PIERRE GILL - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Montreal-based cinematographer PIERRE GILL first picked up a camera at age 15, when he accompanied a friend to a still photography class. He later completed a film program at Concordia University, where he shot more than 30 short films during a two-year period.

At 24, after graduation, he and two friends started Kino Films, where they made hundreds of music videos and commercials, including those for Molson, Budweiser, Coca-Cola and GM. Their fresh, creative style earned them a reputation in Montreal for doing things that others would not try. Eventually,

they amicably decided to pursue their own goals as freelancers. In 1995 Gill was introduced to Quebec-based director Charles Biname and invited to shoot a movie with a handheld camera, minimum crew, no lights and improvised dialogue. The resulting film, "Eldorado," is an experimental, urban drama in the tradition of Jean-Luc Godard, that took the 1995 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Art and Essay Film and was nominated for eight Canadian Genie Awards. It was also a major hit in Canadian theaters for close to five months.

Since then, Gill has shot eight features, including "Souvenirs Intimes," for which the received a Prix Jutra 2000, a C.S.A. Award 2000 and a Genie Award 2000 nomination for Best Cinematography, and "Liste Noire," which brought him a Genie Award nomination. He just finished shooting "Lost and Delirious," for the renowned director Lea Pool. Gill also shot several movies-of-the-week, such as "In the Presence of Mine Enemies" for Showtime, and "Xchange" for HBO, in which he was also credited as Action Director. More recently, he shot the CBS miniseries "Joan of Arc" for director Christian Duguay, which brought him an ASC nomination and the CSC Award for Best Cinematography.

Gill's additional television credits include the 11-hour series "Marguerite Volant," set in Quebec in 1763, for which he was presented with a Gemeaux Award for Best Cinematography. He also worked on the first HDTV series shot in Canada, "The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne," as director of photography and second unit director.

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