camera crew paperwork, such as camera and film inventory lists and
time sheets. Additionally, on some shoots, the second assistant also per-
forms the duties of the film loader.
"The second assistant is my direct assistant," explains first assistant
cameraman Anthony Cappello. "He helps me. He brings me the maga-
zine; he does the camera reports, the slate, and takes care of all the paper-
work involved with identifying scenes for the editors."
Specials Skills Required
Camera assistants need a working knowledge of motion picture cameras
and equipment. "Some real world common sense is necessary," says assis-
tant cameraman Mark Walpole. "People skills are very important--it takes
skill to negotiate, sort of twist people's arm to get more money and still
maintain a friendly working relationship so they call you again."
Advice for Someone Seeking This Job
Although a college education is not required, Mark Walpole says, "It
definitely helped me because it gave me a good educational basis and
I made a lot of contacts."
"Go to a school and study the field you are interested in; then start con-
tacting people that do what you would like to do, one step up. If you want
to be a second assistant camera-
man, you find a film directory
and start calling all the first
assistant camera people in the
town where you want to live
and let them know you're inter-
ested in working with them."
Professional Profile:
Mark Walpole,
Assistant Cameraman
Intrigued by making movies
from the time he was a teen-
ager, Virginia native Mark
Walpole enrolled in a voca-
tional video production course
while still in high school. After
graduation, he attended
Valencia Community College
in Orlando, Florida.
What do you like
least about your job?
"The schedule is rough--
it's great money, but you
do work very long hours.
Fourteen to eighteen hour
days are typical. You're
home very little. It's hard on a personal
level, having any continuity in your life."
--Mark Walpole
What do you love most
about your job?
"I like my work because it is completely dif-
ferent every single day: a different location,
a different group of people, a different time
schedule, and different scenarios. No two
jobs are the same."--Mark Walpole
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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