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Advice to a Camera PA

Art Adams shares some great wisdom on being on set in general, and being a camera assistant specifically:

SET ETIQUETTE

First of all, you’re going to start the process of learning set etiquette zen. That’s when you work on sets a lot and you know what’s going to happen, when, and what you should be doing about it. You’re going to become very good at hearing your name whispered across a noisy set. You’ll discover the old-timers trick of always facing into the set when you’re chatting with someone, so you’ll always see whether you’re immediately needed or not.

---Art Adams: Advice to a Camera Trainee

The duties of a camera assistant can vary greatly from movie to movie -- mostly depending on how many other people are on the team. I've blogged here about my experiences on the camera department on two independent films, Rain in the Mountains and Bunker Hill. If there's one thing Art talks about in this article that I would triple underline, it is working on anticipating. Anticipate the set-up, anticipate the lens the d.p. will ask for next, anticipate, anticipate.

If being a camera assistant was a sport, I'd say it was baseball. Playing in the outfield. A lot of waiting at the ready, and then springing into action instantly. Not that I have a great depth of experience. But I've witnessed good assistants and they certainly know how to anticipate where the ball is going, and where it needs to go to make the play.

About J. Ott

John Ott is a writer, filmmaker and futurist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.