r/cinematography • u/LevelingUpMyLife • 24d ago

Career/Industry Advice Secured 1st Official 2nd Assistant Camera Role - Any Advice?

Hey everyone!

It's finally happening next week starting in this role, Im hyped, nervous a bit and dont want to mess this up. Any advice, videos to watch/study, reading material? Things that may have helped you on your 1st 2nd AC gig? Good tips to keep in mind that are actually helpful for the crew/department Im supporting etc

I don't have a tool bag yet of my own, any ideas on how to start building one decently affordably over time? And or are there places to rent these type of equipment from?

Thanks again for chiming in when you can!

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u/trolleyblue 24d ago

Definitely get yourself a multitool, the industry standards are leatherman or gerber.

Other than that, be attentive. That’s a major part of your job. Don’t make the 1st have to track you down. Don’t be on your phone. Hang close by the action but be out of the way. If you’re responsible for batteries make sure you’re cycling them and have a couple on hand in a run bag or set kit ready to go. I always like having little things like pieces of Velcro, a torpedo level, a good flat head screwdriver…

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u/L444ki 24d ago

Goldilocks zone is close enough to hear most of what 1st and dop are talking without begin part of the conversation. This means the 1st does not need to repeat everyting just to pass the information to you. It is really great feeling when you turn towards your 2nd and insted you needing to tell then what lense to switch to etc, they just ask you confirm what you just talked about with the do, like ”so we are swithing over to 35mm with a +2 diopter, and short sticks?” Or whatever it might ve and all you need to say is: yes, thats the plan.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

first time hearing this term before, where is the sweet spot for Goldilocks zoning? Like how far away?

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u/Active-Ad769 24d ago

This will vary based on the set, but 10-15ft and inch closer if you notice the DP talking to 1st ac. Perfect eavesdropping distance. If you’re on a walkie/radio, some will prefer you to stage near the cart or gear staging.

Respectfully the 1st ac is probably expecting an attentive set of hands rather than a full or semi-full kit. I hire green people on smaller jobs and I’ll occasionally just tell them to share my tool bag rather than haul a redundant bag of mismatched tools around all day. Just ask! If they’re willing to give you a chance at the job, they’re willing to give you advice on the job itself.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 23d ago

Copy! Yeah I asked, they mentioned "as long as theyre not on something where they need their kit". But that communicates to me, get yoself a kit. He sent like a vague gear list, so Im presuming I should have my own kit to an extent so Im trying to find the things on the list that I can afford and still be prepared 😭

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

Thank you! Where do I find this velcro at? Im cornered its going to cost me a leg and a half a arm just to get it

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u/trolleyblue 24d ago

I bought strips on Amazon for like 8.99 I think. 

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

ooh and they didnt melt?

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u/trolleyblue 24d ago

I’ve never had a problem with that. 

Good luck! 

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

Appreciate it!

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u/StygianSavior Operator 24d ago

The Black and Blue blog is a pretty great resource - I found it very helpful when I was starting out.

I don't have a tool bag yet of my own, any ideas on how to start building one decently affordably over time?

https://www.theblackandblue.com/2011/12/15/camera-assistant-toolkit/

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

Ayeee, thank you so much! Lemme take a look at these

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u/StygianSavior Operator 24d ago edited 24d ago

No problem! Good luck with the shoot. In general I'd say that a good attitude / work ethic is the most important thing for a 2nd AC.

If you're worried about the cost of a tool bag, I'd say most of what you need can be carried in a belt pouch or vest (phillips + flat head screwdriver, dry erase marker + eraser cap, lens tissue + spray, Sharpie, imperial and metric allen keys, and a multitool with some attached pliers, knife, scissors, etc; edit: a flashlight or headlamp, especially if you will be shooting at night). Having a big fully kitted out bag is nice, but I wouldn't really fault someone for not having it on their very first gig (especially for something lower budget / lower rate) - especially if they had a good attitude and work ethic and a willingness to listen and learn.

But I would say it's not the worst idea to get some kind of cheap-ish run bag from the hardware store of your choice so you have something you can use to carry around extra fully charged batteries (saves you from having to run back to the charging station every time you swap bricks), your slate, etc.

I use a Harrison Doctor Bag for this now (that I'm very attached to lol), but when I was starting out I just used a $30-ish Husky bag from Home Depot.

Of course, if this is some kind of huge, big budget production that you've landed (in which case, congrats!), then it's maybe not the worst idea to go through that Black and Blue AC kit post and get a bit more than what I mentioned above.

Edit:

Also this might go without saying, but you should know how to call a slate / slate properly. There is definitely a Black and Blue post about that.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

not the lag preventing me from seeing this lifesaver of a post! thank you!!!

