David E. Elkins, SOC

Camera Operator, First Assistant Cameraman
 
www.davidelkins.com        

david@davidelkins.com
 

david.e.elkins@gmail.com

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Freelance Professional Motion Picture Camera Operator & Assistant Cameraman,
1985 - Present

  •       Camera operator and first assistant cameraman on over one hundred twenty five 16mm and 35mm productions; productions included industrial and educational films, documentaries, public service announcements, commercials, music videos, television series and feature films.

  •       As camera operator worked closely with the director and director of photography to provide the proper composition for each shot. Worked closely with the first assistant cameraman and dolly grip during rehearsals to coordinate any focus or zoom changes and dolly moves required for the shot.

  •       As assistant cameraman I coordinated the ordering, preparation and testing of all camera equipment prior to filming.   Responsibilities also included set-up and maintenance of all camera equipment during filming, supervision of the operation of the camera department and additional camera crew members during production and working directly with camera rental companies regarding the ordering of equipment needed for filming.  

 

Working knowledge of the following professional 16mm and 35mm camera systems: Aaton XTR-Prod, Arriflex l6S, Arriflex 16M, Arriflex 16BL, Arriflex 16SR2, Arriflex 16SR3, Arriflex 416, Arriflex Arricam, Arriflex 235, Arriflex 35-3, Arriflex 35BL, Arriflex 535, Cinema Products CP16, Eclair ACL, Eclair NPR, Leonetti Ultracam, Moviecam Compact, Moviecam SuperAmerica, Panavision Panaflex 16, Panavision GII, Panavision Golden, Panavision Platinum, Panavision Panastar, Panavision Panaflex-X

 

Complete list of Professional Production Credits attached.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

International Cinematographers Guild (I.A.T.S.E. Local 600)

Society of Camera Operators  (S.O.C.)

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

The Camera Assistant's Manual, First, Second, Third and Fourth Editions, 1991-Present  

Focal Press, Boston, MA

 

The Camera Assistant’s Manual, Japanese Edition, 2004

Focal Press & The Japanese Society of Cinematographers

 

The Camera Assistant's Manual, Spanish Edition, 1993

Focal Press & Escuela de Cine y Video

 

Camera Terms and Concepts, 1993                                                                                                   
Focal Press, Boston, MA

 

Contributing writer to the Professional Cameraman’s Handbook, Fourth Edition, 1993

Focal Press, Boston, MA

 

Training Tomorrows Professional Filmmakers, January-June 2002 Issue Operating Cameraman Magazine, Society of Camera Operators, Toluca Lake, CA.

 

 

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

 

CAPPS – California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools

Teacher Training Workshop – May 5, 1995

 

ACCSCT – Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology

Professional Development Accreditation Workshop – February 23-24, 1995

 

Career College Association Management Development Workshop

January 21, 1995

 

CAPPS – California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools

Teacher Training Workshop – November 12, 1993

 

CAPPS – California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools

Teacher Training Workshop – April 30, 1993

 

 

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

 

 

University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 1997-Present

School of Filmmaking

Winston-Salem, NC

 

Assistant Dean of Production and Student Affairs, January 2004-Present

  • Responsible for student affairs, academic and socialization performance and directing students with disability issues to the proper resources.

  • Dean's representative at weekly Production and Post Production meetings.

  • Oversee all student productions, working closely with the Head of Production.

  • Principal liaison between the Office of the Dean and the Production Office.

  • Assist the Academic Programs Manager in the discipline selection process for second year students.

  • Assist the University Administrative Manager in the updating of policies and procedures in the school's Student Handbook and Safety Handbook.

  • Responsible for the design and implementation of all production related forms used by the school.

  • Work with the dean to enforce and refine existing policies and regulations, including the handling of all student disciplinary matters.

  • Serve on various faculty committees including Studio System, Curriculum, Admissions, Web Site, Archives along with various faculty/staff search committees.

  • Serve as Webmaster for the School of Filmmaking internal web site.

 

Interim Dean, September 2006 – May 2007

  • Manage and oversee the School of Filmmaking personnel and budget.

