This morning at 5:30am Pacific Time, they announced the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Nominees. My Father Tony Askins ASC, is among the names on the list of nominees. He has been the only person in his category to be nominated every year it has been in existence. Oh sorry, your probably wondering what category it is? Well its " For Outstanding Cinematography In a Multi Camera Series, for the Hit show Will & Grace." My Father is hands down the best Cinematographer, (Cameraman, Director Of Photography, DP) in Television today. I'm not saying that because I'm his son. Infact, if you ask anyone in the Television Game, who the best is, was, etc... They will all tell you Tony Askins. He has been an icon in the world of Multi Camera Situation Comedy. Let me put it to you this way. There were 23 new Comedy Pilots slated to be shot last year. He was asked by 19 of the shows producers to do them. That right there speaks for itself. However my Dad is the best, because he works with the best. He has in the last few years done pilots that "James Burrows", ( Jimmy Burrows) has agreed to doing. Jimmy Burrows is the biggest Director in Television to date. Jimmy was to Creator, Producer, and Director of the show "CHEERS","Taxi", he was also a big part of the creation of the Show, "Friends" Jimmy virtually perfected the Multi Camera Situation Comedy. Ok the man makes 6 figures a week, in just residuals from shows previously done. The man is brilliant, and works at a level that is unmatched by anyone else in his field. Actually because of Jimmy Burrows, the category for Multi Camera came to be. He never knew that there wasn't a category for it. He just thought Tony wasn't being recognized. All that had to happen was Jimmy made a phone Call. Like magic, the very next year, guess what Cinematography in a Multi Camera Series Came to be. Although my dad didn't win that first year, he would later make up for it and win the next three in a row. He lost twice. the first was total bull sh*t, the guys who won shouldn't have even been in the category. There's Multi Camera/& then there is single Camera. The difference in look, is light years difference. Single camera, is your, "24, OC, West Wing" Shows. Almost like mini moves. Multi Camera, are shows Like"Friends, Will & Grace, According to Jim..Etc". The Second lose was a total bullsh*t political deal. They gave it to a man named Bruce Finn, who is one of the most egotistical AS*ES in our bizz. He shoots 8 simple rules on ABC. Which my dad got him, because he promised the head of Disney Programming, that he would teach Bruce how to light the show, like how we did it for the Pilot. Disney for the first time was going to put up some big money to try to lock him into a two show deal. Anyway, what Bruce did was he submitted the Farewell to John Ritter episode. Which by the way I looked at, and wasn't even close to what my Dad had put out. If any of you watches the Show Will & Grace, look at how "Joey" looks and then Watch "Will & Grace" You'll be able to see what I am talking about.
The reason for the novel on my Father, is because I am so very proud of his achievements, and he deserves every bit of recognition out there. Unfortunately, this will be the last year, you will see Tony Askins ASC, as Director Of Photography, on any new show's. Because has officially retired. It truly was a very sad day when he announced it to all of his crew. For me it is a 50/50 deal. On one hand I lost the best boss you could ever work for, in Camera, but on the other hand My Son will grow up having a Grandfather. This business will kill you. The Stress levels are insane. My Grandfather was the best DP for his time, and unfortunately for him, the Stress got the best of him, and he had a major stroke, and never was the same. So as a father myself, I would much rather have my dad around, as a dad, then a Boss any day of the week. However it was a awesome thing when you worked with him. You were treated differently, your peers looked up to you. They looked up to you, because they new you had to be the best at what you do, in order to be on Tony's Crew. So that I will miss, and will have to work on rebuilding myself in the coming years.
So with all that being said, Dad Congrats on your 4th Win, and have fun playing hooky. You will be missed by all. And I thank you for being the person that you are. You have given me many great gifts, and talents. It isn't hard to get great skills, when your teacher is the best in class. So thank you for your hard work, and will continue were you leave off, and keep the ASKINS name alive... Congratulations Dad.

