Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
- Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
- Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
- Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
- Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
- 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.
- Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
- Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- 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.
- Read charts and compute ratios to determine variables such as lighting, shutter angles, filter factors, and camera distances.
- Set up cameras, optical printers, and related equipment to produce photographs and special effects.
- View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
- Reload camera magazines with fresh raw film stock.
- Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
- Prepare slates that describe the scenes being filmed.
- Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.
- Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
- Stay current with new technologies in the field by reading trade magazines.
- Set up and operate electric news gathering (ENG) microwave vehicles to gather and edit raw footage on location to send to television affiliates for broadcast.
- Direct studio productions.
- Design graphics for studio productions.
- Write new scripts for broadcasts.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)
