Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxi
Introduction xxv
1 Basics of Cinematography 1
Film Formats 1
Single Perf or Double Perf 2
Videotape and Digital Shooting 4
Aspect Ratios 4
Shots and Composition 8
Film Stock 12
Emulsion 13
Base 13
Anti-halation Backing 14
Types of Film 14
Negative Film 14
Reversal Film 14
Film Speed 15
Sync Speed 16
Exposure Time 16
Exposure Meters 17
Color Temperature and Color Balance 19
The Camera 20
Gate 21
Intermittent Movement 21
Pull Down Claw 22
Registration Pin 22
Aperture Plate 23
Pressure Plate 23
Shutter 23
Shutter Angle 24
Inching Knob 25
Viewing System 26
Diopter Adjustment 26
The Lens 27
Primes and Zooms 28
F-stops and T-stops 28
Magazines 30
Motor 30
Batteries 30
Additional Camera Components 31
Sync and MOS 32
Filters 32
Conversion Filters 33
85 Filter 34
80 A Filter 34
Neutral Density Filters 34
Polarizing Filters 35
Combination Filters 35
Optical Flat 35
Diffusion Filters 36
Fog and Double Fog Filters 37
Low-Contrast Filters 38
Soft-Contrast Filters 38
Ultra-Contrast Filters 38
Coral Filters 38
Enhancing Filters 39
Graduated Filters 39
Diopters 39
Filter Manufacturers 40
Camera Mounts 40
Tripods and Spreader 40
High Hat/Low Hat 42
Tripod Heads 42
Fluid Head 42
Gear Head 43
Steadicam 44
Dolly 45
2 The Camera Department 48
Film Productions 48
Director of Photography 49
Preproduction 51
Production 52
Postproduction 52
Camera Operator 52
Preproduction 53
Production 53
First and Second Assistant Cameramen 54
First Assistant Cameraman (1st AC or Focus Puller) 54
Preproduction 54
Production 55
Postproduction 56
Second Assistant Cameraman (2nd AC or Clapper/Loader) 56
Preproduction 56
Production 57
Postproduction 58
Film Loader 58
Preproduction 58
Production 59
Digital Productions 59
Digital Imaging Technician (DIT) 60
Video Controller 60
Camera Utility 61
Digital Utility 62
Digital Loader/Data Manager 62
3 Camera Trainee and Camera Production Assistant (PA) 64
Preproduction 65
Working with the Film Laboratory 66
Obtaining Laboratory Supplies 66
Choosing and Ordering Expendables 66
Preparation of Camera Equipment 66
Preparation of Camera Truck 67
Production 67
Start-of-the-Day Procedures 67
Camera Reports 68
Recording Shot Information 69
Marking Actors 69
Slates and Slating 69
Changing Lenses, Filters, Magazines, and Accessories 70
Using a Video Tap and Monitor 70
Record Keeping and Filing of Paperwork 70
Packing Equipment 71
Tools and Accessories 71
Camera Trainee and PA Tips 71
4 Second Assistant Cameraman (2nd AC) and Film Loader 74
Preproduction 75
Working with the Film Laboratory 76
Obtaining Laboratory Supplies 77
Choosing and Ordering Expendables 78
Preparation of Camera Equipment 79
Preparation of Camera Truck 80
Preparation of Darkroom 81
Production 82
Start-of-the-Day Procedures 83
Setting Up the Camera 84
Organizing Equipment 85
Film Stocks 87
Film Stock Packaging Sizes 89
Camera Reports 90
Recording Shot Information 102
Magazines 104
Loading Magazines 106
Unloading Magazines 115
Using a Changing Bag or Changing Tent 119
Marking Actors and Camera Positions 122
Slates 127
Slating Procedures 132
Changing Lenses, Filters, and Magazines 137
Using a Video Tap and Monitor 140
Preparing Exposed Film for Delivery to the Lab 140
Shipping Film (Exposed and Unexposed) 144
Film, X-Rays, and Carrying Film on Planes 144
Ordering Additional Film Stock 145
Using Short Ends and Recans 147
Storage and Care of Motion Picture Film 148
Unexposed Film 148
Exposed Film 149
Film Inventory and Record of Film Shot 149
Completing Film Inventory Forms 152
Distribution of Reports 170
Record Keeping and Filing of Paperwork 170
Performing the Duties of First Assistant Cameraman 172
Packing Equipment 172
Tools and Accessories 173
2nd AC/Loader Tips 174
Resources 181
Postproduction 181
Wrapping Equipment 182
Working in Digital Video 182
Preproduction 183
Production 184
Setting Up the Camera 185
Camera Reports 185
