Cinematography

[Bol Maaaaaaing]

How many people on here are into Cinematography?

I very keen on it as a career and what to find out as much as I can.

If you dont want to tell me anything, what are some good forums to get involved with?

Thanks.

Edited June 30, 2009 by Bol Maaaaaaing

[rocktrials]

I wanted to get into this career....but after looking into it, it is a very hard area to get into, your first few years can just be making cups of tea and coffee for people (this does help though ) then it's just moving your way up, but you have to be dedicated and work hard to prove yourself. And in the end....you need a big break really to get you on the scene?

I didn't go ahead

[Spelling Bee]

It helps if you spell it correctly... cinEmatography!

Buzz Buzz!

[Revolver]

Spelling Bee, we don't see enough of you.

Come back, and save us from this dark age of retardedness!

[Papa Manual]

Wouldn't that be retardation?

[Sam Nichols]

Oh, the irony!

[Revolver]

Same thing.

[Bol Maaaaaaing]

I wanted to get into this career....but after looking into it, it is a very hard area to get into, your first few years can just be making cups of tea and coffee for people (this does help though ) then it's just moving your way up, but you have to be dedicated and work hard to prove yourself. And in the end....you need a big break really to get you on the scene?

I didn't go ahead

Is that for movie and independant filming? or for news and sport and everything?

I dont realy want to waste time learning things that I wont end up using in the end

It helps if you spell it correctly... cinEmatography!

Buzz Buzz!

Im sorry me lord, please forgive me and dont harm my family for we are simple pesants.

thank you me lord.

[Sam Nichols]

You haven't really mentioned what area you are specifically interested in; Camera work, Editing, Directing..

I dont realy want to waste time learning things that I wont end up using in the end

In my opinion this screams out at me that a career in cinematography probably isn't for you. This is one of those 'jobs' that you need to be passionate about, this is real life and the chances of you stumbling into a big job are very unlikely. The type of people who make it are the people who, as mentioned earlier, love the industry so much they don't care about spending a year making tea.

If you're worried about 'wasting time' then I don't think you're going about things the right way really.

[Captain Scarlet]

Have a word with Jonny Jones (on here and the usual social network site), he has worked with some reputable companies so I would imagine he would be able to give some good words of advice.

I too am interested in cinematography (although rather more on the TV side of things), currently in college then going to go for a broadcast TV coruse at one of the specialist universities.

[rocktrials]

I was talking mainly about the film industry.

And yeah people who are only desperately want in usually have a chance I believe....like sam said, making tea for a couple years whilst on set.

I was looking into how to become main cameraman on film sets. It's ridiculous like assistant to assistant making tea for a year, then asisstant making tea for two years then like 3rd assistant camera op, 2nd assis camera op, something else and camera op. then obviously onto other stuff and DOP.

I read one guy who was a maybe 1st assis camera op and he was like 27-33 and said he was in debt of £15,000 or so from uni and courses, could only start out on jobs doing tea/coffee shit and earning like £3.50 an hour or something pathetic.

Not to put you off, but like it's been mentioned, you HAVE to be dedicated.

[Captain Scarlet]

I read one guy who was a maybe 1st assis camera op and he was like 27-33 and said he was in debt of £15,000 or so from uni and courses, could only start out on jobs doing tea/coffee shit and earning like £3.50 an hour or something pathetic.

Ah well its a degree whatever happens, it can't be paid back until I'm earning £15,000 or more a year, and if I move into a different career then future employers will see it as a willingness to learn.

[rocktrials]

Ah well its a degree whatever happens, it can't be paid back until I'm earning £15,000 or more a year, and if I move into a different career then future employers will see it as a willingness to learn.

True it is a degree, but then saying it can't be paid back till you're earning £15,000 - i'd much rather earn more than 15k and pay it back, than be on under that.

Future employers might also see it as a weakness, studying something then changing your career path?

[Decade Ago]

Within the film and TV industry it's a hell of a lot of graft. Years of making tea, then being an apprentice, then a camera assistant, then focus puller, then camera operator, then working your way up to Director of Photography.

I've worked fricking hard (and still am) to just operate camera's. I've assisted over seas on some large commercials and worked with the Da Vinci Code/Troy DoP. He tells me the same story as every other one.....LOTS of hard work and passion for film. I swear the guy knew how to operate every film camera available! I also worked closely with Nicola Basso and Patrick Van Weeren during the same shoot, they said exactly the same thing. It's all a huge learning process to get into film.

