The Camera Assistant’s Manual

✍ Scribed by David E. Elkins

• Publisher: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group
• Year: 2020
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 553
• Edition: 7th Edition
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Excel as a Cameraman in today’s evolving film industry with this updated classic. Learn what to do – and what NOT to do – during production and get the job done right the first time. This seventh edition covers the basics of cinematography and provides you with the multi-skill set needed to maintain and transport a camera, troubleshoot common problems on location, prepare for job interviews, and work with both film and digital technologies. Illustrations, checklists, and tables accompany each chapter and highlight the daily workflow of an Assistant Cameraman (AC), with expanded sections on problems and troubleshooting, updated formulas, tables, and checklists, as well as new information on the differences between working in the United States and UK and additional information on working with digital technology. This is a must-have for anyone looking to succeed in this highly technical and ever-changing profession. This book features a comprehensive companion web site that offers plenty of useful resources, including online tutorials that ACs can easily access while on location and supplementary downloadable forms and checklists. See also: http://www.cameraassistantmanual.com/

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Half Title......Page 2
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Table of Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 18
Acknowledgments......Page 22
Introduction......Page 26
Film Formats......Page 30
16 mm Film – Single Perf or Double Perf......Page 31
35 mm Film......Page 32
Aspect Ratios......Page 33
Shots and Composition......Page 37
Film Stock......Page 41
Base......Page 42
Reversal Film......Page 43
Film Speed......Page 44
Exposure Time......Page 45
Exposure Meters......Page 46
Color Temperature and Color Balance......Page 48
Gate......Page 49
Registration Pin......Page 50
Pressure Plate......Page 51
Shutter Angle......Page 52
Viewing System......Page 54
The Lens......Page 55
Primes and Zooms......Page 56
F-stops and T-stops......Page 57
Motors......Page 58
Additional Camera Components......Page 59
Filters......Page 60
Camera Lens Filters......Page 61
Conversion Filters......Page 62
Neutral Density Filters......Page 63
Combination Filters......Page 64
Diffusion Filters......Page 65
Fog and Double Fog Filters......Page 66
Coral Filters......Page 67
Color Filters......Page 68
Tripods and Spreader......Page 69
High Hat/Low Hat......Page 70
Fluid Head......Page 71
Gear Head......Page 72
Steadicam......Page 73
Dolly......Page 74
Film Productions......Page 76
Director of Photography......Page 77
Preproduction......Page 79
Camera Operator......Page 80
Production......Page 81
First and Second Assistant Cameraman......Page 82
Production......Page 83
Production......Page 85
Production......Page 87
Digital Imaging Technician......Page 88
Digital Loader/Data Manager/Data Wrangler......Page 89
Video Controller......Page 90
Digital Utility......Page 91
3 Camera Trainee and Camera Production Assistant (PA)......Page 93
Preproduction......Page 94
Preparation of Camera Equipment......Page 95
Start-of- the-Day Procedures......Page 96
Camera Reports......Page 97
Slates and Slating......Page 98
Record Keeping and Filing of Paperwork......Page 99
Tools and Accessories......Page 100
Camera Trainee and PA Tips......Page 101
4 Second Assistant Cameraman (Second AC) and Film Loader......Page 103
Preproduction......Page 104
Working with the Film Laboratory......Page 105
Obtaining Laboratory Supplies......Page 106
Choosing and Ordering Expendables......Page 107
Preparation of Camera Equipment......Page 108
Preparation of Darkroom......Page 109
Start of Day Procedures......Page 112
Setting Up the Camera......Page 113
Organizing Equipment......Page 114
Film Stocks......Page 116
Film Stock Packaging Sizes......Page 117
Camera Reports......Page 120
Film Magazines......Page 133
Loading Film Magazines......Page 136
Unloading Film Magazines......Page 145
Using a Changing Bag or Changing Tent......Page 149
Marking Actors and Camera Positions......Page 153
Slates......Page 157
Slating Procedures......Page 162
Changing Lenses, Filters and Magazines......Page 167
Preparing Exposed Film for Delivery to the Lab......Page 170
Film, X-Rays and Carrying Film on Planes......Page 174
Ordering Additional Film Stock......Page 175
Unexposed Film......Page 177
Exposed Film......Page 178
Film Inventory and Record of Film Shot......Page 179
Completing Film Inventory Forms......Page 181
Distribution of Reports......Page 193
Record Keeping and Filing of Paperwork......Page 194
Performing the Duties of First Assistant Cameraman......Page 196
Tools and Accessories......Page 197
Second AC/Loader Tips......Page 198
Postproduction......Page 205
Working in Digital Video......Page 206
Preproduction......Page 207
Setting up the Camera......Page 208
Camera Reports......Page 209
Slates and Slating Procedures......Page 212
Ordering Additional Media Cards......Page 213
Tools and Accessories......Page 214