  • Oversee all educational programs and curricular development

  • Promote the school locally and nationally

  • Work with the Chief Academic Officer and University Administrative Manager to recruit and maintain a diverse and professional faculty and staff

  • Work with Assistant Deans, faculty and staff to provide a smoothly functioning support system for the students and educational programs

  • Work with Assistant Deans, faculty and staff to administer the policies established for the school

  • Work with the Academic Programs Manager to recruit a student body of the highest caliber

  • Work with the Head of Production and the Head of Post Production to oversee 200+ student films each year

  • Oversee the planning and maintenance of all School of Filmmaking facilities

  • Represent the School of Filmmaking effectively to the senior administration and the other schools at UNCSA

  • Serve as a member of the Chancellor's Administrative Cabinet

  • Promote creative collaborations with the Schools of Dance, Drama, Design and Production, Music and the divisions of Undergraduate Academic and Graduate Programs and Student Life

 

Cinematography Faculty Member, September 1997-Present

  • Teach introductory film production class to all freshman students; course involved introduction to basic film and video equipment, production techniques, safety and the fundamentals of cinematography

  • Teach advanced cinematography class to cinematography majors; course includes instruction on the setup and use of the advanced 16mm film camera that will be used for their thesis film along with instruction on the job responsibilities of each member of a professional motion picture camera department

  • Advisor/Mentor to approximately 10-15 students each school year.  As advisor I meet with students on a regular basis to discuss their progress in the program.  Mentoring involves working directly with cinematography majors in the preparation and shooting of their third and fourth year film projects.

  • Taught professional camera workshops on the setup and use of the Panavision 35mm Motion Picture Camera.

 

Department Chair, Cinematography, January 1999-Present

  • Attend meetings with the dean on behalf of the cinematography faculty.

  • Coordinate monthly departmental meetings.

  • Develop cinematography curriculum along with other faculty input.

  • Approve syllabus and budget for all cinematography courses

  • Recommend new equipment purchases for the cinematography department.

  • Prepare yearly budget for cinematography courses and equipment

 

Columbia College-Hollywood, 1988-1995

Los Angeles, CA

 

President, 1994-1995

  • Responsible for management and administration of technical college offering Bachelors and Associates degrees in film and television production.

  • Chaired all meetings of the Board of Trustees.

  • Presided over graduations, awards banquets and other official ceremonies.

  • Officially represented the college at conferences and conventions.

  • Communicated with other institutions of higher learning.

  • Coordinated and supervised the preparation of self-evaluation reports for both state and federal accreditation agencies

  • Established new policies and procedures for the school's equipment department.  Implemented the change of operation hours and equipment check out times to better serve the students.

 

Instructor, Cinematography, 1988-1995

  • Taught introductory cinematography class; course was a basic introduction to cameras, lenses, film stock, filters, light meters, f-stops, composition and lighting.

  • Designed and taught an assistant camera course which was an in-depth discussion of the job responsibilities and duties of an assistant cameraman on any film crew.

  • Initiated and negotiated for the acquisition of professional motion picture camera equipment for demonstration and use by the students

 

Connecticut Film Industry Training Program, July - August 2008
Middletown, CT

  • Taught camera workshop, which was an intensive two-week workshop covering all aspects of the job of Director of Photography, Camera Operator, First Assistant Cameraman, Second Assistant Cameraman and Loader.  Topics included camera prep and set-up, loading and unloading film magazines, following focus, slating shots, marking actors, filling out camera reports and inventory forms, and much more.   Hands-on work using the Panavision Gold Camera.  Course also consisted of two days of a mock production on location and in the studio.

 

Boston Film & Video Foundation, July 1997, June-July 1998, July-August 2000, June-July 2001

Boston, MA

  • Taught basic cinematography workshop, which was an introductory course covering the basics of cinematography and filmmaking.  Topics included film stocks, film formats, cameras, lenses, magazines, exposure, basic composition, basic lighting and film crew positions and responsibilities.

  • Taught camera assistant workshop, which was an intensive two-day workshop covering all aspects of the job of first and second assistant cameraman.  Topics included camera prep and set-up, loading and labeling film magazines, following focus, slating shots, marking actors, filling out camera reports and inventory forms, and much more

 

Panavision, Inc., 1992-1993

Tarzana, CA

  • Assisted in the teaching of a workshop on the setup and use of the Panavision 35mm motion picture camera system; course included instruction on setting up the camera, loading and threading film and troubleshooting problems.

 

Panavision – Hollywood, 1991

Hollywood, CA

  • Assisted in the teaching of a basic second camera assistant course; course included instruction on basic set procedures, filling in camera department paperwork and loading film into the Panavision cameras.

 

HONORS and AWARDS

 

Excellence in Teaching Award, 2001

North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking

Winston-Salem, NC

 

Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary), 1994

Columbia College – Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA

 

Most Distinguished Alumni, 1991

Columbia College – Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA

 

Instructor of the Year, 1989

Columbia College – Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA

 

EDUCATION

 

Bachelor of Arts, Motion Picture Production, Cum Laude, 1985

Columbia College – Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA

 

Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, 1976

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT

 

Professional references available upon request.