As you start working more, you'll find there are tools that can make your job easier and begin to develop preferences. The following list are items that I found that enhanced my craft as a camera assistant as I started growing. Please keep in mind that I have most of my experience as a focus puller/1st assistant camera. A person pursuing a 2nd Assistant Camera may have a different list on what would be a "level up" list. I will make sure to make a note of what I believe to be a tool that may be exclusive to a 1st AC or 2nd AC.
Next week's article will focus on items that make life easier, but may not be totally necessary when starting out. If you're able to afford the starter kit + leveling up + tools to make life easier, that's great! All the lists are separated with the consideration of a camera assistant slowly building their kit on a budget.
Leveling Up: Expendables
Cost | Item | Purpose | Link |
$7.64 | Paper tape - 1" hot pink | Marking ground, actors, mag tags, etc. I like to use my hot pink to label dead cases that I don't need for the run of the show and keep the in the back of the truck | |
$7.16 | Paper tape - 3/4" white | This is the perfect size for follow focus rings (single channel Preston & Nucleus). If you are on a lower budget job you may not be able to get the fancier follow focus units. | |
$8.25 | Gaff tape - 1/2" pink | I cut triangles and use them as my marks on my follow focus rings NOTE: This could be exclusive tool to a 1st, but a 2nd should have this if they work with 1st AC's who like to also do this. | |
$21.24 | Photoblack tape (2" x 30 yards) | This is a special tape that does not reflect light. You can use it if your camera is reflecting lights of a surface or if there is a C stand that you want to hide. Get the 2" x 30 yards specifically... it will be less bulky on your tape lanyard | |
$8.71 | AA batteries (20 pack) | If you have anything that needs AA batteries | |
$13.67 | AAA batteries (16 pack) | I use for my headlamp & laser tape | |
$8.67 | Staedtler pen (set of 4) | Used to mark follow focus disc or follow focus hand unit (Honestly I use my pink triangles more, but up to you if you like using a pen to mark your marks. Most wireless units have digital marks too but I don't like those) NOTE: A 2nd AC does not need these pens unless they want to provide them to their 1st AC | |
$1.20 | Slate marker eraser | So you don't have to erase the slate with your fingers | |
$0.25 | Chalk | Chalk is good for marks outside on the ground | |
$8.98 | Electric tape | This is for marking cameras for organizational purposes. It's so accessories don't get mixed up with each other. Starting out you'll probably work with one camera at a time. If you have more than one camera, you can mark the camera and all it's accessories with RED tape. Second camera can be BLUE. Third camera I mark as YELLOW. People have debated that C camera should be green. I also have fun colors like orange, purple, pink, but that's not necessary at the growing stage | |
$25 | P-Touch Tape | This the tape that goes inside a label maker. It is so you can make your slate look professional with clean labels. |
The total for these additional useful expendables is approximately $110.00. Remember to ask your producer what the expendables budget is so you do not have to purchase these items for a job.
