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Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.
Related: Audio & Video Technicians  Avionics Technicians  Broadcast Technicians  Electro-Mechanical & Mechatronics Technologists & Technicians  Media Technical Directors/Managers 
Industries: Media & Communication  Professional, Science, & Technical 

  • Summary

  • Details

    • Work Activities

    • Read and analyze work orders and specifications to determine locations of subject material, work procedures, sequences of operations, and machine setups.
    • Write new scripts for broadcasts.
    • Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
    • Set up cameras, optical printers, and related equipment to produce photographs and special effects.
    • Direct studio productions.
    • Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
    • Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
    • Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
    • Operate zoom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
    • Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.
    • Instruct camera operators regarding camera setups, angles, distances, movement, and variables and cues for starting and stopping filming.
    • Design graphics for studio productions.
    • Read charts and compute ratios to determine variables such as lighting, shutter angles, filter factors, and camera distances.
    • Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
    • Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
    • Assemble studio sets and select and arrange cameras, film stock, audio, or lighting equipment to be used during filming.
    • View films to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
    • Stay current with new technologies in the field by reading trade magazines.
    • Set up and operate electric news gathering (ENG) microwave vehicles to gather and edit raw footage on location to send to television affiliates for broadcast.
    • Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
    • Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
    • Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.

    Skills

    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

    Abilities

    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

    Knowledge

    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Administration and Management
      • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

    Education

    Education
    Bachelor's degree
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    No on-the-job training
    Education and Training Opportunities

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    53340/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    25.64/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    900
    Yearly Projected Openings
    90

    Personality

    Artistic: People interested in this work like activities that include creating, designing, and making your own rules. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cooperation
    • Achievement/Effort
    • Persistence
    • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Tools

    • Aircraft guidance systems
    • Airships
    • Automated film processor
    • Camera controllers
    • Camera harnesses
    • Camera lens
    • Camera lens filter
    • Camera tripods
    • Cinematographic cameras
    • Digital camcorders or video cameras
    • Distortion meter
    • Electronic viewfinder
    • Equalizers
    • Flash memory storage card
    • Frequency analyzers
    • Gas generators
    • Headphones
    • Hex keys
    • Lux or light meter
    • Multimeters
    • Nut drivers
    • Oscilloscopes
    • Outside broadcasting van
    • Radio frequency transmitters or receivers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Signal generators
    • Soldering iron
    • Specialty wrenches
    • Stage or projection or studio lighting system
    • Tape measures
    • Torx keys
    • Traffic cones or delineators
    • Video monitors
    • Wire lug crimping tool
    • Workshop cranes

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Cloud-based data access and sharing software
    • Desktop publishing software
    • Document management software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Graphics or photo imaging software
    • Office suite software
    • Presentation software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Video creation and editing software
    • Web page creation and editing software
    • Word processing software

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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