An important part of the
school's curriculum is working
with independent producers
who utilize students to fill
crew positions. "All the stu-
dents are crew members. They
don't hold the key positions,
like director or cinematogra-
pher--all the high-end posi-
tions are held by paid
professionals from New York
and Los Angeles. The second, third, fourth, and fifth people down the
ladder, stringing the cable from the microphones and moving ladders,
are students."
When Walpole graduated in 1997 with an associate of sciences degree,
he had already built a résumé of work experience and made many indus-
try contacts. He began working regularly almost immediately and soon
joined the union for camera assistants. Early breaks came working on
television commercials and music videos for artists Shania Twain,
Christina Aguilera, and others.
During the past three years, Walpole has worked as a second camera
assistant on several feature films, including Collateral Damage, Minority
Report, Spy Game, The Sum of All Fears, We Were Solders, and as a camera
assistant on Along Came a Spider, Hannibal, Tuck Everlasting, and the IMAX
film Ultimate X. He frequently works on the television series The West Wing.
"You start at the bottom and work your way up through the camera
department: the lowest position is film loader, then you work your way
up to second, and then first, and then to cinematographer," explains
Walpole. "I want to be a cinematographer."
Job Overview
The main job of the film loader is to load film into camera magazines
in a darkroom. Loaders maintain accurate film inventories and assist the
camera crew.
"Essentially," says film loader/second assistant cameraman Mike
Gentile, "my job encompasses just about anything that makes life easier
for my camera crew. When I'm not dealing with film issues, I may be
JOB TITLE: FILM LOADER
"To become a tech-
nician on a movie, a
camera person, a sound
person or a light person,
Valencia Community
College in Orlando, Florida, is by far the best
program in the country."--Mark Walpole
CAREER TIPS
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