There’s nothing worse than heading to your toolbag for something specific, opening it up, and getting lost inside. But there’s a remedy: labels. And not just in your toolbag.
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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Be a Faster AC #10: Dictate Your Duties Effectively
At every level of the camera department, you will have to give directions to others. As a 1st assistant camera (AC), you will run the entire department. As a 2nd AC, you will segment some duties to a loader. As a loader, you may pawn help from a camera trainee.
Be a Faster AC #9: Wear a Pouch
A camera assistant’s pouch is designed specifically to speed you up. It’s made to put the most needed tools right on your hip so that what you need, when you need it, is no more than an arm’s length away.
Be a Faster AC #8: Keep Your Mouth Shut
Just think about the last time you tried to tell the story of that time the key grip punched a dude at the bar while also tinkering with the camera. Either the story suffered or the camera did.
Be a Faster AC #7: Make One Trip for Battery Swaps
On more than few occasions, I’ve called for a fresh battery from a 2nd assistant camera (AC) only to have them run to the charger, grab a charged battery, place it in my hands, then I give them the dead battery, they bring it back to the charger, and finally come back to set. Seems a little redudant, no?
Be a Faster AC #6: Stage Your Equipment Nearby
Having to leave set to go to get a piece of gear from your equipment cases is already a huge time waster. Having to leave and walk for more than minute to get it is outright absurd. The next time you walk to get something out of a gear case, ask yourself, “Is this too far away for me to reasonably fly-in equipment?”
Be a Faster AC #5: Use Your Sharpie as an Emergency Mark
If you don’t keep a Sharpie in your pocket, shame on you! I’ll have to report you to the Camera Assistant’s Council and they will recommend you for review and probation.
Be a Faster AC #4: Ask Questions for Clarification
Asking questions is critical, especially when you’re working lower in the department as a 2nd assistant camera (AC) or loader. Without asking for clarification, you may not know exactly what to do, where to go, or what is expected.
Be a Faster AC #3: Maximize Your Camera Prep
With expensive cinema cameras, there really is no other way to make sure gear is ready to get slogged through an intense production than a camera prep. Not all shoots you work on will give you a prep day, but plenty will — and you have to maximize it.
Be a Faster AC #2: Cut Down on What You Say When Slating
Beginning camera assistants (ACs) have a tendency to do two things wrong when slating: they speak too slow and they announce everything on the slate. I know this because I was guilty of it and, as I trained others, noticed how they would fall into the same trap.