Trainee
The camera team asked me to mark up and slate the ‘slate 500’ clapperboard. The two pictures below show the clapper board and me slating it for the second take:
Two pictures below showing an examples of a correctly wrapped up BNC cable. I was required to ‘bash’ the cable mid-take as it was a tracking shot and we had limited Wireless Teradek receivers.
The importance of correct cable maintenance is vital as BNC cable can be quite fragile and if ‘bashed’ incorrectly it could lead to damaged cable. The correct method is show below:
The two pictures below show the monitors I had to set up for this location. It shows video village, and the directors and script supervisors monitors. This was my first job on set, getting batteries to the monitors and cameras. The focus pullers and grips monitors were set up by the B camera Trainee but this alternated throughout the shoot.
Below shows the camera we were using, Sony Venice, mounted with, EVF – Electronic view finder -, side monitor, Teradek transmitter -wireless video transmitter -, Cine Tape – Electronic measuring system that constantly calculates distance between a subject and the camera’s film-plane -, Cooke 2X Anamophic prime and clip on Matt box – used to block the sunlight or other light sources to prevent lens flares.
We were using Cooke 2XANA primes. We had a mag liner designated for the lenses for ease of travel, and to keep them off the floor.
We were using a 25mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 135mm lens. At times, I was given tasks to do, given by the use of walkie-talkies, such as bringing the lens to the Second AC on set. Below shows all the information for Cooke Anamorphic lenses:
Below shows one of the set ups for the castle scene.
Below are pictures of the set up at location 2, the army barracks. We had a tacking shot that I had to manage the BNC cable throughout the take.
It was important to have a battery charging station set up nearby to the set as it was my responsibility to change and charge batteries.
Alongside monitors, carrying lenses and charging batteries, it is also the trainee’s responsibility to write up important camera notes neat and tidy in a reports sheet. Below are pictures of the 2nd AC, Dan Patunas’ notes and then the report sheet I transferred the information on to.
I asked the Second AC, Gwilym Jenner for a testimonial for the shoot. Below shows the self assessment of my work as a camera trainee:
Below shows Gwilym’s testimonial:
Link to Gwilym’s IMDb page:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9043002/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Below are the call sheets for the days I worked on in October. Call sheets are sheets of paper with all relevant information for the shoot of the day. This includes, unit call, location, shooting schedule, all crew names and phone number and weather information.
Ed Moore – Director of Photography – Show reel:
https://edmoorebsc.com/?fbclid=IwAR1lS9SGxMzO_GT98giPpSN1eqj3IM-URK4Fs70G-BLZ82Fp9tI_uXiq25A
Ed Moore IMDb Page:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2430365/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Mark McQuoid – A Camera operator – IMDb page:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1093336/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
As it was my second time working on Doctor Who, with the same camera crew, I felt a level of trust that I didn’t have the first time round. I was trusted with tasks and the crew felt like there wasn’t need to keep an eye on me. It was a valuable experience watching the standard at which they work. Slating the slate 500 clapperboard felt accomplishing as the second AC’s, Dan Patunas and Gwilym Jenner, explained their level of trust and felt comfortable giving me the responsibility of stepping up while one of them went, “10 – 1” – The toilet. My three years practising at MFS has taught me the absolute importance of cable maintenance and I believe it shows in the pictures on my Doctor Who page. This is something both A camera and B camera crew picked up and commented on. The pace at which the crew were filming proved to be difficult this time due to the fact that they were behind schedule and so everyone was working to a tight schedule to catch up. I am very glad I had the opportunity to work at such a pace, because I believe I will be more prepared for any future projects working to the same pace.
Industry Practice Portfolio 