Monday 17 January 2011

Work of the movie camera man

By Chris Snyder


A cameraman has a lot of work to do on set. Directing the Gaffer as to where to put the lights and creating that perfect lighting is just one task and being able to think up new angles and camera movements freely is the most fun part of the job. Getting to see your final work on the big screen can be a whole new magical experience, totally separate from those on set.

Seeing your audience reacting how you wanted them can also be somewhat over-powering. When the audience reciprocates how you intended after watching your work, a feeling of achievement comes alive inside. All the hard work dedicated to bringing a production alive is well worth it when it is mastered.

To be a cameraman means that you have to creatively design a picture in the frame-which is incredibly difficult if you think about all the aspects in the shot that have to become unified-lights, props, the whole ambiance of the shot, have to be captured appropriately. To be able to unify all these elements takes a well-trained eye and good, creative vision.

Movement is also very important because without camera movement, the shots become boring and it's more apparent that you're watching a movie. Jerky or unstable movements ruin your shot and kill the moment, hence why a cameraman must also be in shape-to be able to hold shots for long takes if it's hand-held or on a Steadicam system.

It's always a good idea to thoroughly check every piece of camera equipment you rent to make sure it works the way it's supposed to. Camera equipment tends to be on the heavy side-especially equipment rented from such large places like Panavision or Arri-so it's a good idea to stay in shape and lift weights so you can move all the heavy cases of camera equipment as fast and carefully as possible. Working in the crew on set requires that you are able to move quickly without hurting yourself or others on set.

Getting your "foot in the door" as a cameraman (or any crew member for that matter) is incredibly hard and requires a lot of time, persistence and ambition. Being able to operate and put together numerous cameras is an important skill to acquire in your camera career as well so you can be quick and efficient getting ready to shoot every day of the production. Lagging is bad in production work because there is never any time to waste. The quicker and more efficient you are at putting cameras together and operating them, the more jobs you'll attain.

Creativity and perseverance are key in this industry. The more creative, outspoken and efficient you are, the more people are going to want to work with you. Knowledge of the cameras you work with is also key, as you should know at least a little bit about all cameras currently in the industry.

Half of the game is just meeting other camera people and networking. The Head Prop Master for Warner Bros. once told me, "In this industry, it's good to be nice to everyone because you never know when you may need someone even like a plumber. What if one of the toilets on set break onE day? You'll know whom to call, and he might even give you a discount! Happened to me!"




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