TV is a much quicker turn around, I work for BBC News as a cameraman for my bread and butter but do ENG camera for Formula One Management on the side. I didn't go through the process of assisting, focus pulling etc... TV Companies don't want to spend money on your training only to have you assist other operators, they want you in and operating quickly. Time is money as they say!

This can be good and bad, people who have a shallow knowledge before they entered the industry tend to fall on their arse. Luckily for me I'd studied photography for five years and worked as a photographer before joining the BBC. The transition to Sony broadcast camera kit was not a difficult one.

In three years of camera operation I've seen some great things and filmed in some cool locations (mostly F1 tracks), I've learnt to use some incredibly complicated equipment in some very extreme environments. Google 'The Red Camera' and you'll see what i mean.

The point is this, if you want to work in film....be prepared to work and be someones bitch for alooooong time. The rewards are worth it though, seeing your name on the big screen as the DoP must be an amazing feeling. If you want to work in TV, then it's still alot of hard work and networking but it's faster to climb the ranks.

Saying that, the industry is strangled at the moment, freelancers are falling down left right and centre. It's not a good time to want a career in TV/Film.

If anyone wants any help or to know more feel free to give me a shout!

Edited June 30, 2009 by Decade Ago

[Sam Nichols]

What does it doo?

[Dr. Nick Riviera]

Stops light from entering the lens from above to stop lens flare when using overhead lighting.

[Decade Ago]

Stops light from entering the lens from above to stop lens flare when using overhead lighting.

I'm guessing he's talking about the Red camera? The easiest way to learn more about it is to have a read..

More info here.

It's quite a bit of kit!

[rocktrials]

Saying that, the industry is strangled at the moment, freelancers are falling down left right and centre. It's not a good time to want a career in TV/Film.

Then again, what industry is pretty much safe?

Sounds awesome anyway, well done

[Bol Maaaaaaing]

You haven't really mentioned what area you are specifically interested in; Camera work, Editing, Directing..

In my opinion this screams out at me that a career in cinematography probably isn't for you. This is one of those 'jobs' that you need to be passionate about, this is real life and the chances of you stumbling into a big job are very unlikely. The type of people who make it are the people who, as mentioned earlier, love the industry so much they don't care about spending a year making tea.

If you're worried about 'wasting time' then I don't think you're going about things the right way really.

I want to be a Camera Operator. Should of mentioned that.

Have a word with Jonny Jones (on here and the usual social network site), he has worked with some reputable companies so I would imagine he would be able to give some good words of advice.

I too am interested in cinematography (although rather more on the TV side of things), currently in college then going to go for a broadcast TV coruse at one of the specialist universities.

Yeah, I would want to get more into TV than film. Something along the lines of sports and things for the news. Documentarys would be good fun too.

Within the film and TV industry it's a hell of a lot of graft. Years of making tea, then being an apprentice, then a camera assistant, then focus puller, then camera operator, then working your way up to Director of Photography.

I've worked fricking hard (and still am) to just operate camera's. I've assisted over seas on some large commercials and worked with the Da Vinci Code/Troy DoP. He tells me the same story as every other one.....LOTS of hard work and passion for film. I swear the guy knew how to operate every film camera available! I also worked closely with Nicola Basso and Patrick Van Weeren during the same shoot, they said exactly the same thing. It's all a huge learning process to get into film.

TV is a much quicker turn around, I work for BBC News as a cameraman for my bread and butter but do ENG camera for Formula One Management on the side. I didn't go through the process of assisting, focus pulling etc... TV Companies don't want to spend money on your training only to have you assist other operators, they want you in and operating quickly. Time is money as they say!

This can be good and bad, people who have a shallow knowledge before they entered the industry tend to fall on their arse. Luckily for me I'd studied photography for five years and worked as a photographer before joining the BBC. The transition to Sony broadcast camera kit was not a difficult one.

In three years of camera operation I've seen some great things and filmed in some cool locations (mostly F1 tracks), I've learnt to use some incredibly complicated equipment in some very extreme environments. Google 'The Red Camera' and you'll see what i mean.

The point is this, if you want to work in film....be prepared to work and be someones bitch for alooooong time. The rewards are worth it though, seeing your name on the big screen as the DoP must be an amazing feeling. If you want to work in TV, then it's still alot of hard work and networking but it's faster to climb the ranks.

Saying that, the industry is strangled at the moment, freelancers are falling down left right and centre. It's not a good time to want a career in TV/Film.

If anyone wants any help or to know more feel free to give me a shout!

Yeah Ive looked at those Red cameras. They are a great camera.

