Sgil Cymru welcomed Howard Colin, experienced Camera Assistant, to the Stepping Up 2017 programme.
Howard kick-started his career in 2012 when he started working at a camera rental house where he was able to get his hands on all different types of camera equipment. Following this, he went freelance and started working on a number of different Welsh dramas.
Howard said:
It’s a never-ending journey, trying to learn the in’s and out’s of all the different bits of equipment and how to get the best out of them for the job at hand.
Within the camera department, Howard works as a Camera Assistant. His day to day job can vary, depending on the production.
Howard said:
My day to day job can vary depending on the production, but the core responsibilities include ensuring the camera is loaded (with a memory card) and ready to shoot. In order to do this, there are several factors that need to be addressed, such as: making sure that all the kit is managed correctly and we have the things that we need for the shot or scene. It does sometimes take a lot of foresight as there are things that can slow down production that might come out of nowhere. For example, moving from a cold exterior location to a warm interior location can cause lenses to fog up with condensation, it is important to think ahead and get them into the location to warm up before shooting commences.
That is just one example, but there are multiple situations that can arise, it is my responsibility to work with the Focus Puller (1st Assistant Camera) to ensure the smooth operation of the camera.
By taking part in Stepping Up Howard was able to step up to working on high-end TV drama in Wales.