Camera Operator Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Camera operator .............? I want to persue a career in the film industry as a camera operator. I was just wondering how I would go about doing this, like are there any courses I could do at tafe and where would be a good place to start? Do you earn good money?

Answer: Congratulations if that's what you like, if i would be you i would go to my local TV station and speak with the camera operators, tell them your concerns and i'm sure they'll help you, there are a few sites bellow about this career, there's also salary.com where you could see how much you could be making depending on your location. good luck and remember, if you are a good worker you'll always get paid good...

Question: How do you become a camera operator for tv and film? I've tried researching a lot of places on the internet and the only place I've found that teaches TV/Film camera operators are in England. Does anyone know where in the US that they may have a school for camera operator? The kind of work I'm talking about is a camera man for a TV show or Film. Is this something you have to go to film school for or is there a place that just teaches how to be a camera operator? Thanks for your answers!!!

Answer: Yea, but you won't get the job at a real studio because it's union and you have to work your way up. There are apprentice programs (no pay) which can lead to a job as Loader (load and unload the camera, maybe do the clack board) or 4th Cameraman. Generally you have to work 1 or 2 years before you can be promoted to focus puller (3rd cameraman) and then 1 or 2 more years before you get promoted to operator (2nd cameraman) and then a producer or director has to elevate you to Director of Photography (1st cameraman) It's probably about $500 to $1,000 to get your first union card (IATSE 4th cameraman) and that gets you maybe $12 to $15 an hour. Another way to get training for FREE and get started is Cable Access. They will teach you and then you can volunteer to work for them and learn the ropes. Eventually you can set up cameras. It is also possible to do it in a non-union shop. Los Angeles is a union shop and Central Control Operator makes $25-35 an hour In Buffalo it's non union and they pay $7.50 an hour. Same work. Los Angeles pays Head Video engineers $3,000 a week minimum a friend of mine got that same positioni in Non Union washtingon state and makes $3,000 a MONTH. IF you want to learn it for real you have to go to a for real school like NYU, USC, UCLA, etc because they use the real equipment and you need to train on Worrel Gear heads not Miller Fluid heads, Elmack and McAlister dollies not wheel chairs and shopping carts. You also need to learn steadi cam operation and remote arm operation.

Question: How do I become a camera operator for film and TV? I want to become a camera operator for film and TV and need some help on how I would start. I've heard that I have to go to film school for that. I thought maybe they have some type of class that just teaches about operating film and tv cameras. I did research on communications degree and what is offered at the local college but they don't learn about cameras. Please help and I hope a camera man or an experience can answer this. She/He would be more ideal but anyone and everyone will be just fine. Thanks all!!

Answer: I went to TV Production School for a year. Being a trained and qualified photographer helped out alot. I dont know about where you are but film school proberly the best option a

Question: What kind of jobs could a camera operator havw with military? I was reading thise army reserve page about civilians that could have jobs with audio, and video equipment and that kinds of stuff, but it didn't get much into detail. What kinds of jobs could a civilian camera operator have in the military?

Answer: If he/she joined the military then he/she would have a job to take pics or put together a magazine or book. Or even write a report for the post commander. Also they might talk to the civilian press. The military hates the civilian press because they lie and stretch the truth.

Question: How do you get a job as a tv/film camera operator? Please experience camera women and men operators I need your help and guidance.I've been trying to find info on how to get a job as a camera man or camera operator for TV and Film. To be more specific and to clarify. The people who operate the TV cameras on TV shows, News Stations, Sporting Events, Etc and for Film like movies. Do you have to take film school just to operate a camera? Or is there a school that offers that? Thanks.......

Answer: like all things it requires study, school helps for this. i did 2 years photography school and then later a year at TV Production school (as a camera operator), i work mostly as a photographer and sometimes as an operater for a horse racing channel - i freelance in both,,,,,,, to get anywhere get some education TV/Film school before going up against those that have studied and know not just how to operate but all the other things needed to be known like the roles the other players play : like the director, director of photography, 1st AD et centera. "just operating the camera" is a skill: all TV/Film cameras are manual everything so you must know focus, white balance, et cetera all manually.....so unless you are smarter that those that bother going to school to learn then goto school (TV or Film school) to learn...........oh they will give you more information on how to get employment in a highly compeditive industry if you goto school and get a position as 1st or 2nd camera assistant within a year of finshing school you will be doing well a a

Question: where is the best college to go to to become a camera operator for a tv show? i want to become a camera operator for a tv show or film...where is the best college to go to? how do you become a camera operator for a film or tv show? how much money do they make? is it hard? please give good details ect. thanks!

Answer: Check out Columbia College in Chgo.

Question: Where do you go or how do go about becoming a camera operator for a big time studio in Hollywood.? I thought about becoming a camera operator I heard the pay is good and I have been interested in for a long time. I would like to know how to go about it. Thank You.

Answer: Go to college and get your degree in Digital and Film Arts. With that degree you can do anything film related (director, camera person, screenwriter...etc) You could go to any school (university or community college) I would say go to a community college its much cheeper. You take your basic classes like math and writing and then you take the film classes which are like 'history of american cinema' 'screen writing' and a bunch of others.

Question: how do i get a job as a mobile news camera operator? i am wanting to start a career as a news camera operator. for this job do i need to get specific training? a college or technical degree? i need advice on how to get started. i have considered starting as an unpaid intern at the tv station but i wanted to konw if i would require any schooling for this. thanks. :-)

Answer: You can get a degree, but you don't need one. Try interning first, or getting an entry level job at a local television station as a studio camera operator. If you do well there, you can express interest in a field camera operator position

Question: How Do I Become A Camera Operator? I would Like To Become a Camera Operator For Either a News Station or TV Sitcom. How Would I Go About Persuing This Goal? Is School A Good Choice? If So, What Schools (Mainly in the Chicago Area) Are Good for This Line of Work? Or Should I Just Try Getting in at Some other Entry Level Position and Try To Work My Way Up?? I Really Need Help With This One....

Answer: Go to school.

Question: I'm looking into becoming a freelance camera operator? I have got a City & Guild's certificate in Media Techniques Level 3 and I'm looking into becoming a freelance camera operator and looking for work at the moment, but unsure how to start and who to ask

Answer: I love your name! Anyone who wants to destroy zombies must be alright! There's a little handbook called surprisingly, "Freelance Photographer's Handbook" and comes out annually. It gives you lists of magazines and what they are looking for etc. It also has photocopyable forms like model release forms and invoices etc. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freelance-Photog…