American Society of Cinematographers vice president Bill Bennett recently arrived in Munich to represent the the ASC at the exclusive Arri 100th Anniversary celebration dinner, which was held on the evening of Tuesday, September 12 — exactly 100 years to the day from the company's founding by August Arnold and Robert Richter.
The dinner was staged at the famed Deutsches Museum in Munich, the world's largest repository of science and technology artifacts, featuring about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of research and study.
Among Bennett's dining compatriots was Tom Stern, ASC, AFC.
The following is a selection of Bennett's photos taken during the centennial celebration. (For more on Arri's history, see our complete story here.)
Check-in and arrivals. From left are Stephan Ukas-Bradley of Arri Burbank, Walter Trauninger of Arri Munich with Bennett on the blue carpet. Trauninger was the designer of the Arri 765 and 435 cameras. Bennett is flanked by Dr. Jörg Polman (left) and Franz Kraus, the co-directors of Arri. Trauninger and Bennett pose with the Arri 765 65mm camera, which he designed. The pair pose with an Arri 435, where Bennett was an influence on the design process. He also tried to destroy the prototype when it got hit by a car in a stunt gone wrong. The camera survived, and the design went on to be very successful. An Arri 2C kit, as sold. One of the most unique items in this impressive exhibit was the circular Kinarri camera, the first model offered by Arri, in 1924. The table is set. Guests take their seats. Dr. Pohlman and Franz Kraus welcome everyone and begin the festivities. Bennett and Tom Stern, ASC, AFC.
The commemorative Arri Centennial book.
I made it in with a funny story of how I ran over the prototype 435 camera with a car. It wasn't funny at the time.
