The Black and Blue

Filmmaking Tips for Camera Assistants

  • Blog
  • Camera Guides
  • Menu
  • 
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Free Ebook
  • Pocket Guides
  • Topics
    • Behind the Lens
    • Camera Assisting
    • Cameras
    • Getting Work
    • Industry News
    • Miscellaneous Tips
    • Production Stories
    • Toolkit
    • Website
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About The Black and Blue
  • Sponsorship
  • Comment Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • 
  • U
  • 
  • R
  • @
  • Q
  • ˆ
  • ‰
×
Toolkit

Toolkit

Useful filmmaking gear, DIY Projects, and ideas for building out your kit

Most Recent Articles in "Toolkit"

Page 3

Camera Assistant Pouch and Tools - Photo by @alba

Be a Faster AC #9: Wear a Pouch

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 12

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.

Read More
Be a Faster AC #5: Use Your Sharpie as an Emergency Mark

Be a Faster AC #5: Use Your Sharpie as an Emergency Mark

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 8

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.

Read More
Be a Faster AC #1: Use a Camera Cart for Your Gear

Be a Faster AC #1: Use a Camera Cart for Your Gear

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 10

Some camera packages contain an abundance of cases that slow you down when you have to move them. Even simply turning around in a scene is a hassle as you move each case one-by-one until the whole lot is out of the shot. With a camera cart, you can simply wheel everything away all at once in an instant.

Read More
5 Tips to Help Keep Your BNC Cables Working

5 Tips to Help Keep Your BNC Cables Working

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 20

One cable you’re likely to encounter on set is the BNC cable. In my experience, BNC cables are highly fickle and, if not treated right, can easily stop working. So here best practices to keep in mind to help you make your BNC cables last — at least until you have to return them!

Read More
Why My Two Toolbags Are Better Than Your One

Why My Two Toolbags Are Better Than Your One

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 16

Where would I be today without my second toolbag? Disorganized, lost, in a maelstrom of chaos. I’d be in shambles, subject to fitting all my tools into one bag and overloading it to the point where it’s not even practical to carry. That’s not the kind of world I want to live in — do you?

Read More
12 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Camera Assistants

12 Do-It-Yourself Projects for Camera Assistants

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 5

As a camera assistant, you know the value in being resourceful and there’s nothing more emblematic of that attitude than a solid do-it-yourself project.

Read More
How to Build a Film Slate for Under $15

How to Build a Film Slate for Under $15

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 16

The cheapest slate on Filmtools is $50. Fifty bucks won’t break the bank, but beginners may want to use that money for smaller, more necessary tools. So I went out to the store to see if you could make a clapperboard on a budget of $15 that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to bring to set.

Read More
Useful Cinematography iPhone Apps (Part 6)

Useful Cinematography iPhone Apps (Part 6)

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 11

There’s no arguing with the numbers that the iPhone platform is more powerful than ever. As a resourceful filmmaker, your job is to capitalize on any tool that can help you work on set faster, better, and with more efficiency. Having a smartphone enables you to do just that.

Read More
Finding the Best Laser Measuring Device for You

Finding the Best Laser Measuring Device for You

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 36

You can only sneak around set as a tape measure ninja for so long before it gets old. Sometimes you just want need to stay next to the camera and get your marks. Introducing the laser measuring device: a technological godsend for the camera assistant who doesn’t have the time to walk on set with their soft tape measure.

Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Eyepiece Chamois

The Ultimate Guide to Eyepiece Chamois

by Evan LuziToolkit

  • 12

Eyepiece chamois are soft round pads that wrap around a viewfinder to provide comfort for the camera operator while also protecting their eyes from germs that can cause infections. To make sure you maximize the benefits, you need to buy the right kind and the right quantity.

Read More
  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next
Becoming the Reel Deal eBook Cover on iPad

It Only Takes One Gig.

Becoming the Reel Deal is a free downloadable eBook written to help you get your first job on set in the camera department so you can launch your film career.

Sign up now to get your free copy and exclusive tips from The Black and Blue.

Get Your Free Copy
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Credits
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 The Black and Blue, LLC