Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson Instagram – Many think of crew as a collective of blue collar workers. There’s even a literal line drawn in the budget where talent, producers and filmmakers are above and the rest of the crew and machinery are below. If you’ve ever heard a person on set referred to as “above” or “below the line”, this is why. ⁣
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But make no mistake, that line is deceiving. I’ve come across many crew who are artists in the purist sense of the word. Our A-camera operator Iain Baird is one of those people. ⁣
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His job is essentially to pat his belly and rub his head at the same time, without making a mistake, for twelve hours straight. Operating a camera smoothly is much, much harder than you think. ⁣
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He works in concert with the DP, director, (and in my case a stubborn, strong-willed actor) to guide the camera and proper lens across whatever nook or cranny we temporarily possess. With a steady, creative and anticipatory hand, he seamlessly marries performance, environment, tension and character for the viewer to effortlessly enjoy. But think about that for a moment. What are the implications of this contribution?⁣
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As it relates to time, the camera department arguably has the most demanding job on set. If they’re working to design and perfect shots between setups AND they are shooting the takes… when do they eat? When do they relieve themselves? When do they scroll their Tik Toks for hours at a time? That’s a great question.⁣
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Their on-set schedule also demands that they are always exposed to the elements. When I complain about filming in the cold, mud, heat, rain, hail… guess who is in it 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 twice as long as I am? @eyebaird and co. ⁣
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Now that we have the practicals of logistics out of the way, we can discuss the artistry. Working with him and his team has become one of my favorite aspects to the day as we are constantly pushing and pulling each other in an effort to both harmonize and challenge ideas in pursuit of finer details, expression and nuance, which all begins with his steady hand. ⁣
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I hope the next time you enjoy a season of Reacher you consider for a moment, how great a fingerprint Iain (and so many like him) have put on each frame of what you’re enjoying. | Posted on 14/Feb/2024 01:38:25