Have you used a Red camera?

Sorry I didnt be specific enough.

I would want to be a Camera Man for mainly the News or other TV shows. I wouldnt mind doing a bit of editing too.

I live in New Zealand and its really small place. I was talking to a guy who used to be a journalist and knows a lot of camera men. And they said that you dont really need to go to uni or polytech, it helps a bit but its not that important.

Being a camera man in movies would be awsome but its insane to get into.

[rocktrials]

I used to want to be a wildlife/landscape style cameraman

[Decade Ago]

Yeah Ive looked at those Red cameras. They are a great camera.

Have you used a Red camera?

Sorry I didnt be specific enough.

I would want to be a Camera Man for mainly the News or other TV shows. I wouldnt mind doing a bit of editing too.

I live in New Zealand and its really small place. I was talking to a guy who used to be a journalist and knows a lot of camera men. And they said that you dont really need to go to uni or polytech, it helps a bit but its not that important.

Being a camera man in movies would be awsome but its insane to get into.

I assisted and operated the Red cameras I can't say specifically in what though because it's information I can't divulge (sp?).

It was a commercial though.

As I said before, my day job is a staff Cameraman for the BBC. I work for BBC Oxford full time. I don't know the industry over in NZ, I've heard it can be old fashioned in places but still a great place to be an operator.

In the UK I'd say it helps alot more if you have a qualification in something lens related or at least have a very strong knowledge.

Good luck! Just work hard for it!

Edited July 1, 2009 by Decade Ago

[Bol Maaaaaaing]

I used to want to be a wildlife/landscape style cameraman

That would be mean as I rekon.

Getting to travel all around the world.

I assisted and operated the Red cameras I can't say specifically in what though because it's information I can't divulge (sp?).

It was a commercial though.

As I said before, my day job is a staff Cameraman for the BBC. I work for BBC Oxford full time. I don't know the industry over in NZ, I've heard it can be old fashioned in places but still a great place to be an operator.

In the UK I'd say it helps alot more if you have a qualification in something lens related or at least have a very strong knowledge.

Good luck! Just work hard for it!

Thanks.

Do you travel around the country much?

Is it a job that you could hold down a family?

Or is it to time consuming and all over the place?

I have some knowledge of 35mm SLR cameras from Media Studies. But its only real basic, eg. focus, apatures, zoom and how films work.

[Decade Ago]

Do you travel around the country much?

The BBC job is mainly in the Oxford broadcast patch, if there's a story linking to another region then we'll go there.

F1 is all over the place, so far I've done Malaysia, Monte Carlo twice and Silverstone twice and few jobs for them elsewhere in the UK. It was a quiet season for me last year but it's picking up a bit more now. Hungarian next for me.

Is it a job that you could hold down a family?...Or is it to time consuming and all over the place?

No idea personally, I'm not planning on having a family anytime soon. I know regional cameramen who are fine with their families but anyone who travels overseas to shoot find's it puts a strain on family life.

I have some knowledge of 35mm SLR cameras from Media Studies. But its only real basic, eg. focus, apatures, zoom and how films work.

Just keep shooting and reading. You must have a natural passion for it because you'll probably do a fair bit of free work before you start trying to make a career. The more you shoot and learn the better you'll become...Companies love to have multi-skilled people. Learn to edit, learn to record sound and deal with sound equipment as a whole. Read up on different types of cameras and shooting techniques, it will all make you more employable in the long run.

[Bol Maaaaaaing]

Just keep shooting and reading. You must have a natural passion for it because you'll probably do a fair bit of free work before you start trying to make a career. The more you shoot and learn the better you'll become...Companies love to have multi-skilled people. Learn to edit, learn to record sound and deal with sound equipment as a whole. Read up on different types of cameras and shooting techniques, it will all make you more employable in the long run.

Sweet as.

There is an 18 week course up in Auckland that you learn a whole and you get to make 2 short movies and a music video, so I hope to go to that after school.

And through school I have learnt a lot about studing media, and the codes and convections and camera techniques and narrative structure and why they put things in the shots.

So I think that I have all right knowledge of that kind of thing (like parrallel editing, and narrative retardation etc).

I was hoping to get a new rim for my P2, but I might use the money to get a SLR of Trademe(like ebay ) insteed, because we have only got digital cameras at the moment and they do all the focus and appatures and shutter speeds itself.

Thanks for all your useful information.

[rocktrials]

Get a good old SLR too, will help you understand more, maybe even a film, which will vastly imrpvoe your skills understanding light and aperatures etc.