Pictured above: Anthony Cobbs at work on reality show, “House Husbands of Hollywood”.
#ThrowbackThursday #TBT Do you remember our Community Spotlight with camera operator Anthony Cobbs?
Work:
“I work on everything from red carpet events to additional camera operator on feature films. Each genre demands specific things from a cameraman. The throughline is always to stay alert and focused.”
Biggest Challenge:
“On one of the first days on a feature set when I had moved to Los Angeles, I was the ‘B’ camera operator on a film called, Even Money. As ‘B’ operator I was responsible for the tight shot of an actor going through a piece of glass [it was actually fake]. Just before the take, the ‘A’ operator came over to me and said if anything felt wrong, to call cut before the take, as it would take an hour or more to re-set the shot. I hadn’t thought about it before then. All of a sudden I felt very responsible for time and money being spent on getting this in one take. We did the take, I felt good but then, just when I was beginning to relax, I was told that video could be played back in slow motion. The take was fine, but I sweated it out seeing it in slow motion; if I had missed the shot, the playback would have been excruciating to watch.”
Solution for Challenge:
“I focused myself on the task and put everything else out of mind.”
Favorite Technique:
“A lot of television these days is shot hand held. I don’t know if this is a technique or not, but I suggest an operator get himself or herself a shoulder pad that feels comfortable.”
Favorite Tool:
“The dolly.”
Inspiration:
“I look at a lot of photography and paintings. But I am really fascinated by amateur snapshots. We all have a unique way of looking at the world.”
Filmography includes:
Wild Hogs (Camera Operator) Feature Film.
Even Money (Camera Operator:“B” Camera) Feature Film.
Bones (Camera Operator: “B” Camera Second Unit / Camera Operator: “A” Camera Second Unit) Television Series
The Unit (Camera Operator: Second Unit) Television Series
The Valley of Light (Camera Operator:“B” Camera) TV Movie, Nominated for Primetime Emmy
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