Interview With The Industry: On-set with Elliot Purvis
The faces of the film industry plastered across our magazines and newspapers are only a fraction of the collective effort that goes into making a motion picture. Behind the scenes is the crew – tireless cameramen, production assistants, film loaders, make-up artists, boom operators, the list goes on. In this article we chat with Elliot Purvis, a 2nd Assistant Camera Technician who has worked on an impressive list of films including Guardians of the Galaxy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Maleficent.
What exactly do you do? What does an average day look like?
I am a 2nd Assistant Camera technician on films, television and commercials. An average day consists of many different jobs: assisting in setting up camera shots and maintaining a workflow that delivers the footage captured throughout the day.
What you are working on at the minute?
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s book about the magical creatures in Harry Potter’s wizarding world, set to come out next year)
How did you get started in the industry?
A family member who works in another part of the industry got my foot in the door by getting me a trainee job. After this, I got on the Guild of Camera Technicians trainee scheme.
How do you find new work?
I get work through 1st Assistant Camera technicians requesting me for jobs.
What inspired you to work in technical film production?
My love and passion for films has always made me want to work in the industry.
What was your first job like? Where was it?
My first job was on a film in Morocco. It was hard work in extreme temperatures, but it was also a very rewarding experience.
Best part of the job? Worst?
The best part of the job is working as part of a team. I get to work with some of the most talented technicians and artists in this country. There is very little that I don’t enjoy about the job. The long working hours and the impact this has on my non-working life can be a difficult aspect of working in the industry.
What’s been your favourite job so far?
Guardians of the Galaxy (the 2014 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name). On this project I got to work with great people and on fantastic sets.
In your opinion, what distinguishes a good cameraman from an average one?
A good balance between technical ability and social skills. This is a collaborative industry that relies on colleagues working together as a team. Understanding other people’s roles makes a good cameraman.
I imagine a film set can be an exciting, if not rather dangerous, place to work…have there been any accidents on any sets you’ve worked on?
I haven’t been involved or seen any accidents at work myself. Of course, like any other industry, there will always be certain risks. This is why there are strict health and safety measures in place on all the films I’ve worked on.
Any advice for anyone wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Be prepared to work hard and start at the bottom of the pile. It’s a very closed and small industry in terms of people that work in it. Enthusiasm and a keenness to work matched with technical ability would see anyone go far in the business.
