Donald McAlpine

Camera

Donald McAlpine

Born 1934-01-01 · Quandialla, New South Wales, Australia

Donald McAlpine ACS, ASC (born 13 April 1934) is an Australian cinematographer. McAlpine was a physical education teacher in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. He began using a 16mm camera to film athletes preparing for the Melbourne Olympic Games. In Australia, from 1972 to 1981, McAlpine collaborated with Bruce Beresford. McAlpine filmed many of Beresford's early films, including The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, Don's Party, The Getting of Wisdom, Money Movers, Breaker Morant and The Club. McAlpine also worked with director Gillian Armstrong on My Brilliant Career. McAlpine was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in Moulin Rouge!.[citation needed] He is a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society and the American Society of Cinematographers.[citation needed] The A.S.C. honored him with the 2009 International Achievement Award. In 2016 McAlpine received an honorary doctorate in Arts from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia

Acting credits

Side by Side poster
7.3

Since the invention of cinema, the standard format for recording moving images has been film. Over the past two decades, a new form of digital filmmaking has emerged, creating a groundbreaking evolution in the medium. Keanu Reeves explores the development of cinema and the impact of digital filmmaking via in-depth interviews with Hollywood masters, such as James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, and many more.

Side by Side

2012

Not Quite Hollywood poster
6.7

As Australian cinema broke through to international audiences in the 1970s through respected art house films like Peter Weir's "Picnic At Hanging Rock," a new underground of low-budget exploitation filmmakers were turning out considerably less highbrow fare. Documentary filmmaker Mark Hartley explores this unbridled era of sex and violence, complete with clips from some of the scene's most outrageous flicks and interviews with the renegade filmmakers themselves.

Not Quite Hollywood

2008

If It Bleeds We Can Kill It: The Making of 'Predator' poster
7.5

A behind-the-scenes look at the 1987 sci-fi/action film that has since become one of the modern classics, about a team of special forces soldiers who find themselves being stalked and killed by a hunter from another world. Includes interviews with the cast and crew, who relate their experiences in bringing this film to life. Produced for the “Predator” DVD.

If It Bleeds We Can Kill It: The Making of 'Predator'

2000

Show Me the Magic poster
2.5

Don McAlpine, legendary cinematographer. World renowned Australian. A documentary of his life journey from teaching physical education in Temora, NSW, Australia to Hollywood, making the visual imagery of an outstanding movies.

Show Me the Magic

2012

No artwork available
NR

First there was ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, then ‘My Brilliant Career’, and now best of all ‘The Getting of Wisdom’. It is incomparably moving and powerful.

Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom’

2006

Predator: Welcome to the Jungle poster
NR

Documenatry exploring the complexities of shooting in the jungle. Produced for the “Predator” DVD.

Predator: Welcome to the Jungle

2001