Magazines 186
Marking Actors 187
Slates and Slating Procedures 187
Moving the Camera and Setting Up the Video Monitor 189
Preparing Media Cards and Hard Drives 189
Ordering Additional Media Cards 190
Storage and Care of Media Cards 190
Videotapes, X-Rays, and Magnetic Fields 190
Tools and Accessories 191
Postproduction 191
Wrapping Equipment 191
Review Checklist for Second Assistant Cameraman
(2nd AC or Clapper/Loader) 192
Preproduction 192
Production 192
Postproduction 193
Review Checklist for Film Loader (Loader) 194
Preproduction 194
Production 194
5 First Assistant Cameraman (1st AC) 195
Preproduction 195
Choosing Camera Equipment 196
Choosing and Ordering Expendables 196
Preparation of Camera Equipment 197
The Rental House 199
Camera Prep Checklist 202
Production 222
Start-of-the-Day Procedures 223
Loading and Unloading Film in the Camera 225
Keeping the Camera Clean 226
Oiling and Lubricating the Camera 226
Setting the Viewfinder Eyepiece 228
Lenses 233
Prime Lenses and Zoom Lenses 234
Checking for Lens Flares 237
Depth of Field 239
F-stops and T-stops 250
Changing Lenses, Filters, and Accessories 253
Focus Measurements and Following Focus 255
Getting Your Marks 261
Focusing Tips 263
Zoom Lens Moves 268
Shooting the Shot 269
Footage Readings 270
Checking the Gate 271
Moving the Camera 273
Performing the Duties of Second Assistant Cameraman 274
End-of-the-Day Procedures 275
Packing Equipment 275
The Walkaway 275
Tools and Accessories 276
Using Computers and Technology 277
1st AC/Focus Puller Tips 280
Resources 290
Postproduction 290
Wrapping Equipment 291
Working in Digital Video 291
Preproduction 292
Choosing and Ordering Expendables 293
The Rental House and Preparation of Camera Equipment 293
Production 293
Setting Up the Camera 294
Loading and Unloading Media Cards into the Digital Camera 295
Swapping Hard Drives 296
Lenses (Primes and Zooms) 296
Checking for Lens Flares 296
Focusing and Depth of Field 296
Moving the Camera 300
White Balancing 300
Tools and Accessories 300
Postproduction 301
Wrapping Equipment 301
Review Checklist for First Assistant Cameraman
(1st AC or Focus Puller) 301
Preproduction 301
Production 302
Postproduction 303
6 Problems and Troubleshooting 304
Camera Problems 306
Camera Will Not Run 306
Camera Does Not Stop When Switched to "Off" 308
Camera Starts and Stops Intermittently 308
Camera Stops While Filming 309
Camera Is Noisy 310
Shutter Does Not Spin (No Flicker Seen through the
Viewfinder) 311
Unable to Thread Film into the Gate Area 311
Camera Door Does Not Close 311
Film Jams in Camera 312
Film Rips or Has Torn Perforations 312
Film Loses Loop 312
Camera Does Not Run at Sync Speed 312
Viewing System Is Blacked Out 313
A Fuse Blows When Connecting Electrical Accessories 313
When Shooting a Television Monitor or
Computer Screen, a Roll Bar Moves through the Screen 314
Magazine Problems 314
Film Cones When Removing from Magazine 314
Film Does Not Take Up 315
Magazine Is Noisy 316
There Are Scratches on the Film 316
Lens-Related Problems 317
Lens Will Not Focus 317
Image Is Fogged When Looking through Viewfinder 319
Zoom Lens Motor Runs Erratically 319
Zoom Lens Does Not Zoom throughout
Its Entire Range of Focal Lengths 319
Lens Flares Are Seen When Looking through the Viewfinder 320
Unable to Adjust F-stop/T-stop 320
Battery Problems 321
Battery Loses Power 321
Battery Will Not Hold Charge 321
Video Assist Problems 321
Image on Video Monitor Is Out of Focus or Is Tilted to the Side 321
There Is No Image on Video Monitor 322
Tripod and Head Problems 322
Tripod Head Does Not Pan or Tilt 322
Tripod Legs Do Not Slide Up or Down 322
Weather and Environmental-Related Problems 323
Shooting in Extreme Cold Weather 323
Shooting in Extreme Heat 323
Filming in or Around Salt Water and Camera and
Magazine Fall into the Water 324
Color Balance/Filter Problems 324
Filters Don’t Fit in Matte Box 324
