ABSTRACT
The number of members in the film camera department depends on the kind of production being shot. Big-budget feature films usually have a larger crew than low-budget films, TV commercials, or music videos. It also depends on whether the production is union or nonunion. In the United States the typical camera department usually consists of the following crew members:
Director of Photography (DP) Camera Operator First Assistant Cameraman (1st AC or Focus Puller) Second Assistant Cameraman (2nd AC or Clapper/Loader) Loader (optional position on larger multicamera productions)
This list is based on a union feature film and includes the basic key crew positions. All of the following lists of camera department personnel responsibilities are based on a union feature film. Each job is different, so not all of these responsibilities will be performed on every show. Some of the similarities and differences between union and nonunion work are discussed in Chapter 7.
