The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

David E. Elkins SOC (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240805585 | ISBN-13: 978-0240805580 | Publication Date: February 11, 2005 | Edition: 4

Every film or video shoot calls for at least two camera assistants. Camera assistants (or first and second ACs, as they're known) have the important job of maintaining the camera, readying it for use, troubleshooting (such as knowing what to do when a camera drops into the ocean), and preparing it for transport. The Camera Assistant's Manual teaches the complete workflow in easy-to-understand terms and does not assume prior knowledge. It is a must-have on the set for camera assistants and is loaded with reference material such as camera illustrations, forms, charts, checklists, and equations. Invaluable career advice rounds out the book.

· New companion website with extensive forms, charts, and illustrations to print out and use
· Completely updated with information on digital video and high definition cameras that are changing the camera assistant's job
· Career tips and complete job descriptions help camera assistants get and succeed at jobs
· Companion website: www.cameraassistantmanual.com
· Author's site: www.davidelkins.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

"David Elkins, SOC does it again. In this latest edition David covers all of the latest cameras and accessories that have been invented since the last edition. This is truly the "Bible" for seasoned camera assistants, and an indespensible tool for all veteran and student film makers."

- Stan McClain, SOC (Past President) Filmtools-President

"Absolutely everything you need to know as first or second camera assistant is here, of course and all the reference tables, film can labels and camera department reporting forms you are ever likely to see or need are here - along with an associated website that holds even more...The Camera Assistant's Manual is an essential in the ditty bag as gaffer tape and as useful to the DoP's as it is to camera assistants. It makes for a first class learning tool between assignments and my advice to camera assistants is, keep it covered when on the set. There's a whole camera department around you who will want to borrow it." - www.dvuser.co.uk

The text is supplemented with illustrations that convey Elkins' ideas, and the clarity with which he lays out the chronology of a film shoot is impressive - years of working and teaching have clearly allowed the author to hone his approach with military precision, and it's hard to think of any assistant armed with the book's checklists coming across a problem he or she would be unable to solve. -Jim Hemphill, American Cinematographer Magazine

Book Description

A must-have reference for camera assistants!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 4 edition (February 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240805585
• ISBN-13: 978-0240805580
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Textbook for Assistant Camera, March 17, 2000

By 

Michael J. Hanly, II - See all my reviews

This review is from: Camera Assistant's Manual, The, Second Edition (Paperback)

Having been trained by David Elkins from the original manuscript of this book, I was eager to read the second addition.

This book is the perfect primer for the beginning Assistant Cameraperson. The details of the camera department, each department broken down into chapters, gives not only an overview, but a detailed step by step description of the tasks and duties of an Assistant Camera.

This has been an invaluable text book for my beginning Film Students.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Technical Book on Moviemaking, November 28, 2005

By 

Jack Anderson "Director of Photography" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

David Elkins's The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fourth Edition is the best technical book around, and one of the best books on movies, period.

Dave manages to cover every aspect of an assistant's job, no matter how obscure or infrequently encountered. But the completeness is only one aspect which recommends it to any aspiring or working cinematographer.

Written in a clear, conversational manner, Dave manages to demystify both the jargon and the sometimes strange job of an assistant. His accounts of procedure for both first and second assistants clarify what we in the business call "industry standard": the accepted, professional way of conducting yourself and doing a job. Outside of a job on a
Hollywood set, it is nearly impossible to learn these classic, time-saving routines. And unless you've been a pro in the business, you're not going to know about such things as the relative merits of Magliner and Rubbermaid carts for hauling equipment.

The book covers the general characteristics of film, cameras, and lenses in such a way as to give a general technical education. Dave also gives a valuable overview of the camera department and its place in film production overall.

What many readers will find most useful are the sections on troubleshooting, the diagrams and threading patterns of every currently used camera, and the wealth of forms and lists to organize the on-set work.

I've tried to give a good idea of what the book covers, but it contains much, much more. I've been using The Camera Assistant's Manual since the first edition. This is the biggest and the best version. I only wish that, when I started as a camera assistant, I had had access to such a clear, helpful book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing reference! May leave you a soulless husk if you read it all the way through..., January 9, 2007

By 

J. Wolfsberger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

I bought this book when I was hired to AC for a project on equipment I had never worked with before. For one of those, "Holly crap! I agreed to do a job I only know how to do part of!" moments, this book is great. Every question I could think of was answered thoroughly and I mean THOROUGHLY. If you want to learn exactly what the responsibilities of an Assistant Camera Person are and how best to execute them read this book! If you are a working AC and want an easy to read, text-book style reference this is it.