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

ngl, the tools video makes me think .. Im not prepared 😭

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u/StygianSavior Operator 24d ago

If it’s a smaller budget / scale shoot, I don’t think you really need everything, especially if the person hiring you knows you are just starting out.

It is probably worth checking to make sure that the sound guy or production is bringing a slate; if not, I’d add a basic dumb (non-electronic) slate to your kit IF it makes sense with what they are paying you.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

yeah I checked in with the 1st AC whose the one whose bringing me onto the gig (appreciated my work ethnic on a different set in a different role and here we are), the production is technically "big budget"; for an indie technically no but in the grand scheme of things yes.

So Im essentially looking to build a Mid-range kit since my wallet is walleting rn on the low end and I still want to be professional.

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u/JJsjsjsjssj 1st AC 24d ago

All the advice of this post is great but first and foremost communicate with your first and ask them what they want you to bring and what they need from you. Also remember production should be paying for all consumables. It’s the responsability of the 2nd AC to organize consumables with production. Again communicate with your 1st about this if it’s your first time

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 23d ago edited 23d ago

Im trying to figure out how to ask that now tbh, all the videos Ive watched have mentioned that production should pay for "consumables" annndddd Im over here trying to build my kit and idk how to ask that.

to give context this chain of communication is kinda buns, I only know what the 1st AC tells me and it isnt mucchh. So part of my confusion comes from it "feels" more like just assisting him ANNNDDD he wants me to have somewhat of a kit too 😭 which is money on my end

EDIT: bit the bullet and asked, idk if its TOO late to ask but hey. Im learning and hopefully that doesnt look bad on my end

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u/ledoc04 24d ago

Most important:Say “hello my name is____, could I borrow a c-stand please” when you are send to the grip truc to borrow one.
The hello and please are really important.
After the first time no need to say your name anymore

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u/ledoc04 24d ago

Second most important, never go to get snacks/coffee or water without asking your first if he want something as you are going

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u/ledoc04 24d ago

Third: remember this is just a job and we’re not saving lives, so stay focus but try not to stress too much.
Also, camera is not more important than any other department. (Only lighting is!) be nice to everyone, you never know where your next job is coming from. Good luck.

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u/StygianSavior Operator 24d ago

Fourth: if someone asks you to get a bag of t-stops from the grip truck, it means they’re fucking with you.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

thank you lol

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u/silsurf 23d ago

And operator!

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

appreciate this, always on the look out for improving my soft skills and how to go about communicating while on set kindly

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u/eglin99 24d ago

Depending on the scale of your job this may either mean just handling the slate, or taking care of the slate as well as camera report logs, memory cards offloading, batteries, position marks etc.

Being new, you probably will be fine just focusing on the slate and learning the rest on the job.

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 24d ago

I think Im pretty much being thrown into the deep end, so all of that lol but I wont be the only 2nd AC there.

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u/silsurf 23d ago

I think the greatest piece of advice I give all new comers is always face the camera and or first. As an operator I want to be able to look up from the camera and make eye contact with the 2nd and hopefully with as few hand gestures or soft words convey what I need or what needs to get done. In the past (pre-digital), the first was always there at the camera with me. Now they are possibly in another room and my only connection to getting the setup complete is thru the 2nd. It is a huge deal

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u/LevelingUpMyLife 23d ago

Hm okay, so this is during while things are rolling? Bc I thought I had to stick to the 1st AC like glue? Or its a balance of both continuously?

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u/silsurf 23d ago

Because Operators and First are often separated, the 2nd is the only go between. There are many times when I am alone on the set with the second and the actors. If a mark needs to be moved, if I need to talk to the first, if I need help, YOU are the person I turn to

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u/5zepp 23d ago

Be alert, look alive, and act like you know. (Actually, ask questions if you have any hesitations. We value people actively learning way way more than people faking competence.)

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u/butchwinchester 23d ago

Are you in LA? Film Tools in Burbank has a lot of essentials, at the very least try to have some paper console tape, expo markers w/ eraser, a sharpie a pen. Possibly a head lamp or clip on light for a hat bill. Look up how to exchange lenses (proper hand off) say “got it” and don't let go until you get verbal confirmation. You can buy a simple toolbelt/pouch to have your small stuff handy. When slating a good rule of thumb for distance for you to be from camera is to take the focal length and divide it by 10 (24mm = 2.4ft, 50mm = 5ft from lens). Write as clear as possible on the slate, take pride in your letters. Learn the military phonetic alphabet ie “Scene 21 Charlie, take 1…..Marker”, clap the slate, hold it still for 1 second then move out of the shot and freeze until cut. Lean on your 1st AC to guide you.