Camera trainee

The job

The entry grade in camera. You charge and rotate batteries, carry media between camera and the DIT or data manager, keep the truck in order, and help the 2nd AC with marks, slates and paperwork.

You learn every case and what's in it. When the setup changes, the next lens, mount or monitor is already in your hand. Your job is to make the department faster.

A typical day

At the truck before unit call: batteries on charge, the day's kit laid out.
Once the camera's built, set up carts, monitors and video village.
During lighting, lay marks with the 2nd AC and fetch what the next setup needs.
Take full cards to the DIT and bring empties back, signing them in and out.
At wrap, pack, count and charge everything for tomorrow.

Skills

Absolute care with media: you may be holding the only copy of the day's work.
Knowing the kit: cases, cables, batteries and their order on the truck.
Thinking ahead, quietly.
Tidy paperwork and a good memory.
Stamina and a full driving licence, which helps.

Who you report to

You report to the 2nd AC (clapper loader), and through them to the 1st AC and the DoP. Nobody reports to you.

How people get in

Many trainees start at a camera rental house, prepping kit for productions. The GBCT runs a camera trainee scheme; check its page for the current intake. ScreenSkills Trainee Finder is another route. Short courses on camera build and slating help you arrive useful.

Next step up

Clapper loader (2nd AC), usually after a number of credits and practice slating on second unit or smaller shoots. Some trainees move towards DIT or data management.

The camera trainee is one step ahead of the camera.