 

Nice to see a kid (don't know how old you are but I'm guessing you're a little younger than me) that has so much respect and admiration for his Dad and who is not embarrassed to express it, especially while his Dad is still around to hear him. He does sound like quite an accomplished individual and I can only hope you watched and listened to him closely because you've been quite lucky to sit at the side of a Master. I too have an Emmy award winner in my family, my 24 year old son. Ever since he was a little boy he's been heavily into sports. When he finally realized his childhood dream of being a professional athlete probably wouldn't pan out he started talking about being a sports broadcaster. When he started looking at things with a little more practical eye and realized for every "on air" personality there is in sports there are probably 20 off air talents to support them (just like your dad) and that they can make a good living too. From about the age of 10 or so he talked of going to Syracuse University to pursue a Broadcast Journalism Career. Well he graduated High School, went to Syracuse on a partial scholarship and had internships with the three major networks, YES network, Maury Povich and Sally Jessy Raphael before he graduated in '03 with his BS. He was at work 2 weeks after graduation for ESPN in Bristol, CT. and last year received his first Emmy award for his work on "Sportscenter". The show won again in '04 so he should be receiving a second award later this year. I, like you am indeed very lucky. Oh my second son, who is 21 and has since 3 or 4 years old been passionate about politics (he knew all the Presidents backwards and forwards) dreamed of going to college in Washington , DC. Well he's currently a Sr. at George Washington University. Having won numerous awards and commendations in High School, including a Hearst Foundation award as one of 2 NY State representatives to the United States Senate Youth program. He now also works in several capacities at the University and works for the President at the White House as a volunteer in his scheduling office and for the Press Corps. So take what your Dad has given you and make him proud as I am of what my kids have accomplished. A parents true measure of success in my opinion is the quality of the kids they leave behind. Wish your Dad a great retirement.

 

Well It sounds like your children's Dad has done his job. With two successful boys, that are tackling their goals, and turning heads while doing it is truly a special moment for a father. I can only imagine what my son will dream of becoming. He's only 2 right now, but so far it has been the same things since he was about 6 months old. He has a passion for Motorcycles (Dirt Bikes, Motocross Racing) And Cars, Not Just Cars though, he really has always had a shine for Formula One. My wife and I both agree, if this kid gets into motorsports. He is going to really turn some heads. All the doctors have said, that he is gifted in many ways. He has the vocabulary of a 4 year old, and the wisdom of a 40 year old, if you know what I mean.
You mention, that you hoped that I paid attention to my Father. To answer your question, I watched him way to closely. Growing up was interesting for me. I lost my mother to Cancer at a very young age. I was 9 years old, and to be honest I can't remember a time that when my mom was alive. I can't remember a time that she wasn't sick. She battled with it for 6 1/2 years, before it got the best of her. But in that time when we are going through that, I became my fathers little buddy. We did everything together. We usually built something. From a tree house that wasn't in a tree, but it still stood about 9 1/2 feet off the ground, to a loft that we added on to our vacation house in Lake Arrowhead. That's how we were dealing with the stress, of losing the most important woman in both our lives. The thing that made our relationship so great, or special, for me any way, was that he didn't talk to me like I was a little kid. He treated me like I was almost an equal. He gave me, what we call "pearls of wisdom" from the age of about 5 years old. Well that's about as far back as I can remember. Thing is, I would listen and apply what he was saying at that very young age. I don't know why I understood what he was talking about, but I did. It never changed, I knew when he spoke to me about something, it was important, and I took him seriously. He may say a little different story, but actually I really did apply what he was telling me. I was the baby of the all the kids. Instead of being the brat, I was the kid who learned from others mistakes. So I really didn't get into to much trouble growing up.
I have tried to show him with my actions, that he did a great job. He gave me all the tools necessary to go through life, and really live it to its fullest. I have shown him, by being the kid who moved out when I was 18, with no help, no conflict. Just said, well I think it is time for me to go. Both my parents said, they wanted me to stay home. I threw down a couple of tears, and went on my way. I showed him by living roommate free, on my own, with zero help. I showed him by being one of the youngest persons to ever get into the our Camera Local 600 at the age of 17. I did all these things not to prove anything to him, I did them, because I was ready and able to take on all those challenges in life, because of him. His tools given to me, are used everyday of my life. And for that, I am truly grateful. He means the world to me, I just hope my son will be able to have that same feeling for me, as he grows older.

