Comments on: So you think you’re a shooter

By: D. Wolfgang

D. Wolfgang — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:31:26 +0000

Well stated, Mande. There are so many AC's that ascend without taking the time learn each step.. you're statement should be "mandatory reading" to camera PA's. And Leigh.... hey, brother!

By: Leigh Broadbent

Leigh Broadbent — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 23:51:30 +0000

Hi Mandy,

I just read your EXCELLENT article. I have a show right now, and i need 6 x jnr shooters of the attitude you have exactly described. I interviewed 5 guys this week and I like 2 of them. Do you think we should chat about tapping into that talent pool?

All the best,

Leigh

646 573 5383

By: claudia

claudia — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:34:44 +0000

amen!

By: Sharra Jenkins-Romany

Sharra Jenkins-Romany — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:36:33 +0000

As a person that came up (and still coming up) this way, I really appreciate this article. I share your love of what I call "extreme people watching"! I really enjoyed that part of shooting...trying to predict and capture those moments that were golden to the story. Even if that story is "I can't stand so and so and I'm gonna win this thing". It didn't matter. You get in their heads, and that is such a unique skill to our job, and a little bit of a guilty pleasure. I can't extend enough appreciation for the shooters, directors, and audio mixers that helped me learn to shoot. That's right I said audio mixers people! The first time I had a great connection with my mixer I realized how vital they were to me getting great stuff. And also it became evident how bad a show could go if the mixer/shooter chemistry was no good. Not having those mentors around me to constantly learn from and bounce ideas off of here in Egypt means learning from my own mistakes, and taking some risks that I was afraid of before. Hopefully risks that pay off. But that amazing learning curve I had from being blessed enough to have the best people around me...that learning curve is over now. I'm all alone over here! May favorite favorite part though...is the crew as a whole. Since Egypt doesn't really do reality shows, and with the baby I can't run off on a travel show, I feel like a piece of me is missing now that I won't see all the faces I worked with for the past 5 years. I used to love showing up the first day and seeing everyone from different shows come together and be in the swing of things by lunch. Reality people are just rad that way. Get in...get 'er done...have fun...and work your butt off. I'll miss everyone. But now, I have the Ancient Egyptians, modern Egyptian life, a country that never stops showing you amazing visuals...and my beautiful baby and amazing producer husband. Thanks for the memories everybody! Come visit next time a show brings you to Cairo! -Sharra Jenkins-Romany

By: rebeccaT

rebeccaT — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:01:12 +0000

Mande,
love this article. so thankful you were able to put it into words. I think as a director I can say one of the biggest things I would love to see a jr shooter do is learn how to listen. there are so many jr shooters that come on board and are so full of themselves that they think they are great camera ops. the thing to me that makes a great camera op is so much more than the person who frames up a pretty shot, its the ones who listen and can anticipate what's going to happen in the room. i have had to direct a lot of jr shooters, and i can say i think the most difficult thing for these guys to do is learn how to now put their newly learned stills at zooming and focusing and framing into real play when they are in a room when a fight breaks out, or a subtle argument is brewing. to understand how to tell a story without ping ponging from talker to talker, to understand how to let someone walk out of a room and end your shot on a door instead of chasing them down the hall, to realize that sometimes a listening shot tells more of the story than the person screaming....