Andrew McClymont
Literally following in the footsteps of Oscar-winning cinematographers such as Dean Semmler ACS ASC, and Don McAlpine ACS, Andrew began his career as a camera trainee with the highly respected Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney, Australia, in 1984. Following an intensive training program, Andrew joined the Field Camera section in 1986, as a camera assistant. With subsequent credits on countless long-form dramas and documentaries – including Police Rescue, Come In Spinner, A Big Country and Brides of Christ – Andrew commenced shooting for ABC-TV News in 1990, The 7.30 Report in 1992, and by 1994 was shooting the national flagship current affairs program Four Corners, at the age of 28.
Seeking a return to non-reality film-making, in 1997 Andrew joined Sydney’s freelance ranks via the acclaimed Nine Network series Water Rats, working as 1st A.C. on four series. Subsequently, he has photographed a wide variety of quality film and television productions, and is the recipient of a number of industry and ACS awards.
Andrew shot his first major 35mm television commercial in 1997, and has since shot countless television commercials and promotional spots for diverse clients, including the major television networks, Coke, Uncle Tobys, Levi Strauss, Nike, and Telstra amongst others. Although chiefly focused on TVCs and promos, Andrew’s services are also still in high demand for television productions, such as Top Gear Australia, and high-end corporate video projects,
Given his broadcast background, Andrew has embraced the use of High Definition and Digital Cinema camera equipment, utilizing every available option from the Canon 5D MkII DSLR, to the Arri Alexa and Sony F9000PL. He is often recommended to clients by leading equipment suppliers Gearhead and VA Hire, in the roles of both D. P. and technical assistant – and recently completed contract assignments at both companies as Technical Manager, dealing with the technical support for broadcast and digital cinema equipment of all kinds.
By complete contrast, Andrew McClymont was definitely not the main camera for The Chaser’s War on Everything APEC stunt, did not supply the two motorcyclists who also weren’t there, doesn’t know Julian Morrow or Chas Lucciardello, and even if you actually saw Andrew there, it wasn’t him.
Incidentally, Andrew has also enjoyed a long history as a sponsored XC/DH mountain-bike racer, is a commercial stills photographer, a surfer, a kayaker, an AWARD-trained copywriter and sub-editor, and an active Committee Member of the Australian Cinematographers Society. He enjoys hanging out of helicopters, rides a KTM RC8 1190 superbike quite quickly, and can snow-ski backwards while shooting with a Betacam.
Andrew McClymont lives and works by this philosophy: ‘Fast. Cheap. Good. Pick any two.’
