Luigi Benvisto of New York City asks:
How did you manage the transition from one job to the next as you ascended the camera department ladder?
Each time I felt I was ready to move up – loader to 2nd AC, then to 1st AC, Operator and finally DP – I simply stopped taking jobs in the previous position. Was it scary? Sure, it was! Of course, prior to making the move I prepared for a dry spell by saving enough money to live on for a good long period. But that’s all it took.
From the start, my ultimate goal was to become a cinematographer; everything I did was oriented toward serving that end. When I learned everything I could in one of the subordinate slots, I made a clean break and threw myself into the deep end of the next pool. To my surprise, I always found that the process of establishing things anew was pretty much the same across the board. I was merely forcing everyone to see me in a different way and approaching a new list of prospective employers.
I don’t know if that’s the right road for you to pursue (or anyone else, for that matter), but it certainly worked for me!
Richard, You seemed very determined from the start what
you wanted to do. Sorry if I’m not aware of it, but did you have or do you
have desires to pursue documentaries in the future? Maybe documenting
the lives of well known cinematographers you have met on your life’s journey?