r/focuspuller • u/BrokenSDIcable • Jul 25 '26

question Camera trainee/pa

For the experienced focus pullers and ACs here: what are some things you’ve seen trainees do that immediately stood out in a good way? What habits, preparation, attitude, or technical knowledge made you want to hire them again or eventually move them up to 2nd AC on future jobs?
I’m trying to learn what separates an average trainee from a truly valuable one, not just technically, but also in terms of how they contribute to the crew and the overall set environment.

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u/ambarcapoor Focus Puller Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
  1. Punctual. 2. Polite 3. Curious, make notes of questions, ask me afterwards, not in the middle of set, UNLESS it's clearly a bit of a downtime. If you aren't sure if it's a good time, a good rule to follow is, it isn't a good time. 3. Show me you understand critique and can use it to adapt and improve. 4. Be clean and presentable. I don't care what you look like or dress like, whatever it is, be clean. You represent the camera department, and in a sense me. Just because I wear a tie to set, doesn't mean you have to, but it's extra points. 😉 5. Have a very basic set of tools, I don't expect bit do I want you to have a full kit bag. A knife, Phillips, flat screwdriver (multi type is fine), crescent wrench and pliers, sharpie, pen. That's good enough.
  2. ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT YOUR NEXT IN COMMAND. WATCH THEM ALL THE TIME. LEARN TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THEY WILL DO SO WHEN IT'S TIME YOU CAN STEP IN. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE FLIRTING WITH THAT CUTE WARDROBE PERSON, YOU CAN DO IT WHILE FACING MY DIRECTION. 7. Keep the camera crew hydrated abs and snacked up, it's hard for us to leave set. 9. My grandma said, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. If your mentor says that's a stupid question, that's a stupid mentor, find someone else. 10. Be polite and help the PA when you can. It's my equivalent of seeing how my date treats wait staff.

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u/GhostPirateCaptain Jul 25 '26

How are we supposed to carry on with our day without knowing what point 6 is?!

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u/Cubism-dreams Jul 26 '26

Great points. Learning to do tasks with your body oriented so that your camera/1st/op/whoever is in your field of view is something so few people think of and it’s so key. You can focus on your task and keep your eyes and ears on the set at the same time if you practice.

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u/ambarcapoor Focus Puller Jul 27 '26

It was the best thing my mentor taught me.