Useful Tools: Long-term Tools
Cost | Item | Purpose | Link |
$1775 | Camera Cart | If you are seriously considering a career as an AC, you need a camera cart. This is a HUGE purchase. Please keep in mind that people are always selling their used cart on Facebook and camera sale events. If you are starting out, I would highly recommend finding a used cart. More information on rental items will be in our next article | |
$11.98 | Walkie earpiece | These will change your life on set!! It allows you to hear from both ears and does not plug up your ear or hurt it like the basic ones do. These are cheap and you can just swap out with the ones you receive on set and swap it back to return. | |
$89.98 | Rolling husky | I have a rolling husky currently that has all my extra items I don't primarily use. Starting out I had this + my run bag. Some AC's like having a canvas bag and throwing all their extra things in there. I like the rolling bag because I can put my 1510 pelican on top and use wheels to get around. Why carry things when you can wheel them? The 1510 is not a part of this list, but is a part of the next article "Tools to Make Life Easier" | |
$15.43 | Lanyard for tape | As 1st AC I like to have my 1" red paper, 3/4" white, 1/2" pink gaff, 2" photoblack on my lanyard. As a 2nd you should have 1" paper of an assortment of colors on your lanyard. Different colors are typically assigned to different actors. | |
$11.99 | Torx or Star Allen Wrench Set | I RARELY use these. If you're finding yourself in enough situations where you need them or have some money to spend, you should add these to your kit. | |
$14.99 | Eyeglass repair kit | This kit is great for the moments you have to unscrew very small screws | |
$8.99 | Microfiber glass cleaning cloth | I have a microfiber keychain that is from Panavision. I cannot find a link, but here is an equivalent Amazon link | |
$10.25 | Insert slate | For those insert shots where a normal size slate would be annoying to use | |
$4.39 | Cube tap | Because you never know when you need one. This is useful for when you have a monitor and teradek and need to AC power it all. | |
$22.97 | C-wrench | I did not put this on the Starter Kit because I don't think it's essential. I do use my C-wrench from time to time to loosen things, but not very often. It is handy when you need it. The link is from Home Depot, but you can probably find a cheaper option. | |
$0.74 | Small camera wedges | Useful to level the camera, especially when you are on a hi hat or low hat | |
$6.29 | 1st AC pouch | I love this pouch. As 1st AC, I try to hold as little as possible. I have my phone, permanent marker, pen, scissors, flashlight and leatherman in here NOTE: A 2nd AC may want a different kind of pouch to hold more items. Check out our Starter Kit article that lists different kinds | |
$6.88 | 3/8 to 1/4-20 screw adaptor | For some reason this specifically has been useful for me for many situations | |
$18.75 | T Marks | The purpose of T-Marks are similar to the tape marks. These marks are for situations such as outside or in the grass. This is the CHEAP way to create T marks if you are on a budget! Home Depot has steel T's that you can just cover with your paper tape. As a 2nd, you should probably stock yourself with T marks. It's okay to create cheap T marks if you cannot afford the fancier ones. Currently you can get a pack of 6 T's for $18.75 and DIY it at Home Depot, or buy ONE T mark for $11.00. If you are just beginning, I recommend DIY'ing it. As you grow, you can buy fancy ones later. I've provided links to both cheap T's and fancy T's | |
$75.44 | Laser measure tape | This is to measure the distance from the sensor to the camera. Measuring distances is part of a 1st AC's job to be able to pull focus. I specifically have the Hilti PD-42 so I can have a hole to see the laser in daylight, but this is a good starter option NOTE: A 2nd AC does not necessarily need a laser measuring tape, but they do need some kind of tool to measure for multiple purposes. | |
$19.35 | Soft Measuring Tape | This is if you don't want to use a laser and do it the old school way of taking a soft tape to measure from the sensor to the subject. This sometimes takes two people to do and some people may be annoyed seeing you do this. This is why I resort to the laser so I can quietly make measurements without bothering anyone. When measuring from the sensor to actors eyes, use a soft tape and not a hard one. | |
$89.99 | P-Touch | This is a label maker. There are other kinds of label makers, but just make sure you get one that can print 1" | |
$22.50 | 1030 Pelican | I use this small case to store media sometimes | |
$22.99 | Space Blanket | People use space blankets as a camera cover. It is the less expensive option. | |
Assortment of Cable Ties | There are a variety you can purchase if you do not want to use bongo ties for cable management. It helps make your camera build look more professional and clean |
Total for these tools are approximately $460.00 + $1775 (camera cart)
Terminology
Single channel Preston: A wireless follow focus system that has one channel. Preston is one company that sells them. They also offer a three-channel wireless system to be able to control three channels (focus, iris, and zoom). There are other companies that sell single-channel and three-channel systems.
Nucleus: A wireless follow focus system that is more affordable than other brands. I know of many 1st AC's that have nucleus's to rent out and eventually graduate to a different follow focus system
If you have all these items and are looking for a more advanced list, subscribe to be updated when we release these articles:
Camera Assistant Tool Guide: Level III - Tools to Make Life Easier
Camera Assistant Tool Guide: Level IV - Rental Items
What are some of your go-to tools as a camera assistant? Which tools would you feel lost without? Are there any items you think should be added to this list? Let us know by filling out our contact form. We'd love to hear from you!
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