Chat with Amanda Ray (2nd Assistant Camera)
Please welcome Amanda Etheridge Ray who works in the Camera Department in Film & TV. This is a great episode for learning the female perspective about working in the film industry and in a male-dominated department.
👉 LINKS to where you can find Amanda:
🎬 Amanda is currently working as a 2nd Assistant Camera (AC) in Atlanta, GA.
🎊 Congratulations are in order as she just had her first baby! We also discuss what it's like to start a family in the film industry. Her first job working in camera was as an intern on Army Wives in Charleston, SC. Amanda followed that crew to Atlanta where she continued to work in camera and moved up within the department. She got in the camera union working as a Utility. Now she's been working as a 2nd AC for about 6 years now.
🎥 Camera Union - Local 600
⭐️ Camera Department breakdown:
Director of Photography: interacts with above the line crew and has artistic clout. They give direction to grips, electricians, & camera operators.
Camera Operators: usually 2 are hired per show. 'A' camera lines up their frame for the wider shot, 'B' camera lines up their frame for the tighter shots.
1st Assistant Camera (AC): pulls focus for the camera. They also build the camera and order gear.
2nd Assistant Camera (AC): organizes all the gear. There are hundreds of pieces of gear. They also slate each take. During a rehearsal with actors, they will mark where actors physically land with a colored tape floor marker per actor.
Loader: loads the film or downloads all the cards containing the footage and sends it off to the appropriate people. - DIT - adjusts the color with direction from the DP.
Utility: assists the entire department while helping to maintain equipment.
🎓 Film school?
Amanda and I met in college at the University of South Carolina where we studied Media Arts, which was our film degree. We both really valued our college experiences. Amanda advises using the resources you have available to you and be creative!
A great way into the industry and stay up to date on the equipment is to spend time at a camera rental house. Amanda was able to better learn equipment in a less stressful environment. She has also seen many folks get hired when they spend their free time learning at a camera rental house.
As young women in film, we both have stories where we were treated unfairly or put in situations where HR had to step in. Those scenarios can be overwhelming and difficult to handle at a young age.
💪 Always remember to be an advocate for yourself and speak up! 📣
Amanda shared a story where she was on a ladder and handing a camera up to a grip above her who grabbed it in an unsafe manner. Amanda had a good friend who passed away on set due to unsafe conditions.
Sarah Jones, who also worked in camera, died during 'Midnight Rider'
Learn more here.
Instead of accusing someone (often women) of being crazy, dramatic, bitchy, or in some way, overreactive...please LISTEN and adjust accordingly. There is likely a better or safer way to get a task done. I agree with a point that Amanda made that often women are great at seeing the larger picture and problem solving for the long term.
A turning point in Amanda's career where the tough work environment and difficult personalities were becoming overwhelming, her partner said to her, "You work way too many hours to not find joy in this business."
Some parting advice is to not lose your creativity and your love for filmmaking. Keep your joy!
👉 Michelle's article about film culture and systemic issues:
