Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

Operate television, video, or motion picture camera to photograph images or scenes for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, video production, or motion pictures.

Job Task

• Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment in order to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
• Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings in order to achieve the effects sought by directors.
• Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
• Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
• Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
• Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
• Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
• Read charts and compute ratios to determine variables such as lighting, shutter angles, filter factors, and camera distances.
• Reload camera magazines with fresh raw film stock.
• Select and assemble cameras, accessories, equipment, and film stock to be used during filming, using knowledge of filming techniques, requirements, and computations.
• Set up cameras, optical printers, and related equipment to produce photographs and special effects.
• Test, clean, and maintain equipment to ensure proper working condition.
• Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
• View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
• Download exposed film for shipment to processing labs.
• Gather and edit raw footage on location to send to television affiliates for broadcast, using electronic news-gathering or film-production equipment.
• Instruct camera operators regarding camera setups, angles, distances, movement, and variables and cues for starting and stopping filming.
• Label and record contents of exposed film, and note details on report forms.
• Prepare slates that describe the scenes being filmed.
• Receive raw film stock, and maintain film inventories.

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