How do you know when you are ready to be an A camera operator?
You don't, really. The opportunity arises in one of several ways and you have to decide if you feel ready enough. You'll make mistakes and feel like a fraud from time to time, but you take on the challenge and do your best.
I got my first crack at A Camera on a shoot because the A operator was injured during some vehicle work. Not badly, but enough to need to go to the hospital for stitches. That's not the way you want it to happen. You don't want to be cleaning blood off the remote head wheels before your first A Camera attempt.
You may get bumped up because the A operator is split off to DP another unit. That happened to me a couple of times.
Eventually, a DP who saw me competently handle situations like these gave me a shot as the A Camera operator on a significant feature and I never looked back. But I was definitely nervous.
Honestly I dont think you ever really do. If you have been on B and start getting bored it may be time but you won’t really know if you are ready until after you have made the jump. The usual thing that happens is you get thrown on A on additional units, when someone is sick, or something like that. You get a taste of it and see if you can handle it. But full-time is a different gig. You rarely have a Monet to breathe as there is always something and the first month or so is really stressful. But if you dont screw up too bad you settle in.
two years now. Still not sure.
I usually work as a B camera operator – it suits my personality better, as I prefer to compliment a strong A operator rather than be in that role myself. I’ve worked alongside many outstanding A camera operators – many that were seasoned in that role, and several that were just making the transition. I don’t think having the physical skill-set is what makes you ready for the role – most people know how to use the wheels (gear head/remote head) or whatever tool is thrown at you – what makes you ready for the role is knowing how to drive the set, learning to anticipate problems before they happen (both in the blocking stage, and when setting a shot), and working well with the Key Grip, Gaffer, 1st AD, actors, stand-ins, and the DP (I’m not mentioning the 1st AC and dolly grip because that should be obvious).
While you need to have great operating skills as an A operator, it is more important to have people skills, and problem solving skills. These are also necessary as a B camera operator, but they are magnified when on the A camera, and on display for everyone on set to see. I don’t think there is a way to learn these skills, other than to have spent time watching others in the hot seat (make sure to do this if you’re on set in another capacity and aspire to be an operator) and asking questions, and at some point, you just need to jump in and do it. Mistakes will be made at first, but some keys to success are communication, and relying on your team if you have doubts about what to do, or how to solve a problem.
