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Filmmaking Tips for Camera Assistants

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The Life of a Camera Assistant as Told Through GIFs

The Life of a Camera Assistant as Told Through GIFs

It's been too long since we've explored what it means to be a camera assistant (AC) though the lens of the animated GIF. So here's 30 GIFs that illustrate life as an AC below-the-line and behind-the-scenes. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll question your career choice – well, you'll mostly laugh.

by Evan LuziBehind the Lens

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When I hear somebody say “shoot the rehearsal,” I’m like:

200mm. F1.8. Camera on dolly.

When you have to shoot in a public location that isn’t locked down:

Dayplaying on a feature:

That one extra who listens to you talk with the DP between takes:

Watching playback on a ridiculous camera move that you nailed focus:

Data management gigs in a nutshell:

When production asks to push back lunch for 15 minute grace period:

And then how I feel those last 5 minutes of lunch when there’s still 8 pages to shoot:

What I hear from the first AD throughout the day:

but then at the wrap party we’re both like…

During a week of split days:

When the mag is about to roll out during a take:

Bumping up the resolution on a RED Epic:

Working with a RED One these days:

What would happen if I tried to work in G&E:

The camera op when you leave the front cap on after mounting a lens:

That time the director asked me to “check the gauge,” I was just like…

Grips at the wrap party:

When crappy catering is all crew can talk about for the rest of the day:

When that one PA gets laid into by the AD for being late:

Finding out about a 5AM call time with a less-than-12-hour turnaround:

Completely missing the rack focus at the end of a long take:

The key grip trying to tell me that joke about DP being God:

When a director actually moves on after one take, I look at the DP like:

Trying to get the fog to settle right before shooting a take:

How I imagine life at video village:

The camera PA after asking him again to bring me that bag of T-stops

My reaction to Sony’s camera naming scheme:

The first time I ever wrangled cable on a handheld shot:

My reaction to my ditty bag by the end of the day:

Check out more hilarious filmmaking jokes in GIF form here

Evan Luzi

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Creator of The Black and Blue. Freelance camera assistant and camera operator. Available for work: Contact Evan here. Learn more about Evan here.

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