Camera Operator

  The Digital Media Lab is Imperial College London’s central media production unit, comprising of skilled media and XR practitioners (crew), studios and other production and post-production facilities. The DML supports the university, and in particular its EdTech community, with scaled and varied production of films, animations, podcasts and VR and AR experiences, ranging from drama, through documentary, to animated lectures and interactive…

Job description
Job summary

The Digital Media Lab is Imperial College London’s central media production unit, comprising of skilled media and XR practitioners (crew), studios and other production and post-production facilities. The DML supports the university, and in particular its EdTech community, with scaled and varied production of films, animations, podcasts and VR and AR experiences, ranging from drama, through documentary, to animated lectures and interactive simulations

As a Camera Operator in the Digital Media Lab, you will be involved in the production of a variety of films, videos, and immersive interactive media content for educational and other purposes. You will collaborate DML crew and multiple internal stakeholders and project teams, crossing between creative and technical tasks, providing unique expertise during the pre-production, production / development, DIT and post-production processes.

Duties and responsibilities

• Leading studio and location shoots independently, ensuring technical and creative quality and supporting performance by featured contributors
• Operating cameras, pulling focus, supporting lighting and grip and undertaking other tasks on larger crew shoots and capture sessions
• Supporting college-wide staff, from media practitioners to learning technologists, in planning and undertaking studio, location and self-recording booths shoots and capture sessions.
• Training college staff on operation of self-recording booths
• Supporting both the Senior Camera Operator and the Media Facilities Technician in ensuring facilities and kit are fit for purpose, ready for use and operational
• Photogrammetry, LIDAR and other capture techniques: undertaking and supporting
• Owning know-how of all cameras, lighting, grips and audio kit used by DML and its affiliates and guiding all other userts
• Working with DML staff to deliver all filming and capture sessions on schedule, tracking all activities to keep plans and logs up-to-date
• Updating backend relational database (airtable) and schedules
• Scanning and logging new, in use and on loan kit using the SISO component of the backend ecosystem
• Ensuring DIT tasks are handled meticulously by undertaking those directly, or through proper handover
• Managing depreciation, maintenance, firmware updates and servicing, alongside the Media Facilities Technician to maintain operational capabilities
• Identifying hardware, workflow, or process gaps, in support of continuous improvement
• Upskilling and supporting interns, as well as helping with onboarding of new staff and freelance practitioners
• Supporting DML and Academic Services Directorate in its tasks as required

Essential requirements

• Educated to degree level (or evident equivalent film / broadcast industry experience), preferably in the fields of cinematography / practical filmmaking
• Significant camera operating and video editing experience within a university, communications agency, broadcaster, production company or in-house team.
• Ability to shoot and edit to an industry-leading standard in a high volume, fast paced production process.
• Deep familiarity with camera menus and settings, lenses, audio kit and lights
• Significant experience of working on e-Learning / educational / informational / documentary projects and delivering successful outcomes.
• DITing and media files management
• Lighting – independently as well as within crews on larger shoots
• Location scouting and shot listing
• Basic sound recording
• Deep knowledge of practical digital cinematography concepts and consideration, from frame rates and aspect ratios to bit rates and colour space
• Film crew praxis, set roles and responsibilities and shoot planning
• Demonstrable interest and enthusiasm for the use of media technology in education (documentary making, educational videos, 360, VR etc.).
• A demonstrable capacity and will to learn new Camera Department skills and equipment
• Attention to detail and organised approach to creating edits
• Creative thinking and approach to both outputs (concepts, formats) and process
• Ability and willingness to learn from, and pass knowledge on to, others and develop the relevant formal and informal networks to enhance learning opportunities

Further information

Full details of this role can be found on the Job Description.

This is a full time and fixed term role for 12 months, and you will be based in the South Kensington Campus.

Please note that appointments are usually made at the bottom of the salary scale.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Sarah Wong– [email protected]

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