Renowned filmmaker Dean Semler inspires Renmark's next generation to chase their dreams Lachlan Strelan 10, and Brooklyn Disalvio 10, were among the St Joseph's School pupils who wrote to Dean Semler. IN 1960, Dean Semler left Renmark dreaming of what his life might be. Next week, the Hollywood cinematographer will bring his Oscar to show the town's schoolchildren who wrote to him earlier this year. Semler, 70, is a local hero in the River Murray town after making an international name for himself in films such as Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Dances with Wolves. After an article appeared in The Murray Pioneer about a lifetime achievement award presented to Semler this year by his friend Angelina Jolie, a teacher at St Joseph's School, Greg Reeks, encouraged his Year 3-4 class to write to him. The students immediately wanted to write and congratulate him and invite him to come to their school and talk to them, Mr Reeks said. The letters were sent in July to the SA Branch of Australian Cinematographers, who forwarded them to Los Angeles via Sydney. From there, they were sent to Semler on a film set in Winnipeg, Canada. Semler, who was working 14-hour days in arduous conditions, was curious when a FedEx parcel arrived addressed to for him. Inside were the letters. "It was so moving, and so special," Semler told The Advertiser. Everyone described what they were like, what they liked doing, what their dogs' and cats' names were and what their parents did, what AFL team they supported. Every single one of them spelt cinematographer correctly. He wrote each child an indivual letter and when they wrote back, he decided to come. On a break with three films in post-production, he arrives in Renmark next Friday with his camera and the Oscar statuette presented to him in 1990 for the Kevin Costner film, Dances with Wolves. He will make a short film at St Joseph's with the children then and the following day will host a behind-the-scenes presentation of clips from 20 of his films at the Chaffey Theatre at Renmark. On Saturday night he will host a screening of the Steve Carell-Anne Hathaway film Get Smart followed by a Q&A. "It's the only reason I'm coming to Australia - to see these kids," Semler said. It's turned out to be bigger than Ben Hur in my little home town. Mr Reeks said the students wrote without knowing the letters would get through, or that Semler would reply. "Being the person he is, he came through with the goods," Mr Reeks said.