Technical Specialists

Jamie Alac – Technical Manager / Los Angeles

Jamie Alac is the Technical Manager, and the lead Digital Cinema Specialist and Phantom Technician at AbelCine LA.

Originally from Perth, Australia, Jamie has worked as a camera operator on projects such as the West Australia Rally Car Championships, Drivetime TV and The Garden Gurus. He has also worked as an underwater camera operator, shooting the Tom Hoad Water Polo Cup, as well as a documentary about Australia’s spectacular Ningaloo reef, Ningaloo Dreaming.

In his free time, Jamie enjoys filming sports such as snowboarding and surfing, and is a practicing still photographer.

Jorge Díaz-Amador – Lens Technician / Optics Specialist / Burbank

Jorge Díaz-Amador joined AbelCine as the LA based Lens Technician and Optics Specialist in January 2010. He is known in the industry for his technical expertise, and as a longtime proponent of the use of high quality optics to improve image quality in cinematography. A native of Miami, FL Jorge holds a B.S. in Communications (Motion Pictures Major) from the University of Miami.

His lens service training includes the Cooke Optics S4 service training program in Leicester England and the Carl Zeiss Authorized Service Partner training program in Oberkochen, Germany. Jorge is certified by Carl Zeiss for the service of all currently manufactured Zeiss cine lenses.

Prior to transitioning to technical service, Jorge worked as a first camera assistant and cinematographer. His Director of Photography feature credits include the indie features Southern Justice (2004), Never Look Back (1998) and the short Dixon’s Girl (2009)

Mitch Gross – Applications Specialist

Mitch Gross has been the Applications Specialist at AbelCine since May 2006 and is a respected voice on industry blogs and discussion boards.

A Director of Photography by trade, Mitch has been working in the New York film industry for more than fifteen years. He recently completed principal photography of his twenty-first feature film, Get Faamous.

His credits also include dozens of short subjects, documentaries, commercials and music videos, as well as two television series. His work has been screened and has won awards at festivals including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Edinburgh and New York.

Andy Shipsides – Training Department Manager / Camera Technology Specialist

Andy Shipsides joined AbelCine in 2007. Andy is AbelCine New York’s Camera Technology Specialist and Training Department Manger. He also serves as the technical editor of AbelCine’s blog, CineTechnica.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Andy received his Bachelors of Science in Digital Arts & Sciences from the University of Florida. He received his MFA in Film & Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

His thesis film Bottleneck received a screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007. Andy was also a finalist for the 2007 Student Academy Awards. Recently, he directed a music video for Lin McEwan’s song Now I Know, which won OnStage.com’s award for Best Pop Music Video.

Ian McCausland –  Lead Trainer, Camera Technology Specialist / Burbank

As one of the original staff members of AbelCine, Ian McCausland was integral to the formation of the company’s rental department back in 1990. Ian reprised this role in 1997 when he moved out West to launch the rental department of AbelCine’s Burbank operation. He currently serves as AbelCine LA’s Camera Technology Specialist and Master Trainer.

Ian holds a BA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. His credits include the 1999 Black Sabbath concert video The Last Supper and the 2008 Smashing Pumpkins documentary If All Goes Wrong.

Most recently, Ian shot and edited a short-form documentary about vintage travel trailers called Aluminum Skins, which was screened at the 2009 Phoenix Film Festival.

Jeff Lee – Camera Technology Specialist, Trainer / New York

Jeff Lee joined Abel NY’s sales team in 2009. Hailing from New Jersey, he attended Rutgers’ prestigious Mason Gross School of Arts where he concentrated in both photography and filmmaking. Jeff has recently transitioned to the Training Department as a Camera Technology Specialist.

Additionally, Jeff is an accomplished still photographer who has been a featured Gawker Artist. In his free time he enjoys working on cars, playing with puppies, and expanding his food horizons.

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