The document outlines a 10 year plan to become a camera operator through gaining qualifications and experience. It recommends completing either a 2 year course at the National Film and Television School or a 1 year apprenticeship with a training company like FTFT. This would be followed by working as a clapperloader for 3 years and then focus puller for 3 years before having enough experience to become a camera operator, which generally takes 10 years of working in the industry.

1. Unit 22 – LO2
10+ Year Plan to become a camera operator
Research
There are manydifferentroutesyoucantake tobecome a camera operator.However,eitherwayit
isa lengthyprocess.Gainingthe rightqualifications.Orgainingadvancedexperience definitelyhelps
on becomingacamera operator.To become acamera operator,one musteithergoto universityor
complete some formof relevantmediabasedcourse –whichallowsone togainexperience,
knowledge,andqualificationssimultaneously.However, choosingthe non-universityroute means
that youprogressthroughthe career bystartingat a lowerrank,lowerpayjob,and intime become
a higherpaidoperator.Thisusuallyrequiresroughlytenyearsof time,before youbecome a
properlyexperienced, andtrustworthycameraoperator.Iplanto do the non-universityroute.
No qualificationsare requiredtobecome acameraoperator,however,companiesdoprovide
trainingwithinmedia.The FTFT(FilmandTelevisionFilmTraining)companyprovidetrainingfor
jobs,andtheyare a well knowncompanyinthe industry,whichmeansif youapplyforthe role of
camera operator,productiontamsare more likelytotake youon,as you have achievedanapproved
qualification.Thetrainingusuallyconsistsof paidapprenticeships,inconjunctionwithon-site
training.These coursesputyouinthe "deepend"immediately,andyoustartoff on filmproduction.
The apprenticeshipsare 12 months.There are alsootherexistingcoursesincameraoperation.
Apprenticeshipsare a greatstartingpoint,as I wouldgainqualification,whilstgainingexperiencein
the fieldIwant – whichmeansI wouldbe able tostart on a jobwithoutanyproblems,immediately.
The NFTS (National FilmandTelevisionSchool) offersopportunitiesinwhichyoutake partin these
sorts of courses,andtheytendto last 2-4 years,dependingonwhatyoudidpreviously.Theyalso
have coursesavailable forpost-graduates,whichlastthree years.Once these qualificationshave
beenattained,andtoa highlevel,one willbe able toprogresstheirwayfurtherintothe industry.
Personally,Iwouldenjoythe apprenticeship(s),asthere are numerousbenefits,including
experience, monetarygain,andthe necessaryqualifications.Tome,thisisbetterthanjusttraining.
Once I successfullycompletemyapprenticeship,Iwouldsetaboutgainingfurtherexperience,
before Iwouldbe able towork as a camera operatoron filmsets.Generally,cameraoperators
progressthroughdifferentstagesof the industry.Cameraoperatorsgenerallystartas
clapperloaders,thenprogresstobecomingthe focuspuller,andthenif the opportunityarises,they
can become the camera operator.Afterthispointthere isthe opportunitytobecome the Directorof
Photography,butthistakes a lotof experience,asmuchas 20 years.However,if we juststickwith
the ideaof becomingacamera operator,itcouldstill take upto 15 yearsto be workingon large
scale productions.Judgingfrommyresearchintothe role andthe route way ontothe career,it is
importantto gainthe appropriate experience andqualificationsforthe bestchance to getintothe
industry.
Plan Summary
10 year plan
 NFTScourse – 2 years
 Apprenticeship –1 year
 Become a Clapperloader–3 years
 Become a FocusPuller– 3 years
 Become a camera operator(10 years)