4 months ago
Dean Williams, a prolific still and group photographer for complete 160 productions including Legally Blonde 2, Batman Returns and Poltergeist III, has died, nan Central Illinois Film Commission, which he helped motorboat successful 2005, announced connected Facebook.
“It is pinch heavy sadness that we denote nan passing of Dean Williams of Springfield, Illinois — a visionary, advocate, and cornerstone of nan Central Illinois movie and imaginative community,” nan statement wrote successful a statement. “Dean was a driving unit down nan maturation of filmmaking successful our region. As nan laminitis and Executive Director of nan Central Illinois Film Commission (CIFC), he worked tirelessly to beforehand Central Illinois arsenic a viable and welcoming location for movie and media production. Through his leadership, Dean helped link section talent pinch meaningful projects, brought productions to nan area, and created opportunities for creatives to thrive adjacent to home.”
Of nan committee and his dedication to bringing filming to his hometown, he erstwhile said successful a 2012 interview, “You’ve sewage to attack [people] and opportunity ‘This is what we person to offer.’ If you don’t ringing your ain doorbell, cipher other will.”
Williams’ galore credits arsenic an eventual personnel of nan International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) besides included The Blues Brothers, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Caddyshack, Barbarosa, Starman, Uncle Buck, Next of Kin, Tango & Cash and Rocky V. In summation to serving Hollywood, Williams was nan proprietor of namesake Dean Williams Photography, which specialized successful master portraits, weddings and events. He besides preserved media via nan Springfield Historic Media Center, a CIFC inaugural dedicated to digitizing and safeguarding location movie knowledge for posterity.
“Dean was much than a imaginative master — he was a connector, mentor, and advocator who believed profoundly successful nan imaginable of Central Illinois. His bequest lives connected done nan projects he built, nan group he supported, and nan imaginative organization he helped strengthen. He will beryllium greatly missed, and his contributions to Springfield and nan surrounding region will not beryllium forgotten,” CIFC concluded.
Per nan CIFC, visitation will beryllium held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 astatine Staab Funeral Home successful Springfield, Ill. An further visitation will beryllium held Friday, Jan. 9 from 9:00 a.m. until nan ceremonial work astatine 11:00 a.m. Burial will travel astatine Camp Butler, wherever each are welcome.
