with the co-founder of IMAX technology. Neilhouse has many film awards to his name, including a Silver Snoopy Award and Best Cinematography from the Giant Screen Theater Association. His film Eruptions of Mount St. Helens was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary in 1980.
He has also worked with basketball superstar Michael Jordan during the 1998 playoffs, with primate specialists Dr. Jane Goodall in Africa, and with a team of astronauts preparing for work aboard the International Space Station. In fact, NASA has looked to the expertise of James Neilhouse as they design and prepare photography equipment for use in space and to help train astronauts and technicians. He films every liftoff and other significant space program events.
Having worked on over 35 IMAX films, the box office record breaker NASCAR 3D, showing currently, is Neilhouse?s most recent success. For the film, Neilhouse manned the IMAX camera in a specially built stock car designed to give audiences the sensation of being in the middle of NASCAR races. A governor?s screening was held at Little Rock IMAX Theater and Aerospace Museum in April of this year.
IMAX is the world?s largest film format. An IMAX projector uses 70mm film that is 10 times larger than 35mm film seen in ordinary theaters. With images up to 8 stories tall and wrap-around 12,000-watt digital sound, IMAX provides images with striking clarity.
There is a ?meet the artist? reception for which tickets may be reserved by calling or emailing the CCS Development Office. While on the UCA campus, Neilhouse will also conduct workshops with film students as part of UCA?s Artists in Residence program.
For more information on James Neilhouse?s appearance at the University of Central Arkansas, or to make ticket reservations for the reception, please email Janet Gathright in the Development Office at Conway Christian School at ccsjanetg@cyberback.com.