Shooting Outside Using Tungsten-Balanced Film
Without an 85 Filter 325
Shooting Inside with Tungsten Light Using Daylight-Balanced
Film Without an 80A Filter 325
Developed Image Problems 326
Projected Image Is Shaky or Unsteady 326
Projected Image Is Out of Focus 326
Projected Image Contains Spots or Lines 327
Image Is Not Aligned During the Video Transfer 328
Shooting in Foreign Countries 328
Shooting in Countries Using a Different Electrical System 328
Troubleshooting Tips 328
7 Film Cameras 330
Aaton A-Minima 331
Aaton Xterà and XTR-Prod 332
Aaton 35-III 333
Aaton Penelope 334
Arriflex 16 SR1, 16 SR2, and 16 SR3 335
Arriflex 416 336
Arriflex Arricam Lite (LT) 337
Arriflex Arricam Studio (ST) 340
Arriflex 235 342
Arriflex 535A and 535B 343
Arriflex 435 345
Arriflex 35BL3 and 35BL4 347
Arriflex 35-3 348
Arriflex 765 352
Moviecam Compact and Moviecam Super America 353
Moviecam SL 356
Panavision Panaflex 16 358
Panavision Panaflex Gold and GII 360
Panavision Panaflex Millennium and Millennium XL 362
Panavision Panaflex Platinum 364
Panavision Panastar II 366
Panavision Panaflex 65 367
Panavision 65 mm High Speed 369
Panavision 65 mm Handheld 371
Photo-Sonics Actionmaster 500 372
Photo-Sonics 1VN 373
Photo-Sonics 35-4B/4C 374
Photo-Sonics 35-4E/ER 376
Photo-Sonics 35-4ML 378
8 Before, During, and After the Job 379
Union or Non-Union 379
IATSE and Local 600 381
Joining the Union 382
Before the Job 386
The Résumé and Business Cards 387
Email and Web Sites 392
The Job Interview 393
The Deal Memo 396
During the Job 397
On-Set Etiquette 403
After the Job 404
Invoicing and Time Cards 404
The Next Job 409
Networking 410
The Freelance Filmmaker and Taxes 411
Appendix A Film Stock 419
Appendix B Equipment, Software, and Apps 422
Appendix C Camera Department Checklists,
Production Forms, and Labels 442
Appendix D Tools, Accessories, and Expendables 493
Appendix E Tables and Formulas 518
Recommended Reading 551
Glossary 558
Index 586
David E. Elkins, SOC has over 25 years of professional experience as a Camera Operator and First Assistant Cameraman, working on feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, educational films, industrial films and much more. He is an active member of the International Cinematographers Guild Local 600 and Society of Camera Operators.
"David Elkins is an elite craftsman who really knows his stuff! The
Camera Assistant’s Manual, Sixth Edition contains all of the
essential, up-to-date information on how to fulfill the duties of a
Camera Assistant with complete professionalism. If you aspire to a
career in the camera department, this is a must own book!"
-Randolph Sellars, Director of Photography and Founder at Reel Pro
Mentor "This new edition of The Camera Assistant’s Manual blends
technical information with descriptive procedural narration that
will help you be in the right place at the right time and perform
those duties that are expected of you as a member of a camera crew.
If you are an aspiring cinematographer, by all means, put this book
at the top of your reading list, and if you’ve been in the business
for years, but have not brushed up on the latest procedures, it’s
time to review and gain new knowledge!"
-Stan McClain, www.filmtools.com "The film industry is finding
itself in the most dynamic technical changes in its history, yet
David's manual continues to keep up with changing trends. I not
only recommend this book to the new Camera Assistant, but anybody
who wants a real world understanding of what to expect on-set."
-Jim Roudebush, Panavision Inc. "Elkins takes the best of the old
school–techniques used to craft the best films ever made–and
updates them for the digital world. Short of being on a set, this
book is a great introduction to the most technically critical job
in production."
-Art Adams, cinematographer/educator, ProVideoCoalition.com
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
