Martin Kenzie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Kenzie
Born	(1956-04-29)29 April 1956 Cambridge, England
Died	16 July 2012(2012-07-16) (aged 56) Shepreth, England
Occupation	Second unit director Cinematographer

Martin Kenzie (born April 29, 1956 – died July 16, 2012) was a talented British filmmaker. He worked as a second unit director and cinematographer, which means he helped make movies and TV shows look amazing. He worked on many famous films like The Shining (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Aliens (1986), and The King's Speech (2010). He also helped create popular TV series such as Rome (2005) and Game of Thrones (2012). Martin was a respected member of the British Society of Cinematographers. He passed away in 2012 at 56 years old. The first episode of Game of Thrones season three was dedicated to him.

Who Was Martin Kenzie?

Martin Kenzie was born in Cambridge, England, on April 29, 1956. He started his journey in the film world as a "production runner" for a company that made TV commercials. This job is like an assistant who helps with many different tasks on set. Later, he worked with cameras at "Samuelson Film Services," getting them ready for movies.

Starting His Film Career

Martin's first big movie job was on Stanley Kubrick's famous film The Shining (1980). He was an assistant cameraman, learning from the main cinematographer, John Alcott. For several years, until 1984, Martin continued to work as a "second assistant camera" on exciting movies. These included Return of the Jedi (1983), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and A Passage to India (1984).

Moving Up in the Film World

As he gained more experience, Martin became a "first assistant camera." This role involves making sure the camera's focus is perfect during filming. He worked on many successful movies in this role, such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Willow (1988), and Alien 3 (1992).

Martin also made important contributions as a Second unit director. A second unit director films scenes that don't involve the main actors, like action sequences, landscapes, or close-ups. This helps the main director focus on the main story.

His first time being the main cinematographer for a feature film was in 2007 for the comedy Back in Business. This meant he was in charge of how the movie looked, including lighting and camera angles.

Working on TV Shows

Besides movies, Martin also worked on many television series. He was a cinematographer for shows like Keen Eddie (2003–2004), Rome (2005), and Playhouse Presents (2012).

One of his most well-known TV projects was Game of Thrones in 2012. He was the cinematographer for four episodes in the second season and helped with additional filming for two others. People praised his work on the show for his clever use of colors to match the different places and times in the story.

Recognized for His Talent

In 1998, Martin joined the British Society of Cinematographers as a Camera Operator. This is a group of highly skilled professionals in the film industry. Because of his amazing work as a Director of Photography (another name for a cinematographer), he became a "Full Member" of the Society in 2012. This was a big honor, showing how respected he was in his field.

Martin's Legacy

Martin Kenzie sadly passed away on July 16, 2012, at the age of 56. He had been battling cancer and was supported by Macmillan Cancer Support. The British Society of Cinematographers held a special service to remember his life and work.

The TV series Game of Thrones dedicated its third season premiere episode, "Valar Dohaeris", to Martin's memory. After his passing, a fundraising campaign was started to support Cancer Research UK. This helped fund better treatments for other patients, continuing Martin's positive impact.

Awards and Recognition

Martin Kenzie's talent was recognized with several awards and nominations during his career.

British Society of Cinematographers Awards

• In 1997, he received the GBCT Operators Award for his work on the film Hamlet.
• In 2001, he won another GBCT Operators Award for the TV mini-series Band of Brothers. He shared this award with Martin Hume.

Constellation Awards Nomination

• In 2012, he was nominated for "Best Technical Accomplishment in a 2012 Science Fiction Film or Television Production" for his work on Game of Thrones.

Amazing Films and TV Shows He Worked On

Here are some of the many films and TV shows Martin Kenzie helped create, showing his journey from assistant to cinematographer and second unit director.

Feature Films

Television Films and Series