2nd AC

The Second Assistant Camera, or 2nd AC, is otherwise known as the Clapper Loader.

They are part of the Camera Department. They do tasks as directed by the 1st AC, the Cam Op, and the DP. This will involve:

• carrying and moving camera equipment;

• swapping lenses (with the 1st AC);

• running camera cards to the DIT;

• placing marks for the actors;

• Slating

The Clapperboard, or Slate, is the board we use to synchronise audio and video. It has key information on what is being shot. A good AC will ensure the slate is placed in the frame when the Cam Op presses record, so the slate is the thumbnail that the Editor sees.

The information on the slate includes:

• The scene, the shot, and the take

• The director, the DP

• the date

• whether the shot is INT or EXT, DAY or NIGHT, MOS (no sound) or SYNC (recording sound)

When the camera is rolling (after the AD has called "Turnover", and the Cam Op has said "Speed", the 2nd AC will 'mark', which means reading aloud the shot and take (so the scratch audio can pick it up) and 'clapping' the board (unless it is MOS). The AD can't call "action" until the AC is out of the frame and has stopped moving, so speed and accuracy are key.

There are various tricks Clapper Loaders can use to indicate important information - such as keeping the sticks closed when it's MOS, or holding the board upside down for a tail slate (meaning the slate is at the end of the take, instead of the head (start)). We teach the AC how to do this.