Everything You Need as an AC
Being a great AC in the industry means you're ready and prepared for any situation that comes your way. Whether it’s your first AC job or your hundredth, these are the items that are essential to have in your bag:
Tape - We know you’ve already thought of this, but it’s always a great reminder: Make sure you have plenty of tape! It’s important to have different colored rolls of tape to mark your actors and subjects of focus appropriately. The last thing you want to do is hold up a take because you’re asking around for tape. As a bonus, throw some gaff tape and butyl tape in your bag as well; Your gaffers and DP will love you.
T-Tool - Speaking of marking actors, this “T-tool” from Amazon can be repurposed to help give your actors a specific mark. This tool is perfect when the tape won’t stick to the floor, or if you want to differentiate your marks to make it easier on your talent. Plus, when you inevitably move the mark an inch to the left, you can slide the tool over instead of wasting your tape.
Lens Control System - Alright, this is the most obvious tool you need as an AC. Whether buying your own or renting per project, you must show up to set up your system to control the lens. There are plenty of options for AC’s to choose from, so find one that makes the most sense for you and your usual projects. Our recommendation for smaller-budget projects and independent filmmakers is the Tilta Nucleus-M system. The Nucleus-M has an intuitive interface and the device itself is packed full of helpful features to make your job easy and efficient. For bigger budget projects, we recommend the Teradek Lens Control System, as it will allow you to control every aspect of the lens (and camera) from one controller.
Tape Measure - Another vital tool that you’ll need to have in your bag is a tape measure. When pulling focus, it’s important to be able to be as precise as possible, and that means you’ll sometimes have to use a tape measure to mark your talent or subject of focus at a certain distance from the lens. You can use a good old-fashioned tape measure, or you can use a modern, laser tape measure that doesn't require you to leave your spot by the monitor. If you have the ability, it's important to have both because each type of tape measure has its pros and cons.
Canned Air - One tool that is oftentimes forgotten on set is canned air. The AC needs to keep both the camera and the lenses clean, and you probably won't have time to sit down and do it thoroughly between takes. Canned air allows you to remove any dust or dirt that's accumulated on the gear, which everyone on set will appreciate.
Other tools -S many tools and instruments are important for AC’s to have in their bag, but these five will help get you off to a strong start. For a list of other tools and tips, check out this blog from Shane Hurlburt and Derek Edwards on Fulltime Filmmakers.
