Guochen Wang
Camera assistants perform many essential roles in film or TV productions. This paper will examine the requirements of camera assistants and explore their duties and responsibilities.
The definition of camera assistant, according to Camera Assistant: Job Description, Duties and Salary is as follows: “A camera assistant prepares and positions cameras that are used to shoot visual images for motion pictures and television shows. By keeping the equipment in good condition and ready for immediate use, the camera assistant, who works closely with the camera operator, plays an important role in ensuring that the production phase of a video project runs smoothly.”[1] This means that a camera assistant in a production team has to be responsible for camera equipment and has to work smoothly with camera operators. This same source states that “Camera assistants are the backbone of the camera department on set. These technicians aid camera operators in setting up gear, keep the sensitive equipment in tip-top shape, and trudge over hill and over dale to lug the DP’s Panavision on location.”[2]