Preproduction......Page 215
Production......Page 216
Preproduction......Page 217
Production......Page 218
Preproduction......Page 219
Choosing and Ordering Expendables......Page 220
Preparation of Camera Equipment......Page 221
The Rental House......Page 223
Camera Prep Check List......Page 226
Start-of- the-Day Procedures......Page 247
Loading and Unloading Film in the Film Camera......Page 250
Keeping the Camera Clean......Page 251
Oiling and Lubricating the Camera......Page 252
Setting the Viewfinder Eyepiece......Page 254
Lenses......Page 258
Prime Lenses and Zoom Lenses......Page 259
Checking for Lens Flares......Page 262
Depth of Field......Page 265
F-stops and T-stops......Page 274
Changing Lenses, Filters and Accessories......Page 277
Focus Measurements and Following Focus......Page 280
Getting Your Marks......Page 286
Focusing Tips......Page 288
Zoom Lens Moves......Page 292
Shooting the Shot......Page 294
Checking the Gate......Page 295
Moving the Camera......Page 297
Packing Equipment......Page 299
Tools and Accessories......Page 300
First AC/Focus Puller Tips......Page 302
Resources......Page 311
Working in Digital Video......Page 312
Preproduction......Page 313
The Rental House and Preparation of Camera Equipment......Page 314
Setting Up the Camera......Page 315
Focusing and Depth of Field......Page 317
White Balancing......Page 321
Wrapping Equipment......Page 322
Production......Page 323
Postproduction......Page 325
6 Film Productions – Problems and Troubleshooting......Page 326
Camera Will Not Run......Page 328
Camera Starts and Stops Intermittently......Page 330
Camera Stops While Filming......Page 331
Camera is Noisy......Page 332
Camera Door Does Not Close......Page 333
Camera Does Not Run at Sync Speed......Page 334
Viewing System is Blacked Out......Page 335
Film Cones When Removing from Magazine......Page 336
Magazine is Noisy......Page 337
There are Scratches on the Film......Page 338
Lens Will Not Focus......Page 339
Zoom Lens Motor Runs Erratically......Page 341
Unable to Adjust F-Stop/ T-Stop......Page 342
Battery Will Not Hold Charge......Page 343
Tripod Head Does Not Pan or Tilt......Page 344
Shooting in Extreme Cold Weather......Page 345
Filming in or Around Salt Water and Camera And Magazine Fall into the Water......Page 346
Shooting Outside Using Tungsten-Balanced Film without an 85 Filter......Page 347
Projected Image is Shaky or Unsteady......Page 348
Projected Image is Out of Focus......Page 349
Image is Not Aligned During the Video Transfer......Page 350
Troubleshooting Tips......Page 351
7 Film Cameras......Page 353
Arriflex 416......Page 354
Arriflex Arricam Lite (LT)......Page 355
Arriflex Arricam Studio (ST)......Page 358
Arriflex 235......Page 359
Arriflex 435......Page 360
Moviecam Compact and Moviecam Super America......Page 362
Panavision Panaflex Gold and GII......Page 365
Panavision Panaflex Millenium and Millenium XL......Page 366
Panavision Panaflex Platinum......Page 368
Union or Non-Union......Page 370
IATSE and Local 600......Page 373
Joining the Union......Page 374
Before the Job......Page 377
The Résumé and Business Cards......Page 378
Email and Web Sites......Page 384
The Job Interview......Page 385
The Deal Memo......Page 387
During the Job......Page 389
How to Fill Out the Film Industry Time Card......Page 394
Submitting an Invoice......Page 399
On Set Etiquette......Page 405
The Next Job......Page 406
Networking......Page 407
The Freelance Filmmaker and Taxes......Page 408
Appendix A: Digital Cameras......Page 418
Appendix B: Equipment and Apps......Page 423
Cameras......Page 424
35 mm Cameras......Page 425
Digital Cameras......Page 426
Lens and Lens Accessories......Page 428
Camera Accessories......Page 429
On-Board Video Monitors......Page 431
Monitors......Page 432
Filter Sizes......Page 434
Filters......Page 435
Fluid Head......Page 438
Gear Head......Page 439
Miscellaneous Heads, Camera Mounts, or Mounting Platforms......Page 440
ICG Safety App......Page 441
pCAM Pro Film+Digital Calculator......Page 442
Forms and Checklists......Page 443
Labels......Page 447
Appendix D: Tools, Accessories, and Expendables......Page 450
AC Tools and Accessories......Page 452
Specialized Film Industry Tools......Page 461
Arriflex Special Tools......Page 466
Digital Supplies......Page 467
Expendables......Page 468
Miscellaneous Items......Page 471
Personal Bag......Page 473
Tables......Page 475
F-Stop/ T-Stop Compensation When Using Filters......Page 476
F-Stop/ T-Stop Compensation When Using Filters for Black-and- White Film......Page 479
F-Stop/ T-Stop Compensation for Changes in Frames per Second......Page 480
Hyperfocal Distances......Page 481
Feet per Second, Feet per Minute, Meters per Second, and Meters per Minute......Page 485
Running Time to Film Length and Film Length to Running Time......Page 486
Feet to Meters and Meters to Feet......Page 503
Depth of Field – Near......Page 504
Feet per Minute for 16 mm......Page 505
Meters per Minute for 35 mm 4-Perf Format......Page 506
MM to Inches......Page 507
Recommended Reading......Page 508
Glossary......Page 515
Index......Page 543

✦ Subjects

Cinematography: Handbooks, Manuals, etc; Camera Operators: Handbooks, Manuals, etc; Performing Arts: Film & Video: General