Editing Conrad Hall (section)

== Early life and education ==

Conrad L Hall was born on June 21, 1926, in [[Papeete]], [[Tahiti]], [[French Polynesia]]. His father was [[James Norman Hall]], an ace pilot and captain in the [[Lafayette Escadrille]] that fought for France in [[World War I]]. James also co-wrote the 1932 novel ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (novel)|Mutiny on the Bounty.]]'' His mother was Sarah ("Lala") Winchester Hall, who was half Polynesian.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hunter |first=Allen |year=2003 |title=Obituary Conrad L Hall |journal=Scotsman Publication |id={{ProQuest|327066352}} }}</ref> Growing up during the relative infancy of cinema, Hall never was around cameras, and the idea of going to the movies was a foreign concept. In his early-mid teens, Hall attended Cate School, a boarding preparatory school near Santa Barbara, California.

After graduating, Hall was told by his father to find his path in life. Hall attended the [[University of Southern California]], intending to study journalism, but ended up doing poorly and instead went to USC's School of Cinema-Television (now the [[USC School of Cinematic Arts]]). He wasn't sure this was the right decision, but that since this was a new art form it would be interesting to start from the bottom. Hall attended the School of Cinema at a time when [[Slavko Vorkapić]] was the head of the program; Hall later recalled that “He taught me that film-making was a new visual language. He taught the principles, and left the rest up to us”.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=A Lifetime of Achievement: Conrad Hall |last=Fisher |first=Bob |publisher=American Cinematographer |year=1994 }}</ref> After creating his first shots in school he fell in love with the art and wanted to continue telling his stories through imagery. A few people that visited the school during his education included [[John Huston]] and [[Orson Welles]]. After graduation in 1949, Hall expected to get a job right out of college. At the time, however, Hollywood only allowed the camera crew to be filled with people that were on the International Photographers Guild roster.<ref name=":0" />