I'm sure that, like myself, all members will have been shocked by the death of Michael Samuelson. I had been looking forward to seeing him once again at this year's Fuji Student Film Awards judging and was dumbfounded when Rachel Baker, the Fujifilm Awards manager, announced at the beginning of the screenings that Michael would not be with us.
I first met Michael when he joined British Movietone News as a trainee cameraman, shortly before I left to join Film House Productions as a rerecording mixer. We later met up when he joined Sydney, David and Tony, running Samuelson Film Service. By this time he was a competent cameraman and during the next 20 years or so, specialised in sporting events such as the official Olympic Games and World Cup football films, as director of photography, and on several occasions as producer.
In 1987 he formed Michael Samuelson Lighting Ltd, based at Pinewood Studios. With hard work and a progressive attitude he built the company, which recently sold for 2 million, into perhaps the most successful lighting provider in the UK.
With new technology being introduced into film and TV lighting equipment, Michael realised that the old image of electricians being sweaty, hard working, lamp humpers had to go. Electricians now had to become technicians, so he set about organising training courses for his staff and finding time for them to attend technical school day classes. He concerned himself with health and safety in the workplace and contributed greatly to the formation of National Vocational Qualification standards for film electrical personnel.
Outside of his busy work schedules, he found time for a great deal of charity work, particularly fund raising. He was Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain from 1989 to 1991, Chairman of Variety Clubs International, which during his term of office raised $50 million. He also served as Chairman of the Sunshine Coach Scheme for 8 years, seeing the delivery and presentation of more than 1000 coaches to children's hospitals, schools and homes. He was also vice-chairman of the Wishing Well Appeal which raised 50 million for the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.
AMPS members who knew him or met up with him during their work will remember him as a jolly jocular person always, with a ready quip but also one who took his work seriously. AMPS will remember him for his cooperation and contribution to the On-Set Noise Investigation report regarding lighting equipment problems. He replied to our request for help with alacrity, allowing us to publish his comments without restriction. His letter lent great authority to our publication. If only other lighting contractors had been as helpful.
Michael was a member of the British Society of Cinematographers, an honorary member of the Guild of British Camera Technicians and a fellow of the BKSTS. In 1989 he was appointed a Commander of the British Empire.
I'm sure all AMPS members join in extending deepest sympathy to his brothers David, Sydney and Tony, and to his wife and children.
He will be missed.
BOB ALLEN