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The cinematographer is a particularly important film profession. They are responsible for capturing and realizing the director's artistic vision or specifications with their camera.
Cinematographer is a diverse and multifaceted profession. Cinematographers are usually responsible for both technical and artistic image design. Depending on whether it is a film or cinema production or a TV project, the areas of responsibility are somewhat different. This includes the following areas:
Feature film:
Team composition: How large does the team need to be? Which assistants does the cameraman need for this specific production?
Equipment: What technical equipment and materials are needed to do the job in the best possible way? What should the equipment pool look like?
Visual realization: Development of concepts and ideas for the cinematic realization of the script in collaboration with the director. Either the cameraman is 100% responsible for this or he realizes the ideas of others.
Image composition and camera work: The technical implementation of the ideas developed with the director (shot sizes, camera work, etc.).
Lighting: Creating the lighting on the film set that is necessary and appropriate for the mood (lighting).
The job of a cameraman for film and cinema productions involves a lot of planning and conception. Every single scene is discussed in advance and every image composition is designed together with the director.
TV set:
In the TV sector, cameramen work much more independently than their film and cinema counterparts. In the fast-paced TV segment, there is usually not enough time to plan every single shot in advance.
EB cameramen (EB = electronic reporting or electronic broadcasting) usually work in a two-man team, together with a sound technician. They ensure that the story told by the editor is also visually appealing. Their tasks range from short news clips to longer reports and documentaries.
Camera operators working in a studio receive their instructions directly from the director via a headset. In the case of multi-camera productions (live or recorded), the director creates a concept in advance that must be implemented by all camera operators. This is usually never 100 percent successful for live events.
You can find all relevant information about the job description "camera operator" at Jobwork.
A cameraman cannot do all the tasks himself, which is why he needs additional staff, a so-called camera team. These assistants ensure that everything runs smoothly and support the cameraman in his work.
A camera team usually comprises the following positions:
Camera assistant: Assembles the required equipment in consultation with the cameraman. Also works closely with the lighting technician and sound engineer.
Material assistant: Responsible for managing the film material (exposed and unexposed). This also includes packaging and handing it over to the production company.
There are also assistants for sound and lighting, although they work more closely with the sound and lighting engineers responsible for this.
There are indeed training paths that are specifically tailored to the profession of cameraman, although these are not uniformly regulated. Firstly, there is basic photographic training with an additional course at a film or television academy. The other option is training at a university of applied sciences or an art college.