What is Included?
You will get over 90 pages of awesome content!
Chapter 1 – Introduction
What is a Cameraman? What is a Director of Photography?
The 4 Keys to becoming a successful Cameraman
Chapter 2 – Career Path Options
Genres and Types of Cameraman – What is the best career path for YOU?
Chapter 3 – Cameraman’s Team
Genres and Types of Cameraman – What is the best career path for YOU?
Chapter 4 – Become a Cameraman
HOW to start your career – Different routes to becoming a Cameraman.
I will tell you HOW I became a DOP and give you my Top tips.
Chapter 5 – Skills to Become a Cameraman
Technical, Creative, Emotional and behavioral and business skills needed to be the BEST.
Technical KNOW HOW explains black balance, white balance, focus tips, depth of field, shutter speed, frame rates, exposure and much more! Full of My TOP TIPS.
Chapter 6 – Cameraman’s Roles & Responsibilities
Includes The 8 Most IMPORTANT things you must do before every shoot – Be fully prepared!
Chapter 7 – A Cameraman’s KIT
Essentials you should always carry PLUS the 59 items the BEST Cameramen carry (most cameramen wouldn’t even know about most of these tools and items!)
A checklist of tools for your ‘Run Bag’ A checklist of tools for your ‘Run Bag’
Chapter 8 – Employment Opportunities
How to get your FIRST job and where to look
A Cameraman’s Day on Set (5am wake up anyone?!)
Salary Expectations – Show me the MONEY!
Chapter 9 – Promotional Materials
How to promote yourself and beat the competition!
Top tips for creating your Showreel
Chapter 10 – Possible Issues
Probably the most important Chapter!
Page One Mistakes – 21 things that can and will go wrong and how to avoid them
Chapter 11 – Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 12 – Resources
Links to interesting articles, film schools, recommended websites, magazines and more!
PLUS, You will be Getting 54 TOP TIPS FOR FREE for Filming on Location + Lighting TIPS + over 30 tips on How to beat the competition!
Sample Tips
How To Become a Cameraman
Every day is a School day
You will often hear a professional crew quoting the phrase ‘everyday is a school day’meaning that every day you need to and will be learning something new. This is completely true and the mindset to adopt right now.Whether it is something about the camera, a filming technique, lighting, working with others, the country you are in or the people and subject you are filming, there is always something new to learn. This is what makes a career as a Cameraman a very dynamic, exhilarating and exciting one.
TOP TIP
If you are filming exterior you can white balance using the clouds in the sky. If you want to warm your image up slightly, you can use the blue from the sky to do this, by framing a bit in. The more blue you frame in the warmer your image will be, so be careful. Adding some blue will directly increase your white balance value/make your Kelvin number higher. Ie: from 5600K to 6000K. Read the user manual of the specific Camera you are using. Many have advanced menu options where you can dial in a specific colour temperature/degrees Kelvin. This way you can check on a monitor and get the exact colour temperature you desire.
Ask Production details about the location and the exact call time.
Make sure you know exactly where the location is. Do not rely on Production to provide maps. Do your own research and plan your own route and estimated journey time then add 40mins+ to ensure you arrive on time, if not early. If you are late, not only is it unprofessional and embarrassing, but you will spend the whole day chasing your tail.
Lighting for Film and TV
Lighting with only Two Lights
You can double up one light to do two jobs.Use one light as a ¾ backlight, then place a reflector to the side of the subject to bounce the light back and act as a fill. You can do this vice versa. This way you can make one light do 2 jobs.If you are shooting a conversation between two people, you can use two lights to key and backlight the both of them.
How?
You key light person 1 and with the same light you backlight person 2 and vice versa. This works perfectly if the subjects are seated (in an interview situation) and not moving about too much. A subject moving through the light will create a shadow on the others face. This is a low budget approach that gets the job done.
How to Beat the Competition
View all members of a production as potential employers.
I have had recommendations from nearly every department from Researchers, Art Department, Make Up, to PA/ Runner’s. Remember a PA/ Runner today could be a CEO in the not too distant future. Be kind to everyone and treat everyone with respect. You will learn that a massive amount of jobs come through recommendations. Make as many friends as possible. I guarantee this will stand you in good stead for the future.
