Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Philip Sindall, a Regular Visiting Lecturer who teaches cinematography on our MA Filmmaking programme. With 45 years of experience in the camera department, Philip has worked as a camera operator on beloved films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Mamma Mia! (2008), Elizabeth (1998), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Inkheart (2008), and Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007), to name a few. We were fortunate to receive an exclusive feature written by Philip, where he shared his top tips for success as a camera crew member. Continue reading to discover his insights…
Punctuality
By that, I mean not just arriving on the appointed time, but being early, a well-respected DoP friend of mine used to say “if you’re not 15 minutes early, your late”.
Reliable and Consistent
It’s important not just to be on top of your game on day one of the shoot, but every day of the shoot. However amazing you are, crew will always choose someone who is reliable and consistent.
Positive Attitude and Diligence
Having a can-do attitude will endear you to the rest of the crew, whilst earnestly trying to do everything correctly and to the best of your ability.
Stay Calm and Have a Sense of Humour
At times the set can get a little fraught due to time pressures etc, keeping calm and cool is very important. Crews do have fun and joke around to keep their spirits up, but it’s also important to know when to stop. Don’t take things to personally, sometimes people under pressure say the wrong thing, keep a cheerful disposition.
Preparation and Organisation
Be prepared for the day ahead. How are you going to get to set? Is it an early call? Are the trains running? What’s the weather like? Wear the right clothes. Here in the UK, it’s possible to have four seasons in one day! Make sure you know where every piece of equipment is at any one time, the quicker you can provide that lens or filter to the 1st AC will save precious time.
Communication, Listen & Learn
Make sure you fully understand what is being asked of you, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if at first you don’t understand. You can learn so much by just listening and observing other crew members around you. It’s important to ask questions in order to further your knowledge, but choose the right moment, when there is a quiet moment during the production, or at lunch time.
Anticipation, Respond and Adapt
Try not to wait for your fellow crew department member to ask you to do something, anticipating their needs will save time. If you see a problem possibly coming up, see if you can fix it before it does become an issue. It’s important to fit in and every crew might have a slightly different way of working, you have to adapt to their style, not impose your own on them.
Team Work
It’s a cliché but film making is team work, staying with reason to your particular role will help to speed the production along. Of course, there are moments when you help out other departments when needed.
Patience
Things don’t always go the way you want them to, so it vital that you remain calm.
Respect
All crew members are a vital part of the production team, being nice to everyone is so important.
Good and Bad days
Everyone from time to time has a bad day, even a 1st AC with 20 plus years-experience, it’s how you handle those days that can set you apart.
Thank you, Philip! We hope you took away many valuable gems of knowledge and can implement his advice into your career. Applications are now open for the May 2025 intake of our MA Filmmaking programme. This intensive two-year course equips students with professional-level skills across a wide range of disciplines, including directing, cinematography, editing, producing, production design, and sound. Graduates leave with a comprehensive portfolio showcasing their talents. Interested in getting in on the action? Then it’s time to dive in!
Photo credit: Drowning Icarus, writer-director: Mingwei Zhang