Past President

Feb 97- Mar 99

Stan McClain Cinematogrpahy
Principal, 2nd Unit and Aerial Cinematography

Stan McClain’s introduction to photography started at an early age. The son of an Advertising Agency President, Stan was weaned on product photography and available light photography.

His aerial cinematography began with Jonathan Livingston Seagull in 1972 where he worked on the aerial unit as 2nd assistant for the late aerial DP Jim Freeman.

While at Continental Camera Systems from 1975-1981, McClain worked with the Astrovision System first as an assistant, and began shooting with it and Bob Nettman's newer Lear mounted system, Vectorvision, when he moved up to camera operator in 1982.

In 1985, McClain founded Pasadena Camera Rental, and was President and CEO. Pasadena Camera introduced the first Wescam to the United States in 1987. McClain sold the company in 1995.

In 2000 Stan opened a new company (sans partners) Filmtools in Burbank. The company sells expendable supplies and camera support equipment. "This is my retirement plan"

He has worked on over fifty-five feature films as an aerial cameraman including Rambo, Flatliners, At Play In The Fields of the Lord, Firebirds, Basic Instinct, Wind, Passenger 57, Drop Zone, Nell, Seven, Nixon, Bird Cage, The Client, The Chamber, Contact, Man on the Moon, and On Any Given Sunday. As a lighting cameraman he's shot seven short films for Playboy, feature film second units, and over 250 TV commercials, and has won several awards for his commercial work including the coveted Best Cinematography Award at the London International Advertising Awards.

As a Director, McClain has shot numerous Airline Commercials, and a large format 2nd unit theme ride for Epcot Center. Routinely McClain is sent out on aerial projects with just his pilot and no director. On jobs like this (75% of all his aerial jobs) his credit is as Director of Photography.

Stan is a member of the International Photographer's Guild local 600, DGA, SAG, Large Format Cinema Association, was the President of The Society of Operating Cameramen and editor of Operating Cameraman Magazinefrom February 1997-March 1999. Stan and his wife Kim, have been married for 15 years and live in Pasadena, CA.