If you want to survive in the digital cinematography future as a camera assistant, there are a few things you’re going to need change. These adaptations may be easy for you, others may not, but all of them will play a crucial role in your career path.
Camera Assisting
How to Get Better at Pulling Focus, Slating, and Being a Badass AC
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Big Lenses Will Speed You Up & Weigh You Down
“Should I shoot with a big zoom lens to save time/minimize setups?” Like most questions that start with “Should I…” there are pros and cons to each answer.
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 #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.
What Can You Do to Save Time, Be Faster and Improve Your Efficiency as a Camera Assistant?
Are there times on set where you wish you were faster? I bet there are. Maybe it’s the way you slate, or the way you mark, or you struggle to carry the camera. Whatever it is, you’re tired of it: you’re ready to boost your speed and maximize your efficiency.
How to Read the DP’s Mind & Stay One Step Ahead
As camera assistants, our job is to remove the technical aspect of camerawork from the director of photography so they can focus on creative needs. If you are able to stay one step ahead of the DP, that’s one less thing distracting them from their creative demands.
Make These Quick Adjustments Everytime You Move the Camera
When you make these quick adjustments, you’ll not only save time on set, but also make the DP or camera operator happy. And if they’re happy, you’re happy. The time it takes to do all of these steps should be less than the time it took for you to read them.
How to Pull Focus like You’re a Master Musician
Camera assistants and master musicians are not so different – both contribute to a large creative endeavor with highly specialized technical prowess. So it would only make sense that there are ways you can become a better focus puller by taking a cue from the musical maestros themselves.
Do You Make Marks on the Lens or Follow Focus?
When pulling focus, clear and quick visual access to your marks is vital. If the marks are off, even by a little bit, you’ll find yourself with a take full of soft footage. That’s the last thing you want.