Camera Department Overview
Good cinematography involves the creation of beautiful and/or arresting images on screen; it can also tell us more about a character or a location than any amount of dialogue or music. Shot composition, camera movement and the way a Director of Photography (DoP) chooses to manipulate light and shade, all combine to create each film's unique photographic signature. A great deal of thought, preparation and hard work is involved in moving and operating cameras in ways that enhance, and do not detract from, what is happening on screen. The Camera crew work closely together to create these seemingly invisible camera moves.
Camera crews work with extremely delicate, expensive equipment and are amongst the most highly skilled practitioners on any film crew. As Heads of Department, Directors of Photography must be both highly creative and technically outstanding. They work closely with the Production Designer to help realise the Director's vision for the film. Camera Operators make sure that the camera is moved and positioned according to the DoP's wishes, and are responsible for the rest of the Camera crew: the 1st Assistant Camera who accurately judges and pulls focus on every shot; the 2nd Assistant Camera who loads the film and provides general camera support; and any Camera Trainees.
The Camera crew works closely with: the Lighting department, who set up a variety of lighting equipment; the Grips, who push, pull, mount or hang the camera; and other specialists such as Crane Operators. On larger films, a number of additional cameras may be required, each with their own Camera crew; these are referred to as Second or Third Units. Arial and Marine cinematography techniques are often required for action sequences; these areas require special expertise as well as additional Health and Safety training.
Roles within the Camera Crew are clearly delineated, involving clear progression paths over many years to eventually become Directors of Photography. Camera crew members must have good colour vision, a combination of creative and technical skills, agility, speed, precise attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate and to work as part of a team.
Camera crews work with extremely delicate, expensive equipment and are amongst the most highly skilled practitioners on any film crew. As Heads of Department, Directors of Photography must be both highly creative and technically outstanding. They work closely with the Production Designer to help realise the Director's vision for the film. Camera Operators make sure that the camera is moved and positioned according to the DoP's wishes, and are responsible for the rest of the Camera crew: the 1st Assistant Camera who accurately judges and pulls focus on every shot; the 2nd Assistant Camera who loads the film and provides general camera support; and any Camera Trainees.
The Camera crew works closely with: the Lighting department, who set up a variety of lighting equipment; the Grips, who push, pull, mount or hang the camera; and other specialists such as Crane Operators. On larger films, a number of additional cameras may be required, each with their own Camera crew; these are referred to as Second or Third Units. Arial and Marine cinematography techniques are often required for action sequences; these areas require special expertise as well as additional Health and Safety training.
Roles within the Camera Crew are clearly delineated, involving clear progression paths over many years to eventually become Directors of Photography. Camera crew members must have good colour vision, a combination of creative and technical skills, agility, speed, precise attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate and to work as part of a team.
