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Camera Foundation

  • Lesson2 of 8
  • Time45 min

The camera department: who does what

For teachers

Outcome

Describe each camera grade, from trainee to DoP, and which jobs a trainee is and isn't given.

Mapped to 2 ScreenSkills checklist lines
  • ScreenSkills camera trainee skills checklist · Overview of the role: "Camera trainees support the clapper loader on high-end TV and scripted drama"
  • ScreenSkills camera trainee skills checklist · Transferable skills and attributes: "Teamworking across departments"

ScreenSkills checklists are guides, not accreditation. This course is not endorsed by ScreenSkills.

Watch

4 films · about 24 minutes

0% watched

More like this: 2nd AC, clapper loader and loading film path

Films are made and owned by the channels named, and play from YouTube. Inclusion here is not an endorsement either way.

The grades (UK drama)

  • Director of photography (DoP): head of department for camera and lighting. Designs the look with the director.
  • Camera operator: frames and moves the camera. Some DoPs operate themselves.
  • Focus puller (1st AC, first assistant camera): keeps the shot sharp, builds and looks after the camera and lenses.
  • Clapper loader (2nd AC): slates, lays marks, keeps the camera reports, manages media, batteries and the kit inventory, and runs the camera truck.
  • Camera trainee: supports the clapper loader. Monitors, batteries, cables, cleaning, packing, labelling, the camera base.
  • Digital imaging technician (DIT) and data wrangler: offload, check and back up the media, and manage on-set colour. Video assist (playback): records and replays takes for the director.
  • In the US, '1st AC' and '2nd AC' are the usual titles. UK sets use both.

What a trainee does, and doesn't

  • Does: keep the camera base tidy and secure, test and set up monitors, charge and label batteries, run and tidy cables, fetch kit in ready-to-use condition, clean and pack kit, and help with marks and the slate when asked.
  • Doesn't (yet): pull focus during a take, change lenses on the camera, or touch the camera's settings, unless the focus puller asks and is watching.
  • The ladder is real: trainee to clapper loader to focus puller is the usual route, and it is earned by being reliable with the small things.

Check

3 questions drawn from 8 · pass mark 80% · safety-critical questions must be right · 3 attempts in 24 hours · new questions each time

Watch the films to open the check.

Do

Who would you ask? · 10 minutes

For each job, name the grade that owns it.

How it's marked
  • Lens: focus puller (or DoP)
  • Card: DIT or data wrangler (never wipe until they confirm)
  • Marks: clapper loader
  • Monitor image: DIT or 2nd AC, then DoP
  • Camera base: clapper loader, with the AD team

Met or Not yet, with a comment from a trained reviewer. Until accounts open, open the model answer after you submit and mark your own work against it.

Model answer (open after you submit)

1 focus puller (the DoP decides; the focus puller knows). 2 DIT or data wrangler: nothing is wiped until they confirm a verified backup. 3 clapper loader. 4 ask the 2nd AC or DIT first; the DoP sets the look. 5 clapper loader, agreed with the AD team.

Reflect

Record

This is everything kept about this lesson. In the pilot it's held by Futures in Film CIC in your account; Screen Sisters CIC sees named records only if you agree. Your data

← Safety in the camera department Next: Camera prep at a rental house →

Moving on doesn't complete a lesson. A lesson is complete when the films are watched, the check is passed and the task is marked Met.