Stepping on a film set is intimidating. Who do you say hi to first? Are you allowed to talk to actors? What’s a stinger? Can you eat the food? What happens if you mess up? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if someone would just spell it all out for you?
Filmmaking Tips and Advice
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Is the Camera Department Right for You?
It’s time to find out whether or not you have what it takes to make it in the camera department. While I got lucky when I fell into camera assisting, I want you to be aware of some of the demands you’ll be met with if you decide to pursue a career in camera.
Five Infographics About the Frantic World of Freelancing
There’s a reason why a majority of the population chooses to work for somebody else. It’s easier, it’s simpler, it’s dependable. Freelancing — in any industry — is tough. Here are five infographics that beautifully deconstruct and examine what it means to freelance.
Battling Brutal Filmmaking Fatigue and Getting Better Sleep
Sleep is fleeting for most of those working hard below the line in the film industry. It eludes you faster than you can say “17 hour day” and rarely shows up at the end of an 8-hour turnaround. As a filmmaker, you constantly struggle against the grueling demands of the workplace and the physical need for sleep.
100 More Great Resources for Cinematographers, Camera Assistants, and Film Professionals
I’ve managed to dip back into the reserves to find 100 more resources for your insatiable consumption. You might want to bookmark this one so you can keep it as a reference.
Put Down Your Slate and Quickly Walk Away
Even though the slate is an iconic piece of gear and one that plays a big role on a film set, it isn’t your third arm. Think about putting it down every once in awhile.
How to Piss Off Talent by Doing These Three Things Nobody Ever Tells You Not to Do
There’s a whole subset of setiquette that’s hard to master: how to act around talent. The last thing you want is cause the lead actor to go on a ranting tirade that ends up as a viral video. That’s why I’m here to tell you three things you should avoid doing – things nobody takes the time to tell you until after the fact.
The Survival of the Camera Assistant through Digital Evolution
As digital cinema cameras continue to evolve, will pulling focus become an obsolete skill? At what point do the cameras start doing it for you? And if that’s the case, what are you — as a camera assistant — left to do?
Discomfort Comes Easily to You on a Film Set
One thread I’ve seen weaved throughout my career is the appearance of – to borrow a term from caving – “squeezes.” Squeezes are the nearly impossibly thin gaps between two large rocks cavers have to experience.
How Shooting On Location is Like Summer Camp
This is something many of you may have felt before and just not articulated it, or you didn’t even realize, but it’s definitely true – there’s a lot of similarities to going to a summer camp or going on location for an extended period of time to shoot a feature film.