The Cinematography Mailing List, CML, was started by Geoff Boyle in 1996 so that 60 Cinematographers could talk about work.

We now have 19 lists, with a total of over 17,000 members 45% who come from the US, 14% from the UK and the balance from 198 countries worldwide, 6 of the lists have more than 5,000 members and 11 ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 members.

Nearly 47 million messages were sent out in the last year with a successful delivery rate of over 99%.

The aim of CML is to promote the free exchange of ideas among fellow professionals. Participants in these discussion are Cinematographers and their crew as well as representatives of all the main manufacturing and rental film & video/digital companies.

The discussion lists are still primarily email based as this is the most convenient system for working cinematographers and 80% of our messages use this, the web interface is responsible for the other 20% along with most of the irrelevant messages!

"There's something about Cinematographers, and the passion we bring to our work, that gives us a sense of being blood brothers. We have a love and admiration for each other, and a desire to help each other out" Conrad Hall ASC

We work extremely hard to make this list an international one and not one that focuses on local issues.

CML depends on Sponsorship - Subscriptions and Donations to survive

We have regular face to face meetings/parties at NAB, CineGear & IBC.

This web site of edited pages, which are all available to non-members, was added in 1997, we now have over 3,000 pages of edited discussions between cinematographers, their crews and equipment and facility suppliers.

Search all edited pages

CML has won awards from SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) BKSTS (British Cinematography, Sound & Television Society) BSC (British Society of Cinematographers) for outstanding contribution to education in Cinematography.

Please read the guidance on posting before you post anything

Whilst non-cinematography visitors are welcome please note that this site is primarily for working professional cinematographers and focus's on their needs.

Beginners and non-cinematographers are welcome to read any list but we'd be grateful if they kept their questions to the basic & students cinematography discussion list.

This site and the associated cinematography discussion lists are run and maintained by professional Cinematographers in their spare time.

Jessica Gallant is our long serving West Coast US admin

David Walpole covers Australia has edited a large percentage of these pages and has full sysadmin status

George Hupka is based in Canada and Emmanuelle Suys is German based.

Without their help CML could not survive as it is.

In the past Shangara Singh, Mark Weiss, Steven Gladstone & Phillip Savoie have helped run the lists.

We also have a "Grand Jury" of well known and respected DP's who are our independent adjudication and direction panel :-)