Second AC Research

How to write a slate:
  • Production - title of the film
  • Timecode - digital timecode synced to audio
  • Roll - usually when a new memory card is put into the camera
  • Scene
  • Take
  • Director
  • Camera - DOP/Cinematographer
  • Date - dd/mm/yy



MOS;
  • motor only sync or mute of sound
  • no sound is being recorded
  • shown by holding the slate with fingers between the sticks
Change the letter next to the scene number whenever you change the shot
Call out the letter when slating as a word that begins with the same letter e.g. scene 2A = scene 2 Apple
Call "soft sticks" and gently clap the board when holding it close to the actors face
Call "second sticks" if the board is out of shot or it's the second time clapping

On some slates:
  • Day - daytime shot
  • Nite - night time shot
  • Int - circle for interior shot
  • Ext - circle for exterior shot
  • MOS - no audio
  • Filter - if using a filter on the scene
  • Sync - indicating use for sync of camera with the sticks sound
Scene Field
  • If you're trying different shots for one scene, you add a letter next to the number
  • If you re shoot a scene later on, ad R in front of the scene number and start at take 1
Stand 1ft away for every 10mm of lens
Before you hit the slate, call out mark/er
If the director decides to do another take but begin the action part way through, the take number still increases but 'pick up' (PU) comes after e.g. take 1, take 2, take 3 PU, take 4 PU
AFS = after false start
If the director calls action but then immediately follows with cut then the take number still increases

End Board
  • When it's impractical to shoot the slate at the start of a take, it's shot at the end. At the start, camera op shouts "end board". When action is finished, director calls cut but the camera and sound keep rolling. The camera calls mark it and then the 2nd AC holds the board upside down and finishes the call out with end board
During Production:
  • Load and operate clapperboard/slate
  • Oversees transportation of camera
  • Tape camera marks, actors points
  • Camera report sheets
  • Manage memory cards
  • Help to get focus marks
  • Listen to DP and know when to switch lenses etc
  • Help out 1st AC
  • Double check and keep an eye out for battery levels, how much film is left, lens exposure, pan/tilt locks, focus marks etc
  • Pay attention during blocking so you can lay down marks
  • Make sure lenses and filters are always clean and free of dust
  • Film inventory
  • Equipment forms

'The Camera Assistant's Manual' David E. Elkins, SOC 5th Edition
  • Read script and understand what may be involved in the shooting of the film
  • Obtain supplies and camera report sheets
  • Prepare with AC list of expendables
  • Preps camera package with AC
  • Cleans camera and ensures its loaded
  • If no loader on set, loads and unloads film and places proper identification on each
  • Communicate with script supervisor to get scene and take number for each shot
  • Records info on slate and camera report sheets
  • Helps set up camera at start of shoot
  • Marks position of actors during rehearsal 
  • Slates each scene
  • Assists changing lenses, filters, magazines and moving camera
  • Sets up video village for each set up
  • Serves as camera department contact
  • Maintains record of film received, shot, short ends created at end of day/production
  • Inventory of film stock and requests additional stock
  • Inventory of camera equipment, returns etc
  • Distributes copies of camera reports and film inventory forms
  • Keep file of all paperwork relating to camera
  • Record all hours worked by camera department
  • With AC to make sure all batteries are charged and ready to use
  • At end of production help AC wrap and clean equipment ready for return.



David E. Elkins, SOC - The Camera Assistants Manual fifth edition
Michael Horwin - Careers in Film and Video Production

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