Remembering 'Turtz' (Ian Seymour Turtill)

Ian Turtill left a legacy to filmmaking.

He showed us all that the ‘camera assistant’ was a professional role in itself, and one he was happy to have made a life-long career of without aspirations to other roles in the camera department. Quite happy to master his trade to perfection and to become best of the best.

Just by working alongside him, Turtz passed on his professionalism to others as they came into the camera department and rose through the ranks from loaders to assistants and focus pullers. He was a tough task master and his influence was observable in others.

Turtz started in the NZ film industry at the starting point when freelance crew and rental equipment both became available to independent filmmakers. He had picked exactly the right time to go freelance from his video studio background and impressively managed to market himself as a professional camera assistant with style: ‘Turtz’ cards and can labels, coloured camera tape, a camera van. He was very in demand and an excellent focus puller to boot.

The equipment in those early years was largely second hand and basic but Turtz made the effort to learn and master the gear and the techniques of using it in his own time. Ironically late in his life he owned the best of the best lenses and gear available and was part of the Queenstown Camera Company. Never entirely comfortable with ‘digital cameras’ but beautiful ‘glass’ was another story.

His high standards of care for camera gear were unconditional and on his own terms. His experience and knowledge were widely respected by local and international film crew and he was highly regarded by DOPs, often requested by them for his skills and entertainment value.

Famous for his cheek, pranks and gobbing off at directors and agency people. Stories about him sometimes became legend, but he never let that get in the way of professionalism. He was never short of advice for anyone else on the crew either.

Turtz worked on TVCs mainly but also has credits on a number of feature films as both AC and camera operator. Like us all, many projects are forgettable but he would have taken his unique approach to the work and enjoyed the experience apart from the fact he hated sand, water, sun, rain, snow, dust and night shoots.

Some years back, I was DOP/operating and Turtz was running focus marks. A certain impatient director was pushing us hard to roll the camera immediately. I asked the director if he wanted the shot in focus, to which he replied “we will fix that in post-production.” Turtz turned and responded… “you won’t be fucking doing that if my name is on the call sheet!”

As always… we rolled when Turtz was ready!

In private life, he was a great mate and a gentleman. He considered the film industry his hobby but was quite happy to discuss anything and everything, and to enjoy some of the finer things of life.

Turtz will be missed by me, his other close mates, and the film industry.

Craig Howard (Shooter)