Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors


Television, video, and motion picture camera operators produce images that tell a story, inform or entertain an audience, or record an event. Film and video editors edit soundtracks, film, and video for the motion picture, cable, and broadcast television industries. Some camera operators do their own editing.
Making commercial-quality movies and video programs requires technical expertise and creativity. Producing successful images requires choosing and presenting interesting material, selecting appropriate equipment, and applying a good eye and steady hand to assure smooth, natural movement of the camera.
Camera operators use television, video, or motion picture cameras to shoot a wide range of material, including television series, studio programs, news and sporting events, music videos, motion pictures, documentaries, and training sessions. Some camera operators film or videotape private ceremonies and special events. Those who record images on videotape are often called videographers. Many are employed by independent television stations, local affiliates, large cable and television networks, or smaller, independent production companies. Studio camera operators work in a broadcast studio and usually videotape their subjects from a fixed position. News camera operators, also called electronic news gathering (ENG) operators, work as part of a reporting team, following newsworthy events as they unfold. To capture live events, they must anticipate the action and act quickly. ENG operators may need to edit raw footage on the spot for relay to a television affiliate for broadcast.
Camera operators employed in the entertainment field use motion picture cameras to film movies, television programs, and commercials. Those who film motion pictures are also known as cinematographers. Some specialize in filming cartoons or special effects. They may be an integral part of the action, using cameras in any of several different mounts. For example, the camera operator can be stationary and shoot whatever passes in front of the lens, or the camera can be mounted on a track, with the camera operator responsible for shooting the scene from different angles or directions. More recently, the introduction of digital cameras has enhanced the number of angles and the clarity that a camera operator can provide. Other camera operators sit on cranes and follow the action while crane operators move them into position. Steadicam operators mount a harness and carry the camera on their shoulders to provide a clear picture while they move about the action. Camera operators who work in the entertainment field often meet with directors, actors, editors, and camera assistants to discuss ways of filming, editing, and improving scenes.

Related news articles
State television channel reporter and camera operator threatened ... - Oct 11, 2006
IFEX,...(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 October 2006, state television channel "Venezolana de Televisión" journalist �?lvaro Cañizales and his cameraman, César Zambrano, were ...

CAMERA OPERATOR - Oct 8, 2006
Arts Hub Australian (subscription),Fancy yourself as a bit of a camera person? You maybe a flim student or someone that just wants more experience. In any case we ...

Camera operator - Sep 28, 2006
Arts Hub Australian (subscription),Inspiration Films is looking for a camera operator with their own Sony Z1 to shoot a promotional night at Kensington roof gardens on the 29th of september ...

MTB news & racing round-up - Oct 13, 2006
Cyclingnews.com..."We had a steady cam (a special body-mounted camera that uses a gyro to offset the movement of the camera operator to provide smooth shots while the operator ...

Film in honor of officer viewed - Oct 15, 2006
Walton Tribune,Presenting plaques to MUN camera operator/co-producer David Little, Lanier and former police chief — and Etchison’s partner on the day he died, — Mike ...

Coroner: US soldiers killed British TV reporter - Oct 13, 2006
Austin American-Statesman (subscription),According to a videotape provided by the US military and testimony from witnesses, including an ITN camera operator who survived, Lloyd, 50, was killed after ...

Fox Used Streaming Video On Cell Phone To Break NY Plane Crash ... - Oct 14, 2006
All Headline NewsNew York, NY (AHN) - Fox camera operator, Scott Wilder, used his mobile phone on Wednesday to capture video of the single engine plane that crashed into a New ...

Some jobs get bigger raises, pay in 2007 - Oct 13, 2006
Rockford Register Star,Camera operator: You use television, video or motion-picture cameras to shoot all sorts of material, from studio programs and news to sporting events and ...

The Job Shuffle - Sep 22, 2006
San Fernando Valley Business Journal Online (subscription),By Mark R. Madler. By MARK R. MADLER. On a film set, the roles of a director of photography and camera operator are clearly delineated. ...

The Job Shuffle - Sep 22, 2006
San Fernando Valley Business Journal Online (subscription),By Mark R. Madler. On a film set, the roles of a director of photography and camera operator are clearly delineated. One works closely ...

Suspect held without bail - Oct 11, 2006
Fitchburg Sentinel,..."(Expletive), don't you understand, (expletive) the camera, she doesn't want to talk," one young woman yelled at a television camera operator while friends ...

A Sad Night in New York - Oct 11, 2006
Baseball Toaster,...interview. A middle-aged woman interviewed him, and a young camera operator with a baseball cap turned backwards, stood next to her. ...

School board ready for closeups - Oct 12, 2006
commercialappeal.com (subscription),Camera operator Cindy Taylor trains the camera on Memphis Board of Education member Carl Johnson during the first taping of "Across the Board," a new TV show. ...

Station Goes Global - Oct 8, 2006
Press-Enterprise (subscription),...technicians went off. Evie Roach, volunteering as a camera operator, checks the settings in preparation for a broadcast. Volunteers such ...

Anton/Bauer's ElipZ Is Canon Ready - Oct 2, 2006
4RFV,...virtually all day camera operation; Second the EgripZ, a unique flexible under-camera handheld support affords the camera operator unprecedented camera ...

Mindless violence for profit - Sep 30, 2006
London Free Press,...is dragged across the pavement. The camera operator remarks smugly, "I think that (expletive) is dead.". Roll credits: It's Ghetto ...

Fear and Flunking My Screen Test - Oct 6, 2006
Huffington Post,The purpose of the test was to see how I would handle breaking news. I sat alone in a dark studio with only a camera and camera operator. ...

For an attorney general hopeful, he doesn't know a lot - Oct 1, 2006
Arizona Republic,In a town incident report he filed, LaMotte wrote that he talked to a camera operator who told him "that the commercial is about illegal immigration, the ...

Around Broadneck: - Oct 2, 2006
Annapolis Capital,He was a tape producer for the baseball series and a camera operator for the football game. "No ring, I get a paycheck," he laughed. ...






More information on Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Overview of Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors occupation
Number of Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors in the U.S.
Salary and earnings for Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors
Working conditions for Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors
Significant points for Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors
Training requirements for Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors




Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search
Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new