"Originally, I really wanted to be an artist, but I wasn't that good. When
I picked up the camera, I was able to put elements of design into my
photographs."
Hamill earned an associ-
ate's degree from RIT, but
was drafted before he could
finish his bachelor's. He
served in the army from 1966
to 1968, then finished his
schooling at City University
in New York City. "I started
working right away. I worked
for about two years as an
assistant for a couple of
fashion photographers."
When Harvey Matofsky, a
public relations friend of
Hamill's older brother, came to
New York, he changed the
direction of Hamill's career.
Matofsky needed a photogra-
pher and Hamill's brother rec-
ommended him. The
introduction turned into an
offer of work on a picture (never
released) that was shot in Rome, Tanzania, and Sicily. When filming
wrapped, he immediately went to work on Doc, shot in Spain.
After five months' work in Europe, Hamill returned to the United
States and, with the help of cinematographer Gerald Hirschfeld and assis-
tant cameraman Alec Hirschfeld, applied for membership into IATSE
(International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Local 600. He was
admitted two years later.
With two pictures to his credit, Hamill "got the bug" to pursue addi-
tional film work. Until he was admitted into the union, he worked on
several nonunion films and began to pick up work as a special on an
impressive list of features, including The Conversation, The Gambler, Gator,
Three Days of the Condor, Women Under the Influence, and Zandy's Bride.
"The movie company wanted additional coverage of different scenes.
Having seen my portfolio, they hired me as a special. Whereas a unit
photographer works from day one, until the end of the movie, a special
comes in and only covers certain scenes. They may be scenes that are two
days a week for ten weeks, or every day for three weeks."
What do you like
least about your job?
"There is no down side. I
always wish that it paid
more money. I think I'm
underpaid, although other
people in the business
think I'm overpaid, because I get more money
than most people. But compared to actors
and directors and so forth, what they make,
it's like a drop in the bucket."--Brian Hamill
What do you love most
about your job?
"What I love the most is that I get to work
in a business that I like. I've loved movies
since I was a kid, so I couldn't think of a
better subject to shoot than actors and the
personnel involved with making movies."
--Brian Hamill
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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