ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Yep, of you're sure it's camera dept you are interested in, go as a trainee where you'll learn the job of a 2AC, then shuffle up a tier and be a 2AC learning to be a 1AC...

I suggest as a sideline reviewing GCSE physics - For all the folklore and fetishism camera dept generates, light will always behave like light, so understand the physics of lenses, apertures, making a pinhole camera etc will stand you in good stead. It'll help you cut through the folklore

8 years, 6 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Everything Paddy said. Two ways to become a Trainee (though doing both is better). The first is to become a runner (floor runner). Get to know camera crews, let them know you want to become a Trainee, help them out when you can, make them like you. Second, get a job at a rental firm like Panavision, Arri, etc. That way, you learn all the gear. Again, get to know all the crews etc.

Work on as many shorts as you can. You will meet camera crew there. Many pros work on them at the next rung of the ladder to get experience. Trainees working as 2nd ACs, 2nd ACs working as 1st ACs etc. Nobody is going to take the chance on hiring someone without experience and who they don't know as a trainee on a paid job; its too much of a risk. Unpaid shorts can be a great place to try out new people and, if you impress, they will take you with them on a paid job when one comes up.

Networking is important too. Just hard graft really.

I started running on shorts at the NFTS, then moved to being a spark and then a 2nd AC. I'm now an Operator and DOP and member of the ACO. Its not an easy road but we are all nice people

Good luck.

8 years, 6 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Forgot to mention. Contact the GBCT. Ask them about their trianee scheme.

8 years, 6 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Really great advice from Mark and Paddy. I used to operate on commercials in the late 70s and early 80s. I gave my labor away for a production company that did regional commercials. I learned everything I could about the cameras they used--Arri III and IV. When the loader moved on to better things (this company paid terribly, so it didn't take long), I told the bosses I could do his job, and I was hired as a clapper/loader.

On my recent short, a buddy of mine that's a huge Hollywood cameraman, was the cinematographer. I hired a great operator in his own right to be the gaffer. They became fast friends, and Mike has used him a lot in big productions since then. So do shorts, even if they don't pay. You don't know where they'll lead.

8 years, 6 months ago - Dan Selakovich

P.S.: never complain and do the best job possible. People that have been in the industry longer really notice that kind of stuff--especially the not complaining part.

8 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Especially the not complaining part! That's not too say don't speak up if there's a problem (particularly one that affects safety), just entry grades are tough hours, hard work, low money...and a part of the weeding out process.

Film courses are filled with people wanting to be directors and cinematographers, but they're just two roles on set and it takes all the roles to make it happen. Camera department is oversubscribed, so no sane producer is going to post more than the bare minimum to a trainee. Similarly you'll be asked to get a lot of coffees and do menial stuff. This is just life - it's a better use of the focus pullers time to do 1AC stuff than get the coffees...

So this is what Dan's saying - entry level roles don't get to moan about how tough their chosen career path is. Everyone more senior has either had to do all the same stuff as you on the way up, or is dealing with other hugely stressful stuff to keep the show on the road :)

8 years, 6 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Also, if you can't drive; learn. You'll send a lot of time driving kit around and if you can't drive, the trainee who can will get the job.

8 years, 6 months ago - Alève Mine

Or you could go for an AD job where you just grab the CA tasks whenever you get a chance. I did that, although CA is not my career goal. I just grapped every task I could around. If it is your career goal, you can then use that in your CV.

8 years, 6 months ago - Jamie Kennerley

Hiya Graham,

All of the above (although I'm not so sure about the AD'ing and moving over. Looks a bit weird to camera crew. Stick with the trainee route).

And yes, do lots of unpaid shorts. This is a great way to meet camera crew. I often can't get full-time pros on shorts so have to go through the assistants or trainees who email me from time to time to see who might be up for a freebie and getting their hands dirty.

And the decent film schools (NFTS, LFS, maybe the Met and Central, if they're still going) are always desperate for focus pullers on their shorts, even if you're just a competent loader then you'll do a 100% times better job than their in-house options.

Might be worth learning some very basic DIT'ing also, as often the trainee/loader/DIT roles are combined into one on shorts.

Good luck,

Jamie

8 years, 6 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Also, get a floor bag and start putting some kit together. You'll be expected to bring your own including clapperboards of various sizes. Also, don't just learn digital. Learn film cameras as well. There's a bit of resurgance at the moment and a lot of features, music videos and commercials are still shot on film. Learn to load the different magazines.

8 years, 6 months ago - Alève Mine

Jamie, the AC wasn't available that first day and they had no replacement. Turns out they did. Then we started working together with the AC even when he was there, for an additional pair of hands when needed.

8 years, 6 months ago - Jamie Kennerley

Haha that's cool Aleve. Just saying that it's not really a recognised 'route' :-)

8 years, 6 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

When I started making films it was on Super 8mm and pretty quickly progressed to 16mm (not 16:9 mind you). So I also quickly learned how to clapper/load and it was easy then to move to other peoples films as an AC because I could do it. Mainly Arri SR1 and 2 and Aaton XTR etc... Eventually moving to 35mm. But I also studied all the books on film and stocks and lenses and focus and depth of field. You can never know too much.

8 years, 6 months ago - Alève Mine

Anything goes, Jamie :)

8 years, 6 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Interestingly, we were saying at the ACO Christmas Drinks this year that we all had different stories about how we got into the Film Industry. So, there is no one set route. There's a lot of variation.

8 years, 6 months ago - Audelia Rowe

Graham what is your level atm? Because I am looking for an emerging Cinematographer who can be able to film a short , Do you know how to film at least, and do you have your own material?
cheers,
Audelia

8 years, 6 months ago - Graham Hughes

Thank you all for your advice! It's exciting just thinking about the journey involved in this career. Lots of interesting stories there I'll definitely take up on what you've all said.
Audelia I'll send a message your way :)

Thanks Again!
Graham