Hello all,
I'm new to this forum, but I'm a sophomore at NYU's film program and I just wrapped my first shoot as 2nd AC with film. I'd 2nd AC'ed with digital but I never with film.
My concerns/questions were as follows:
1) I struggled with the clapper and camera reports. Along with moving camera, setting focus, running mags back and forth/loading them (I know, technically, that's two jobs but still), swapping lenses and laying down marks, I found I had the hardest time finding places to leave the slate where it wouldn't be moved. This was especially a problem with the camera reports as they could just blow away. I started to just put the reports in my pocket and leave the slate under the sticks after we'd sandbagged it, but there must be a better way to do this...?
2) I'm pretty sure I have this right, but I was told differently. The call goes: "Sound speeds"-Speeding-"Five Apple take 1"-Camera rolls-Rolling-Mark *Clap*-Clear-Frame, or so I thought. What we were doing was "Sound speeds-speeding-(camera rolls without a call from the AD)-"Five Apple take 1"-Mark and clear-Mark *clap*-Frame
3) We had no monitor setup, so the DP had his eye to the eyepiece. The 1st AC pulled focus, but on a normal (when I say normal, I mean union) shoot wouldn't 2nd AC pull focus as 1st AC looked through the piece/did camera movements?
4) I didn't bring my light meter to set, because I thought I didn't need it, but today I was wondering if the 2nd AC should have a meter.
5) My kit consisted of: 4 dry-erase markers, LED flashlight, leatherman, knife, lighter, pad and pen, tape measure, masking tape and blue painters tape. I also had my gaffing gloves from my G&E kit but I never used them, along with a leveler and sets of batteries. I could have used a Sharpie to write on masking tape and put on the clapper for permanent info, like the production, director, and DP. Is there anything else I should have?
Those are all my pressing interests. Nobody really taught me how to do my job, I kind of learned by osmosis after doing G&E on a lot of other shoots and google, so I'm sorry if these questions are basic or whatnot. Plus, I've never been on a union shoot, but I'd like to know how industry sets operate.
Finally, I'd like to know of any resources for AC work? I heard of this book, "The Camera Assistants Manual"...where can one get it, for cheap (I am, after all, a college student). Also, I've heard that I should have different colored tape for the different actors' marks. Where can I pick that up (my shitty painter's tape was the best I could do)? After all I've said, if you have any other comments/suggestions/questions/whatnot please say so! I'm only looking to improve, so any and all help is greatly appreciated.
