Hey!
I'm Marco TOMA Tomaselli italian up and coming cinematographer now based in Los Angeles.
I got an offer to work in a big union show as AC and because I'm new to the union's world I got some question that I not found answers yet.
I'm applying to IER first but I'm not sure how classify myself. In the last year 85% of the gigs I have is as cinematographer, 5% as cam op and 10% as ac. By the way I got enough hours in the last 3 years in each of the 3 positions.
I know that when I'll join the union it has to be as you are classify into the roster and I want to be sure that it will be the right one.
I want to ends up being a union cinematographer.
I know that the contacts I have will hire me as AC (as CamOp in the best situation) and if I join as cinematographer but I'll work for more than 40 days as AC, I'll automatically downgrade.
What the best classification to work with freedom in the camera dept?
Can I join as Camera op so I work both AC and in the future as Cinematographer?
Thanks a lot,
Toma.