Director
Creative or operational relevance to directing
The camera assistant pulls focus, swaps lenses, manages media, and keeps the camera ready. Typically two roles: 1st AC on the lens, 2nd AC on the slate and data.
The camera assistant is the department between the cinematographer and the equipment. It almost always consists of two positions with clearly separated tasks—combining both into one person saves a day's wage and loses speed.
1st AC — Focus Puller
Pulls focus. This is the actual task and the reason the position is paid for: with a wide aperture and a moving actor, the in-focus range is only a few centimeters, and the focus puller hits it blindly—using marks on the floor, a measuring tape, and experience. In addition: lens changes, camera setup, matte box, filters, and the responsibility for keeping the image clean.
2nd AC — Clapper Loader
Slates the scene, keeps the camera report, changes magazines or cards, sets the floor marks for the actors, and hands over the material to the DIT or lab. During filming, this also includes loading magazines in a dark bag or darkroom.
Why the Separation Matters
While the 1st AC stands at the lens preparing the next shot, the 2nd AC is already setting marks for the one after that. If one of these two positions is removed, the camera waits—and with it, the entire set.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Importance in production planning and execution
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Kameraassistenz"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?