Camera Operator
Do you like taking photos or shooting videos with your friends? Then you may want to pursue a career as a camera operator in the film and television industry.
Camera operators set up, position and operate equipment in studios or on location to photograph people, events and scenes. They may check that lighting has been organised, or set up lights, view scenes through viewfinders, make final adjustments and shoot scenes. They monitor equipment during operation, and move cameras and adjust controls to follow the action of scenes being photographed.
Tip:If there’s a community television station in your area, contact them. By working as a volunteer with a broadcasting group, you’ll gain valuable experience that will put you ahead of the pack when it comes to getting a job in this highly competitive industry.
CUF40107 Certificate IV in Screen and Media
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who use well developed skills and a broad knowledge base in a wide variety of contexts in the film, television, radio and digital media industries. They apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems, and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. They may provide leadership and guidance to others with some limited responsibility for the output of others.
What you can expect in a training
program
While each course or on-the-job training program may differ in emphasis, you can expect to learn about how the film, television and interactive digital media industry works, who the important players are, how to work safely, and the importance of creativity and critical thinking to all jobs in the industry. A typical training program for a Certificate IV in Screen and Media specialising in camera operations would include:
Camera operations
- Setting up and using a range of cameras
- Doing pre-shoot camera tests
- Operating a moving camera support
- Planning and implementing installation of camera supports
On location for a film or television
shoot
- Implementing lighting designs
- Developing expertise in shooting a wide range of
television content
- Shooting in a multicamera environment
- Shooting under special conditions, e.g. underwater,
from moving vehicles
- Working collaboratively in a team, including leading
a team
- Monitoring safety conditions
Business skills
- Offering services on a freelance basis
For information on the structure of qualifications, go to the National Training Information Service at www.ntis.gov.au. Select ‘Search’ and type CUF07 in the ‘Search for’ field and tick ‘Training Packages’ in the ‘search in’ field. Select Volume 1 for an overview of all qualifications.
What other options do I have?
With a Certificate III in Media, you may find employment as a camera/lighting assistant, who are responsible for duties such as:
-
maintaining and cleaning cameras
- shooting a limited range of material for screen
productions
- rigging camera infrastructure
- recording and operating standard lighting cues
- preparing, installing and testing lighting equipment
- installing and operating follow spots
- operating floor electrics
- maintaining camera reports and paperwork.
On large-scale productions there could be several camera assistants, each responsible for specific duties.
Where can I do training?
You’ll find TAFE and other colleges on the national database of Registered Training Organisations - here’s how it works:
- At www.ntis.gov.au select ‘Search’.
- Type the course code (CUF40107) into the ‘Search for’
field.
- Tick ‘RTOs by scope’ in the ‘Search in’ field and select the appropriate state or territory.
Further information
For more information, visit the websites below, talk to the careers teacher at your school, go to Open Days at TAFE colleges and universities and visit their websites.
Useful websites
For industry information, search the Australian Government’s Culture and Recreation Portal at www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au. There you will find links to thousands of websites across all areas of the arts, entertainment, media and publishing industries.
For career and employment information visit the following sites:
Back to Overview of Screen and Media Training
Package page
