Donald M. McAlpine ACS, ASC is an Australian cinematographer.

Early life and education

Donald McAlpine was born in Quandialla, New South Wales.

Career

McAlpine was a physical education teacher in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. He began using a 16mm camera to film athletes preparing for the Melbourne Olympic Games. In 1962 he resigned from his teaching job and joined ABC Television as a camera assistant, and was promoted to cameraman in 1965. In 1968 he left the ABC to take up a position at the Commonwealth Film Unit (later Film Australia). There, he started to learn that there was art in cinematography and filmmaking, and was soon promoted to chief cameraman. In Australia, from 1972 to 1981, McAlpine collaborated with Bruce Beresford. In 1974 he left Film Australia to work as a freelance DOP. McAlpine filmed many of Beresford's early films, including The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, Don's Party, The Getting of Wisdom, Money Movers, Breaker Morant and The Club. McAlpine also worked with director Gillian Armstrong on My Brilliant Career. Paul Mazursky offered McAlpine work on the film Tempest, released in 1982, and after that, his career took off.

Recognition and awards

McAlpine is a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society (ASC) and the American Society of Cinematographers. In 1997, the ASC inducted him into its hall of fame, and in 2009 honoured him with its International Achievement Award. In 2001, he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society and Australian film production. In the same year, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in Moulin Rouge!. In 2011, he was honoured with the AACTA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Longford Lyell Award. In 2016 McAlpine received an honorary doctorate in arts from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. In October 2024, he received the Adelaide Film Festival's Don Dunstan Award.

Filmography

Short film

Feature film

Television

TV movie TV series

Documentary works

Film Short film Television

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards BAFTA Awards Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Satellite Awards