Camera Operator
The Camera Department within Production (Studios) at Sky is responsible for filming a number of Sky programmes. Sky News, Brainiac’s Test Tube Baby, Soccer AM and Champions League are just a few of those filmed in eleven studios across the site.
It is the job of Managers of Cameras, Barry Stedman and Vince Richardson, to ensure the smooth running of the Camera Studio. That means looking after two Senior Camera Supervisors, 13 Camera Supervisors and 26 Camera Operators at any one time. ‘It’s a major challenge trying to solve problems and keep everyone happy,’ says Barry.
It’s one that he and Vince meet by making sure they’re always available to help. On the day we caught up with him, he’s gearing up for some camera action on Poker Million. For this particular programme he’ll be operating a jimmy jib (a long crane-like structure to which a camera is fitted on one end), which demands a skill set of its own. The same holds true for the Steadicam.
Smooth Operators
The Steadicam is used when the camera has to move on uneven terrain but remain steady to the viewer. A Steadicam operator could walk up a flight of steps but you wouldn’t notice any bumps in the picture. But this smooth operation comes at a price: namely a four-stone weight attached to the camera operator’s body in the shape of a special fitted waistcoat-like unit that supports the camera.
For Jonathan Fowler, a camera operator who started in the company as a scholarship candidate from Farnborough College, confidence is a key part of the job. ‘There’s a lot of skill involved with the camera but you need confidence to move it, knowing that everyone is going to see what you do, including any mistakes.’
Framing a good picture
At the heart of any good cameraman is the ability to take a good picture. ‘Framing a good picture: that’s what it’s all about,’ says Camera Supervisor, Chris Bonass.
And if you have any secret desire to be the sharp eye behind the lens, it’s this that is looked for in potential camera operators. ‘People need a keen sense of composition and to be able to frame the shot instinctively,’ says Barry, ‘That’s what we’re looking for, and people with a good degree of manual dexterity. Usually they will have a background in photography as a hobby, or perhaps even design.’ Barry came from a photography background, originally taking stills for TV commercials.
The reward for a good eye and lots of hard graft and practice is the satisfaction of seeing your work on screen. And there are always new challenges to be met. The state-of-the-art Sky News Centre offers challenges and facilities that entail more cameras, more jibs and more creativity. But that is just what the camera team loves. More lights, more cameras, more action.