Do you really think every project will need a 1st AC? If you were to ask me, I’d beg to differ with the question because in reality, documentaries and corporate events often survive without having to allow a dedicated focus puller do their job.
However, there are certain situations in which hiring a focus puller or 1st Assistant Camera won’t be fruitful, unless you really one to execute something vital in nature. You can just give a go ahead with a skeleton crew. Well, there would be times when you may entrust the required obligations of a focus puller to some in the production department or even an intern.
Allow me to share five reasons when you’ll feel the need to have an experienced focus puller during a shoot.
1.Have a Tough Schedule
Time to get real! When don’t you have a tough schedule?
You’d agree that a tough schedule has always played a crucial role in filmmaking so it can make your film seem beyond its allocated budget. So, don’t you think it means pushing pennies to the limit? Certainly!
When you have a tough schedule to tackle, it demands more from the cast and crew to devote their time and effort in an effective way. Of course, all this is required while maintaining professionalism and preventing the standards from downsizing. This is exactly where the role of an experienced and skilled focus puller comes in. As an expert in this area, they move heaven and earth to be first ready to face the situation without you having to notice.
A pro will be aware of nitty gritty pertaining to the job they’re hired for and will make complicated troubleshooting chores vanish without a trace. Moreover, the camera gets back to its functioning before you even know it.
2. Hiring a Professional Camera
Hiring the latest camera? Being the most professional camera you’ve had your eyes on, you may keep off and on when it comes to getting the camera in action. And this is where a multi-talented focus puller will step in and display their finest skills you lack.
A focus puller will have undergone the right training and well-informed about new camera systems quickly and with ease. Other than having developed an ability to pick up desired controls on the fly, they’re aware of what’s imperative to learn, including sensor settings as well as exposure control.
You cannot deny that an experienced First Assistant Camera will be on top of professional camera systems compared to anyone else on the film set. And this is too important when it comes to dealing with equipment that cost an arm and a leg.
3.Working with Film
Speaking of advanced cameras makes it sound pretty obvious that you’ll want to hire a pro focus puller, if you’re working with film.
Needless to say you don’t want to waste a great deal of money when you’re working with film, but you surely can in one situation. Which one is it? It’s when there’s any drawback of film over digital, and that’s when you lose a lot of money.
Don’t you forget pulling focus is a tricky game that can leave you flustered? Even loading magazines can be detrimental for some stock and not to mention, the working parts of a professional used for filmmaking depend consistently on regular maintenance and care.
Unless you have impressive experience under your belt working with film on your own, don’t trust anyone around. Get along with someone who’s worked with several various film cameras and knows the big picture.
4.Film is Packed with Camera Movement
In pre-production you have great talks at length with the director in respect to excellent and camera movements extensive camera movements. Not only do they express their level of excitement, they’re eager about wanting to do everything so they can hit the bulls’ eye.
The director of photography (DP) admires the idea, but starts bringing up cranes, dollys, jibs, and other relevant camera movement systems that seem pretty much as complicated to maneuver as the shots they intend to shoot.
Planning on great amounts of camera movement? If that’s what you intend to carry out, hiring a pro AC will be the right thing to do.
A professional focus puller will be aware of the right way to build a camera which is to be fixed on rigs. Is that it? Not at all! They’ll ensure that it’s attached firmly and securely. Moreover, they’ll be qualified enough to pull focus on the thing.
5.Shots in Focus
Last but certainly not least, hiring a professional 1st AC when you want your shots in focus is of paramount importance. As a prime duty as well as responsibility, focus pullers - also called 1st Assistant Camera - are the extremely trained at pulling focus between subjects in a scene.
Even though it may seem like a job that can be achieved in the blink of an eye (because it really is), it does not mean that anyone can get on the follow focus and crank out a 30 foot dolly.
I’m really bewildered by the fact that the amount of productions that are reluctant to hire and pay for a pro AC when a majority of their footage can end up ineffective simply because it seemed out of focus.
If you want to become an expert at pulling focus, you should actually do it. And this is the experience which you can get when you hire a talented follow focus puller. These are the people who’re aware of tricks of pulling focus, the common mistakes one makes when pulling focus and much more.
Final Thoughts
A focus puller, also known as the First Assistant Camera or 1st AC, plays a very important role on a film set. They’re responsible for keeping the camera in focus. However, there are certain situations when hiring a professional focus puller is necessary.
