Tips for Filmmakers and Camera Assistants
Part of the draw of the film industry is the spectacle of it. The lights, the camera, the action and the amazing people you get to work with on a daily basis. Consider it a perk of the job, but I’ve gotten to meet some fascinating individuals. I’ve also been put in situations that no other job would afford me to do.
How many people can say they’ve stepped into the octagon with a UFC fighter responsible for 22 knockouts in 33 wins and ranked #3 in the world for his weight class?
There have been plenty of times on a set where I’ve been asked to do something I didn’t want to or that was difficult. “Challenging” is written in bold capital letters of any job description for a film crew. Those are the times that I’m reminded that what I do is work. It’s not always paid work, but it is work nonetheless. A camera assistant I once worked with said “I do this job because it doesn’t feel like work. But there are some days… where I show up and it feels like a job.”
He was right.
Kunitaro Ohi is a Japanese cinematographer who I not only admire as someone dedicated to his craft, but also as a good friend. Kuni and I have worked together on many projects, among them Ghosts Don’t Exist and Red Herring, as well as various shorts and a few commercials. A couple weeks ago Kuni asked for help on a new website design and just last Friday I was happy to help launch his fresh webpage.
“Red Herring” is a Las Vegas based independent film produced by Cohencidence Productions that I worked on back in October as the First Assistant Camera for a talented cinematographer and good friend, Kunitaro Ohi. It’s a film that’s shoot was as grueling as it was rewarding – nothing worth doing comes easy, I suppose. We shot it on the RED ONE using Zeiss Superspeeds. It’s a testament to everyone on that crew that the footage looks as great as it does with the fast-paced schedule we were working through. I will comment more on this film in future posts. In the meantime, check out the trailer after the break:
A site for camera assistants, cinematographers and film professionals to gather and discuss tips, tricks, and techniques.
It is run by Evan Luzi, a camera assistant with a passion for sharing his knowledge and helping you become a better filmmaker along the way.
Read more about Evan or contact him.
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