 

a very enjoyable post to read. congratulations to both you & your father.

 

Thanks Andrew, I really appreciate all your kind words. Really! When you speak, it comes from a good place, and your honest. Those are the types of things that will take you far in life. Don't ever loose that part of yourself. It is amazing how quickly one can loose themselves, when there pressure is on them. I know that I am guilty of getting lost in a project, or business, or in my more youthful days...getting lost in the party. I think that, over thinking things is a killer in our everyday lives. I think it is at the root of all of our crazy pressures, we put on ourselves, and onto others. I believe if people would slow it down a bit, and just react to things with out having to go to the survey sheet of political correctness on everything. It's like when it comes time to make an important decision on something, instead of trusting ourselves, and our gut reactions. We will end up trusting the questions we bombard ourselves with. Its kind of like putting yourself aside, in order to allow your representative to come out and answer for you. Do you know what I mean? I guess in all of this, what I am really trying to say is, you don't come across as the Representative, you seem to be the person, who won't say anything, if you can't say anything nice... rare...but refreshing.

Have A Great Day Sir.

 

Congrat's to your father.

I wish that I could say something positive about my father, but unfortunately he was one of Miami's major cocaine distributors until, the FBI and ATF busted him and sent him packing back to England since he wasn't a citizen. He had it all Rolls, Merc, Jag, Audi and two houses. Now he is broke and is living pay check to pay check. He is one of the reason that I wanted to go into law-enforcement. I resented the fact that my father used drug money and preyed on people to live a life of luxury. All in all it made me a better person. I love my job, which by the way is K-9 and I have a Narcotic's detection dog also trained to protect daddy and bite the bad guy's. lol.

 

Great stories and thoughts to hear from one and all. The one thing I agree with most about, is what you said about how your dad raised you (saskins) was his talking to you like you were an adult even when you were a kid. Even when we were together with our friends, if one of our kids approached, they were certainly taught not to interrupt if someone else was speaking. But when an opening appeared they were certainly encouraged to get involved and speak up. This was so important. You see so many young people who approach you on a daily basis and can't look an adult in the eye when they speak to you but rather look down or away. By allowing them to feel like an equal and let them know that their opinion counts for something will reinforce their feeling of self worth and foster a sense I believe of leadership. Because they'll speak out among their peers or elders. Nice to read some important thoughts on this site other than crappy cup holders. Some people have to get a life! Enjoy the weekend guys. (buggy4cars/bugg4crossfires same person).

 

Very well put Buggy4Cossfire's, I couldn't agree more about what you said about young persons not feeling confident enough to approach a group of older folks, and engaging in conversation. Sorry, Buggy. To answer your question, about the way my dad would speak with me. Yes it was at a very young age, that he spoke with me in that fashion. I did in fact learn the term "Please excuse me for interrupting, but..." It is a very important thing to teach your children to converse with confidence. It will come in handy especially in business situations.

See y'all on the flip side. And Buggy, you have a nice weekend as well.

 

Congrats. Post the results if he wins which from what you say he sounds like a shoe-in.

 

