Guochen Wang<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The definition of camera assistant, according to Camera Assistant: Job Description, Duties and Salary<\/em> 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.\u201d[1]<\/em><\/a> 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\u2019s Panavision on\u00a0location.”[2]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A professional camera assistant must be capable and flexible. Douglas Hart, in his book The Camera Assistant: A Complete Professional Handbook<\/em>, says that the job of a camera assistant “involves technical expertise (an understanding of photography, mechanics, optics, electricity, and electronics), certain physical attributes (manual dexterity, quick reflexes, excellent peripheral vision, good judgment of time and speed and distance, physical strength and considerable endurance\uff09\uff0cand considerable mental and attitude control (organizational ability, consistency, good memory, patience, extraordinary concentration under conditions of stress and distraction, common sense, flexibility, adaptability, a briskness of attitude and demeanor, boundless energy, and a good sense of humor).”[3]<\/a><\/p>\n The responsibilities of a camera assistant are various. The most important of these, according to Hart, is “the care and maintenance of camera equipment.”[4]<\/a> In Camera Assistant Duties<\/em>, Jason Prader clearly states: “Camera assistants maintain studio equipment, such as camera lenses and lens filters. They also construct camera rigs and attach accessories for certain shots.”[5]<\/a> Hart provides a useful, detailed list of what a camera assistant should be responsible for. The ones relevant to me are:<\/p>\n ” Make Sure Equipment Inventory Complete<\/p>\n Make Sure all Equipment in Working Order<\/p>\n Determine Expendable Supplies to be Purchased<\/p>\n Order and Obtain Expendable Supplies<\/p>\n Assemble, Warm Up, Balance, and Prepare Camera for Shooting<\/p>\n Clean and Lubricate Camera Movement as Required<\/p>\n Check Flange Focal Depth as Necessary<\/p>\n Check Shutter and Movement Phasing as Necessary<\/p>\n Keep Camera Clean and Properly Lubricated<\/p>\n Keep Camera as Quiet as Possible<\/p>\n Check Parallax and Rack-over Status<\/p>\n Check for Camera and\/or Magazine Scratches<\/p>\n Ensure Camera is Running at Correct Speed<\/p>\n Ensure Security of Mounted Camera<\/p>\n Never Leave Camera Unattended<\/p>\n Find Out from D.P. which film Stock(s) are to be Used for Each Set of Location<\/p>\n Determine Proper Focus Setting as Required<\/p>\n Determine Split Focus Settings as Required<\/p>\n Determine Depth-of-Field as Necessary<\/p>\n Set Focus on Lens<\/p>\n Set Aperture on Lens<\/p>\n Prevent and\/or Eliminate Lens Flares<\/p>\n Execute Variable Shutter Changes as Required<\/p>\n Execute Focus Changes( Follow Focus) During Shot as Required<\/p>\n Execute Focal Length Changes(Zooming)During Shot as Required<\/p>\n Execute Aperture Changes ( Aperture Pull ) During Shot as Required<\/p>\n Execute Use of Color Correction Filters, Special Effects Filters, Graduated Filters, Mattes, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and Diffusion Filters, as Required<\/p>\n Clean Filters as Required<\/p>\n Change Lenses<\/p>\n Clean Lenses as Required<\/p>\n Ensure that Lenses are Properly Supported on Camera<\/p>\n Check Gate for Hairs, Film Chips and Debris<\/p>\n Keep Accurate Record of Lenses Used, Filters Used, Exposure, Shutter Settings, Focus, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aperture, and other Variables, if Required<\/p>\n Change Camera Batteries as Required<\/p>\n Ensure that Batteries are Properly Charged<\/p>\n Notify Assistant Director of Footage Remaining in Magazine and When Reloading is Necessary<\/p>\n Find Additional Camera Crew Personnel as Required and Refer to Production Manager for Hiring<\/p>\n Ensure that Entire Camera Crew is Notified of Next Day’s Call Time and Location ( don’t trust the Production Staff to do this!)[6]<\/a>”<\/p>\n As the web journal, Camera Assistant<\/em>, emphasizes,” The first assistant cameraperson, also known as the focus puller, is primarily responsible for ensuring a sharp picture. He or she works closely with the camera operator (under the direction of the director of photography) to measure the distance between the lens and the subject, and to maintain proper focal distance during camera movements. Tracking shots and crane movements will require AC to collaborate with both camera operator and the dolly grip or crane operator to ensure consistent focus.”[7]<\/a><\/p>\n Being a Camera Assistant can be a hard job. It involves more responsibilities than most people think. A good camera assistant must be capable and flexible. As the journal article, “30 Tips for being an Outstanding Camera Assistant<\/em>,” <\/em>sums it up: ” Camera Assistants are usually the first people to start work and the last people to finish.”[8]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n REFERENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.<\/p>\n “Camera Assistant: Job Description, Duties and Salary.” Education-portal. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http:\/\/education-portal.com\/articles\/Camera_Assistant_Job_Description_Duties_and_Salary.html>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2.7<\/p>\n “Camera Assistant.” Get in Media. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http:\/\/getinmedia.com\/careers\/camera-assistant>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3.4.6<\/p>\n Hart, Douglas C. The Camera Assistant a Complete Professional Handbook. Boston: Focal, 1996. Print.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Prader, Jason.”Camera Assistant Duties.” EHow. Demand Media, 10 June 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http:\/\/www.ehow.com\/list_6614892_camera-assistant-duties.html>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n “30 Tips for Being an Outstanding Camera Assistant.” Through The Lens Film School. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http:\/\/filmcameracourse.wordpress.com\/2011\/11\/23\/30-tips-for-being-and-outstanding-camera-assistant\/>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rolling"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5caDm-s","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions\/142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writersroom.ca\/fearorfavour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}