How to Be a Cameraman in Hollywood
- 1). Earn a degree in filmmaking or photography from an accredited college or university. Learning the elements of framing, lighting and setting up a shot gives you the fundamental tools that can be capitalized on creatively.
- 2). Build a reel of your work. A reel is a 3-to-5-minute sampling of films you have worked on. Student films, professional jobs or other samples on the reel will demonstrate your "eye." The reel becomes a business marketing tool to show directors and producers what your capabilities are and what film genres you are suited for.
- 3). Work on as many films as possible, whether they are student films or professional projects. Start as an intern in television if you need to. The more work you do, the more people you meet and the more you learn from seasoned pros.
- 4). Build your contact list and stay in touch with people you meet. Send directors thank-you notes, and follow up with updated demo reels and upcoming projects. Networking is a key element to success in the film industry.
- 5). Work your way up to higher positions in the camera department. Cameramen work at freelance positions and must earn their next job through networking, applying and delivering quality film clips.
- 6). Join the Local 600, International Cinematographer's Guild. To be eligible to join, you must complete a minimum number of professional hours. Each city has different requirements, with Hollywood requiring at least 100 billable days of non-union camera department work or 30 days of a non-union production that is picked up by the union after production starts. It is also possible to have a producer or director sponsor you in, which is another reason why networking is so important.
