The 1st AC is one of the major roles of the production. It’s far beyond just pulling focus. A neat video by Film Riot grants the 1ST AC the respect it deserves. Read below about the leader of the camera department.

1st AC = Focus puller?

When searching on Google after 1st AC definition, you land on the Wiki page of Focus puller. For some reason, the role and definition of 1st AC equal to Focus Puller. According to Wikipedia: “A focus puller or first assistant camera (1st AC) is a member of a film crew’s camera department whose primary responsibility is to maintain the camera lens’s optical focus on whatever subject or action is being filmed”. However, in reality, this job is far more complex with a lot of responsibility on set. In fact, the 1st AC runs (and leads) the camera department. It’s one of the strategic roles in the production.

Leading the camera department

We had the privilege to interview two 1st ACs: Rozemarijn Stokkel and Amanda Wojtaszek. Let’s read what Rozemarijn has to say about her role on set: “I have been a 1st AC for the last thirteen years. I am responsible for focussing the camera and many other things such as organizing and logistics and equipment during a production; making sure the DP has nothing to worry about; taking care of my assistants and trainees and communicating with production about the following day. What I like the most has changed in the last few years. I was always thrilled to pull focus on difficult shots. However, in the last few years, I have started enjoying teaching my 2nd AC and trainees more about focus pulling and the industry”. 

Building the camera according to the set’s criteria

This is how 1st AC Amanda Wojtaszek describes her job: “My role as a focus puller or 1st AC onset is to run the camera department. I build the camera into its various modes. Also, during the take, I pull focus. The lens is marked with focus distances and my job is to match those distances with the object that we want in focus. Sometimes it helps to tell the story by telling the audience where to look. And that’s my favorite part, storytelling”.

Beyond pulling focus

Film Riot efficiently summarizes the role of 1st AC in a cool video, Here’re its key points for the definition of the 1st AC:

1. Leading the camera department
2. Assembling, building, and adapting the camera according to the shoot
3. Make sure the camera works and ready for the shoot
4. Facilitate camera transition (dolly, Steadicam, Russian arm, handheld, gimbal)
5. Organizing the camera and keeping it clean (minimization of cables and unnecessary accessories)
6. Organizing the camera truck
7. Labeling media and delivering it safely to the DIT
8. Changing camera setting according to the DP demand
9. Pulling focus

To sum it up, the 1st AC keeps that the camera is well served and always ready for the shoot, without compromising on accuracy, and safety.

Have you considered being a 1st AC? Watch the video below to get inspired by this key role: