Hi all I graduated two years ago from university. I have been applying to as many trainee positions as I can but unfortunately have not had any luck getting a job. I really want to get into the camera department. Does anyone have any help or advice as to how I can get into my dream job? Many thanks Roisin
Anything Goes : Looking for a career in a camera department. by Roisin Kelly
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Make sure you're up to date on all digital formats, that you know exactly what a DIT does, that you know cameras like RED and Alexa and F65 inside and out. A great place to start is in a rental house and as a camera utility. Not many trainee jobs out there - but there's work for DIT's, video assist and utilities.
Hi Parker Thanks for the advice. I will have to look into the actual cameras more. I have been looking into video assist and DIT roles as I had applied for trainee positions in these areas too. These aren't areas we learned about in University but reading into them in my own time they sound like areas I would be more interested in within the camera department. I will certainly be doing more research into the cameras. Thank you again Roisin
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Roisin, Try looking at Keslow Camera in Culver City CA and / or in Chicago....I think they are hiring...Keslow Camera is a boutique high end camera gear for tv commercials and feature films..Great people...Good luck Cheers, Viktor
Hi Viktor Thanks for you recommendations greatly appreciated. Unfortunately I'm based in Northern Ireland. Hoping to save up to travel in next few years so I will keep them in mind and hopefully visit them soon. Thanks again Roisin
Didn't know you were in Northern Ireland. I wonder if location may be a factor in your getting a job or trainee position. How many productions are shot in Northern Ireland each year? How many camera rental houses are there?
Hi Parker There have been quite a few productions of different sorts going on. The biggest and most recent being Game of Thrones and the new Dracula movie I think has just started. I've tried keeping up by watching the Northern Ireland Screen website which would list most of the productions and jobs going. Camera houses I'm not so sure about, have have looked for production company's but haven't found many and none seem to be hiring when I check. Which reminds me I need to look into them again. Roisin
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I moved to Los Angeles because there weren't many opportunities where I grew up so I feel for you. It's difficult to get your dream job when there are so few jobs available.
I hope to end up in Los Angeles someday just don't have the money right now. Hoping in next year or so to save enough to maybe go to London.
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Volunteer on local productions. Work your way into being a camera assistant, eventually an assistant camera, and camera operator. Study photography and build your camera and lense collection on your own. You will not make a career if you know nothing about cameras. Make yourself useful to local experienced DPs and you'll learn fast under them. Forget school. Work for free on productions; it's far cheaper and faster than school. Also leave NI and move where there is a lot of filming happening. London is probably the closest place.