We'll know September 11th, I will be sure to post it loud and clear for all to see. He is truly the best, and will be the one to set the bar, as far as what takes to be the best. It will be a long while before anyone will be able to come close to what he has done. Honestly, the man is the best there ever was, is, and will ever be for a long time to come. Until I get there at least. The thing about it is, he actually looks at it like an Art Form. He looks at the script and the plans for each up coming sets, and applies a mood to each of the scenes in the sets according to dialogue, and situations, all with his lighting. Most DP's out there to day, will look at the sets and light them the same way as they do with any others set. They light it at like 50 foot candles in the back and like 60 up front, if they have crosses, heck it could be up to 35 foot candles. All of what I just said, all means there is not a shadow anywhere in the room. What you really need to be shooting all depends on whether your shooting Digital or Film. If it were digital, since that is the latest trend, you would have to cut all those numbers by more then half. If it were film, you could cut them by half and be in a good middle ground, also depending on which film stock you are using ( indoor/outdoor...etc).
Its a safe way to keep your job, if you over light the crap out of it. Its only when you try to add depth and texture to your image, that you can get into trouble. Seriously watch any newer episode of Will and Grace, on Thursday nights. Just if you can remember, watch a couple of minutes of a show ending before. Just so you have a reference point from which to start from. You see a huge difference. You'll think the other shows look fine, and then you see Will & Grace, and you'll think to yourself, all shows should look this good.
Really I want you all to see what my father can do! I want to try to at least get some sort of a buzz out there with the people who are watching the shows. I want them to find the look of the show to be as important as the words being said. If you don't have those men and women with the gift of the artistic eye, you would never have an image that would reflect the mood of the story line. It would be like, why even have night scene, no one cares about what it looks like, so you might as well save the money on the lighting package, and put all the actors on a coach with a light the size of the sun on them. Because it will be just as funny or sad, under those conditions... Please take pride in the shows you watch, and really take notice of all the little differences in each one of them. Those little differences that you may catch. All of those are someone's signature on his or her work in play.
I want everybody to know how great my father is, and was in this business, and to be able to appreciate the mans work. It truly is the only one of its kind, and has been for a long time.

Thanks again for all your nice responses. It's nice to see others take notice to real life stuff and can appreciate it.

 

Well Tomorrow is the big day for the 57th Academy Of Television Arts & Science Emmy Awards.
My wife & son, as well as myself, are going to have breakfast with my dad tomorrow morning. He is a humble as can be. If you know my Father, you know he is trying to dodge any attention being placed on him. Its kind of funny. He spends a lot of time and effort to avoid the attention on him, and I spend a lot of time & effort into making sure that, the spot light hits him for as long as it needs to be there. I really wish that he wasn't so shy. I think if he had a more extraverted personality, more then just the select group of people in the world of Television Camera Department would have been fortunate enough to have known him. My Father is one of the most selfless persons I have ever met, or known. So when the group of his peers come together and all decide to give recognition to a person who surpasses the word of greatness. I think everyone should see what Integrity looks like, so I have attached a picture of my family and I at the 54th Annual Emmy Awards. Where we all got to share in my dads victory. I think I may have been the only one in the history of the Awards show. To Yell " Dad you FU**ING RULE" While giving his speech. His response was great...He said, " Well all my kids are here...Obviously!"
And though I can't be there tomorrow to share in his Victory for his last time. I want to express my support, excitement, & most of all my gratitude for being allowed to work side by side with my hero, My Dad Tony Askins ASC.

 

Well Its Official...HE WON...YEAH that's his Fourth & Final Win. I am so Proud of Him I think that it was the Picture Perfect ending for his 38 years of hard work. I love him, and hope he takes in all that this night has given him. He deserves an Emmy for every year that he worked, Because he was the best at what he did everyday he was there, and did it all with a smile on his face. Dad You Rock.

 

That's awesome! Congrats to your DAD!

Steve, have you heard when that pilot you did is going to air? I'm waiting to see it!

 

Thanks, It's nice to see that people look at more then just stuff they wish they had for there cars.
It was a great last night for him. He thought that he could ever win 4. He envisioned himself ever winning 4. However, I have a little bit of the 6th Sense, and have know he was going to win last year. I even told him. Any way it was a great night for he & the family. Actually I too got an Emmy Achievement. Actually now that I think about it, it was my fourth time to. I received an Emmy's Honor for the collaborative effort to the Award winning Achievement for Cinematography. I'll post a picture of what it looks like. Its nothing cool like the actual award that you would win. Its a simple piece of paper with the official Seal, and has the Pres. signature. I think it is bit*hen, but I am easy to please.

So thank you & my Dad thanks you.

 

MI,
I'm not real sure when it will air, but it stars Jenna Elfman, its called "Everything I know About Men."