Ryburn Alumni Interview: Camera and Video Assistant
This month we spoke to Andrew Owens, one of our Ryburn Alumni. He told us all about his fantastic career as a Camera and Video Assistant working on projects for the likes of Netflix, Warner Brothers and the BBC. He made some lovely comments about studying Film Studies at Ryburn and our own Mr Fairclough. Continue reading for the full interview.
Tell us a bit about yourself, what’s your name and job?
Hello, my name is Andrew and I’m a Camera and Video Assistant in the TV and Film industry.
Have you worked on anything we might know?
Probably! I’ve worked for Netflix, Warner Brothers, Sky, the BBC and Channel 4.
What encouraged you to pursue a career in the film industry?
I was always interested in cameras and photography growing up, so when I did Film Studies at Ryburn, I saw that there was a way where I could make something I really enjoyed doing into a career.
After Y11 what pathway did you take to get into your chosen career?
I went on to college and took a BTEC in Media and Photography, then I studied Film Production at University. When I graduated I went to work in camera rentals for a year to gain some industry knowledge, until I started freelancing as a camera assistant last year.
Is it quite scary being Freelance and not having a steady paycheck every month?
I suppose it was at first. Often, people on set will tell you what they are working on next and invite you along. It’s very much about networking. If you can get a break on a project, and you work hard and show you are interested, people notice.
What is a typical working day like?
We don’t really have typical days…each day is very different but usually, we would go in and set up the camera or the accessories and make sure the settings are correct. Then we would liaise with the AD (Assistant Director) team, and the DP (Director of Photography) to talk about the shot. We figure out how to get the shot we want to achieve ahead of time, making sure the DP and Camera Operator can just focus on their art.
What would you say you enjoy most about your job?
The variety each day is so different. One day you could be shooting in the rain in the fields in the middle of nowhere, and on other days you could be out in Spain for a glamour shot on a lovely beach. I also like that the technology involved is forever changing and evolving, so it keeps you very sharp.
How do you keep on top of an ever-changing craft?
There are different routes to learning. You can read about it online, there are a lot of resources for online learning now. You can do what I do a lot of, and contact rental companies that supply the equipment. They are always open to talking to you and showing you how the equipment works so you can apply that knowledge on set.
Do you have a favourite project you may have worked on?
I think The Crown was probably my favourite, mainly because they flew us out to Spain for a month to film Season 5. Every day was so full-on and different, it was one of the craziest shoots I’ve ever done. One day we were filming scenes involving a superyacht in bad weather, the water was very choppy and we were on a boat alongside. I spent most of my time catching lenses so they didn’t go overboard and trying not to get seasick!
What would your favourite lesson be at Ryburn, and why?
Film Studies with Mr Fairclough, hands down. Compared to my other subjects, it didn’t feel traditional, it felt very new and interesting. Mr Fairclough is very knowledgeable about his subject, he’s also very witty.
You may be interested to know that Mr Fairclough, along with Mrs Newman and Miss Patrick actually wrote the Film Studies curriculum for the country. Before that, Film Studies didn’t exist in schools. How great is that?
Really?! They did a good job! It inspired me so they must be doing something right.
If you could give a piece of advice to our students, either about getting into Film Production specifically or how they could go about following their dream career… what would it be?
In general, it sounds really cliché, but find something you are really passionate about and love doing, then focus on that. Learn as much about it as you can, work hard and find a way to make a career out of it.
In terms of getting into a career in being a camera assistant, it’s one of those jobs where if university wasn’t for you, it’s not something you need a degree to do. Knowing people in the industry really helps, so networking is key. You can do that on dedicated social media pages, and there’s a website called Screen Skills which is a great way to meet people. Like me, you can also look for work in camera rental houses. They tend to employ trainees who are looking at getting into the industry, so you can learn about how everything works and get familiar with the equipment.
Great tips! So what’s next for you?
In the long term, I’d love to be shooting and lighting my own films. I’m taking a traditional career path in being a second camera assistant, then a first camera assistant, and then going into operating… which obviously takes a long time. Right now, I’m jumping from different feature films and television shows trying to build my network and we’ll see from there!
If you studied at Ryburn we would love to hear from you and find out what you’re doing now! Get in touch at publish@rvhschool.co.uk.