Clapper Loader - Duties

Duties

A full description of the job duties includes the following (although different shoots may often not always require all of these):

• generally assisting the rest of the camera crew (focus puller, camera operator, director of photography)
• utilizing the camera trainee, film loader, and/or camera runner if one has been brought onto the production
• keeping inventory of all equipment, film, and expendables
• requesting film stock as needed
• securing the equipment
• checking loading materials and spaces to prevent light leaks
• cleaning and keeping clean the magazines and the loading environment
• organizing and cleaning the equipment space
• maintaining and cleaning the equipment
• loading and unloading of film stock from and to the magazines
• labelling of equipment, boxes, magazines, and storage spaces
• marking actors and props (leaving a marker of their positions as the scene is blocked for the purpose of measuring distance from the camera so that its focus can be adjusted throughout the scene)
• marking and operating the clapperboard properly
• keeping meticulous and accurate camera notes
• writing negative report sheets in detail
• interfacing with continuity in order to note which takes to print
• charging of batteries for camera and accessories
• preparation of film to be sent to the lab
• keeping records of time, per diems, and expenses for the entire camera crew
• liaising regularly with production, rental houses, editing, laboratories, and unions
• recordkeeping of all camera-related paperwork, including negative reports, daily stock reports, film inventory reports, lab orders, rental contracts, and expendable orders
• ensuring that all instructions from the director of photography are passed along properly to labs and post houses
• relaying reports from the lab about the rushes to the director of photography

On top of all of that, it is expected that a decent assistant will be able to anticipate a good part of those demands before they become demands.