Camera

Shooting The White Countess, courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

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. Camera crews work with extremely delicate, expensive equipment and are amongst the most highly skilled practitioners on any film crew. They work closely together to create seemingly invisible camera moves.

Further details and occupations found in this area are detailed below:

Camera Department Overview

Camera crews work with extremely delicate, expensive equipment and are amongst the most highly skilled practitioners on any film crew.

Script Supervisor

Script Supervisors (aka Continuity) work as part of the Camera Department on Feature Films and Television Dramas. They ensure that, despite the fact that films are shot entirely out of script sequence, they eventually make continuous verbal and visual sense.

1st Assistant Camera

1st AC is responsible for focusing and refocusing the camera lens as the actors move within the frame of each shot and the focal length changes.

Camera Trainee

The Camera Trainee assists the 2nd AC in a trainee capacity. The degree of responsibility given to the Camera Trainee ranges from making tea and coffee, to more skilful tasks such as handling lenses, filling out the camera reports, and eventually (towards the final stages of their training), to loading and down-loading the film magazines.

Aerial Director of Photography

Aerial flying shots which establish the grand scale of cinema, and sequences where the audience is treated to a shot from above that takes in all the action from a dramatic and exciting perspective,are the responsibility of the Aerial Director of Photography.

Aerial Camera Assistant

The Aerial Camera Assistant combines the roles of 1st, 2nd Assistant Camera (AC) and Grip on a standard crew. He or she also operates the video playback equipment and is responsible for rigging the gyro-stabilised camera system (which helps to keep the camera from shaking during flight), onto the side of the aircraft.

Grip

The responsibility of the Grip is to build, maintain and operate all the equipment that supports the camera, such as tripods, dollies, tracks, jibs, cranes, and static rigs.

Video Assist Operator

Video playback provides a point of reference for, and a method of monitoring, everything that is shot by the Camera Crew and recorded by the Production Sound Mixer.

Director of Photography

The job of the Director of Photography or Cinematographer is to give a film its unique visual identity or look.

Their work is key to the narrative flow of feature films

The Camera Operator sets-up, positions and operates the camera.

2nd Assistant Camera

The 2nd Assistant Camera assists the Camera Operator in positioning and moving the camera, takes responsibility for loading and unloading film magazines, changing and charging camera batteries, changing lenses, operating the clapper board, filling out and filing all camera sheets, liaising with the film labs, and ordering the correct amount and type of film stock.

Steadicam Operator

Being a Steadicam operator involves physical and creative challenges.

Aerial Camera Pilot

The Camera Pilot flies the aircraft that carries the aerial camera crew who shoot the aerial sequences that will form part of the finished feature film and is also responsible for flying any aircraft, helicopters, planes, hot air balloons, that appear as action props in the film.

Marine and Diving Camera Crew

The job of the Marine and Diving Crew is to shoot underwater sequences and maintain strict health and safety guidelines.

Crane Operator

The Crane Operator is responsible for the setting up and operation of all cranes, anything from a small jib arm, used to make small camera movements up and down, to a massive 90 foot long crane used to shoot huge crowd or action sequences. The equipment is heavy and potentially dangerous and the job involves enormous health and safety responsibilities.

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