What does Assistant Camera (AC) mean?
Assistant Camera (AC) is a film crew role responsible for maintaining and operating the camera under the direction of the Director of Photography (DP). The First AC (1st AC) is primarily responsible for keeping the camera in focus during shots — a skill known as focus pulling — while the Second AC (2nd AC) manages the clapperboard, camera reports, and loading of media. On smaller productions, a single AC may handle all camera assistant duties.
Example:The 1st AC tracked every actor movement during the chase sequence, pulling focus frame by frame to keep the lead in sharp focus as the camera operator panned and tilted.
Example: Before the first shot of the day, the 2nd AC slated each take with the clapperboard, calling out the scene and take number so the editor could sync audio and video in post.
Did you know?
Focus pulling is considered one of the most technically demanding jobs on a film set. On high-action shots, a skilled 1st AC may make dozens of precise focus adjustments per minute — all invisible to the audience when done correctly.
You can also find “Assistant Camera (AC)” and related terms in this category: Roles and Titles.
