Moving Images, Understanding Media

Chapter 8 The Production Process 301

all of the precision equipment, and setting f-stop, shutter speed, and other

adjustments to the camera from the instructions of the DP. Th ey are responsible

for measuring, establishing, and shift ing focus during shots, which is why

they are sometimes called focus pullers. If a shot is out of focus, it is typically

ruined, so there is a great deal of pressure on the fi rst assistant camera. If the

camera and actors move around, this can become quite challenging. When

shooting fi lm negative, the fi rst AC must also “check the gate” periodically

to make sure it is totally clean because a single hair or speck on the edge of

the gate can ruin the image of the exposed fi lm.

Th e second AC works as the assistant to the fi rst AC and is in charge of

labeling and clapping the slate for each take. Second assistant cameras must

note what has been shot in camera records, including all technical information.

When shooting with fi lm negative, the second AC also works as a loader who

places fi lm into the camera magazines and removes the negative to place into

fi lm cans. Th is work may be done by a separate loader on the crew who also

makes sure that the takes are properly labeled for processing and marked on

the camera reports. All work with the negative must be done in a dark room

or with a changing bag so that the fi lm stock is not exposed to any light. Th us,

one of the skills of loaders is to be able to insert and thread fi lm negative into

magazines without being able to (or having to) look at what they are doing.

Th eir hands are stuck inside a completely lightproof bag, and they hold the

movie itself in their fi ngers, quite literally..

With digital cinematography, a great deal of the work of the camera team

has shift ed to the verifi cation, oversight, downloading, and uploading of the

digitized footage. Th ere have been many methods of storage of the digital

footage used during the late twentieth and early twenty-fi rst centuries, and the

Figure 8-15 On small-scale

productions, many positions

are fi lled by individual

crew members, and digital

fi lmmaking has allowed for

signifi cantly reduced camera

crews. (Courtesy Mike Chase)

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