Hollywood Apprenticeships

Both my uncles, work at University Film Studios as did my father, after high school graduation I moved to my sister?s house so I could get to University of Southern California, it was easier to get from her house. I was fortunate enough to land a part time job working in t Read more...

Hollywood Apprenticeships

Both my uncles, work at University Film Studios as did my father, after high school graduation I moved to my sister?s house so I could get to University of Southern California, it was easier to get from her house. I was fortunate enough to land a part time job working in the film department at Universal Studios as a dark room assistant. After graduation, from University of Southern California from their masters program, I worked in the film industry throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s. I cannot describe days on the film set. A focus puller is another term for 1st camera assistant. The actual term means adjusting the lens focus to keep the subject matter sharp. 1st AC (assistant camera) is the American term for a focus puller. The focus puller sets the camera up at the beginning of the day, preparing the camera for every shot, changing lenses, filters, and the camera speed and so on. The DOP (Director of Photography) is the head of the camera department, but the focus puller is in charge of all things technical, and delegates to the clapper loader and video split operator. The focus puller is also considered to be the operator's assistant, and the clapper loader assists the focus puller. A focus puller rarely leaves the camera, and is responsible for the technical side of things, leaving the operator to look through the camera and frame the shot. That's it in a nutshell! Looking back now I would have never courted fame or publicity, which is why I felt a tremendous sense of pride when he asked me to go on working into my 80?s my inside knowledge of some of the biggest and most memorable films ever made is invaluable, more so now that the other ?Dedicated Maniacs? who worked with Howard Hawks - Charles K. Feldman - Edward Small- who have all passed away. I have many ?Beautiful Memories? of these days.
I would like to cheer some of these memories with you.

Special Artists Agency Attn: Marcia Hurwitz 345 N. Maple Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA.
1st_camera_assistant@mail.com.