Hook Man Shoot

This was such a problematic shoot. Firstly we did not have enough lighting, we took some small LEDs and a cool light with a generator, however the generator for the cool light started beeping so early in the shoot the director made the call to film without it. I then had to light the rest of the shoot with a couple of LED's and the interior car lights which did not work too well and this means I am slightly disappointed in the footage we produced in the end. We also had to relocated mid shoot because of problems with people interrupting the shots and causing disruptions. After moving all the equipment and crew we realized that we had lost the fake blood and had to miss that shot for it to be taken another day. In the end we did get most of the footage that we needed but it was a very chaotic shoot to say the least.

Work Experience

There are a lot of opportunities for experience doing running for a production within the industry which is great as it can give to be recognised however specifically for a camera operator role there are a few major chances for work experience. One being the BBC work experience programme.

This is a particularly good programme as it not only does the obvious and gives you links into one of the most highly respected broadcasting companies to date but the Placement Manager within the programme listens to what you want to gain from it and plans your programme around you rather than everyone just following a standard timetable, this means you will learn more relatable skills and your experience will be the most effect for you personally as it can be.

Although less specific towards camera operating and more about just getting into the TV industry, The Network is an amazing chance to build up broadcasting contacts because of its connection to the Edinburgh international television network festival. It helps new talent connect to those who are already well established in the industry and therefore learn from them to add to their own ideals.

Where to be a camera operator

http://www.danielhaggett.com/blog/151-how-to-become-a-cameraman

This blog of a professional camera man is very interesting to read for anyone aspiring to be a camera operator themselves, I looks at the reasons for becoming a camera operator, as well as both the advantages and disadvantages. This professionals opinions could contribute towards my report, especially the section towards the end where he describes how different the role can be depending on which aspect of the industry you decided to take the role into.

Sixth Production Meeting

From this production meeting I know that I need to produce a shot list for the next production and annotate the storyboards, I will also be looking at getting a portable light of some sort for the shoot as it is outside away from any electrical sources that we could access.

Extra Training

A university degree is a great way to train for the industry and a lot of courses help you find the specialism you fit into, however once you've graduated there is a large variety of courses out there that can help you develop the specialism even further and make you even more qualified to take on one of the many jobs out there.

One example of an institution that provides extra courses is the National Film & Television School. It separates roles out into more specific categories and offers courses providing more insight on that topic rather than a wider one.

The Guild of British Camera Technicians also offer additional courses, again looking into more specific roles but they look more at adding extra skills to already established industry professionals, such as the example of steadicam operations.

The problem with additional courses is of course the funding as both of the establishments and many others do charge for these courses. The GBCT courses in the picture above are all about £1,200.

Networking

When looking into networking I first found BECTUs freelance fair as I have already been looking into what BECTU do as an organisation, however, I wanted to find another event as well as this to see what other opportunities are out there to meet industry professional in film and television. When searching I found a lot of different events for a range of roles and a lot of events in America however the event I found the most interesting and appropriate is the BVE or the Broadcast Video Expo. That has support from so many companies including BECTU as well as AVVID and the BBC etc, which is an amazing opportunity for someone trying to break in as the expo has panels on how the industry is changing and developing to learn from, has professionals speak about new and innovative projects and shows new cameras and equipment, which is specifically good for my role.

Working Rate

For any role including freelance camera operators, BECTU provides a rates card, this can help anyone new into the industry like me, know how much they should be earning. This is a great tool for anyone looking for work as they can calculate how much they should be getting paid for their skill and can ensure that less respectful employers cannot take advantage of someone trying to break through by giving them unfair pay. I will be looking into working rates for my report and this will be a great example to use.

The Babysitter Shoot

The Babysitter shoot went well! We got everything filmed that we needed to in the time we planned, using the slider, track & dolly, tripods and shoulder rig. Filming everything with Mr Borden first so one of our actors could leave was our first good choice as this created more space and made sure the actor wasn't waiting around. The rest of the shoot ran smoothly with Cassie however I do feel that I should have used the shoulder rig less than I did, it was useful in a lot of shots however sometimes I was just using it for static shots. In retrospect I should have asked the director if I could move to a tripod but I did not so I feel some of the shots may be a tad wobblier than they would have been otherwise. One of the most interesting shots in the short was the shot of Cassie on the floor in the kitchen because it was a great chance to use some less conventional lighting, the shot is lit using the lights hidden under the kitchen counters, changing the lights to red added more to the dangerous tones of the section.

Fifth Production Meeting

This was a short production meeting for me as my work from this is simply to carry on doing what I'm doing however we did discuss the Babysitter shoot and after looking at the footage it is obvious some shots need to be retaken, thankfully not too many, mainly just an exterior which is very easily done.

Second Equipment Test

During the second test we looked more at the equipment that we could use, we looked at three main pieces of equipment that were the smoke machine, slider and shoulder rig. The smoke machine test did not go so well unfortunately because the smoke canister was empty and we could not get a replacement. The other two pieces of equipment were more successful however, the slider proved very useful in building tension due to the ability to bring in a slow kind of zoom without risking the jolt of actually zooming. It can also be used track subjects from the side, tracking them more horizontally however we decided the track and dolly would be just as good for this despite it taking up more space. Finally the shoulder rig tests went well, it is an amazing piece of equipment for any non static shots, creating a new fluidity of movement, which we will definitely be using in all of the shorts.

Places to find jobs

There are actually a lot of job websites specific to the needs of film and TV crews. I have been looking at a few to both investigate the people who employ through them and he type of people the employers are searching for.

1. Broadcast Jobs - http://www.broadcastjobs.co.uk/

A well-presented website with sections for production, post production, admin etc. that boasts a wide range of clients including ITV and a range of universities. Most of the jobs that were available however where not in the field I was searching for, at another date this website may have been useful. 

2.Grape Vine Jobs - http://www.grapevinejobs.co.uk/

This website, although less easily navigated, seemed to have a wider range of roles, offering a more specific filter system and also seeming to have more available jobs in general as it is linked to larger more general jobs websites rather than just being free standing.

3. The Guardian - https://jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/tv/#browsing

Although a trusted institute the Guardian website jobs that were listed we very rarely in actual crew jobs, they were mostly for more administrative or even teaching roles in some cases. 

4. The Call Sheet - http://www.thecallsheet.co.uk/

This is most likely the best website on the list for the job role that I am searching for, it advertises actual production crew roles a lot more than administrative and is even support the publishing of a book that gives information about breaking into the industry. 

BECTU

"BECTU is the UK's media and entertainment trade union; sectors covered include broadcasting, film, independent production, theatre and the arts, leisure and digital media."

When looking into working in the industry this is one of the first companies that really stands out above the rest. They cover a wide range of job roles including both camera operators and cinematographers and support them as a union. They look after pay rates, offer additional training and connect employees with employers.
I will be including information about BECTU in my report as I feel like it is a very beneficial service when trying to find employment. 

BECTU is also good for networking with other professionals, especially for freelancers as they have a freelancer fair every year where companies like the BBC host events and panels, this is not just a great way to learn about the industry but is also a great way to meet new people and possible employers.