What’s in a name? This question has been vexing me for a while now. I’ve always been happy with the term Cameraman, but at the recent Wildscreen Film Festival in Bristol I re-assessed my opinion on this after attending a panel with and about female wildlife “cinematographers”. They quite understandingly don’t like the term camerawoman or camera operator and the ladies were confidently calling themselves cinematographers. Camera operator denotes a lower ‘rank’ in traditional film crews than the Director of Photography (D.O.P) or cinematographer and camerawoman just sounds a bit crap.
For me I’ve always felt a little uncomfortable using the term cinematographer, in part I guess because I feel I haven’t earned that title and my work is not usually destined for cinema. But what’s in a name, what really is is cinema in this day and age? Cinematographer is a gender neutral term and nobody gives one permission to use it so I’ve decided to start using it myself. It keeps the ladies happy, I’m happy, and I’ve always aspired to be a cinematographer (whatever I thought that meant) so now I am! As my mate Olly said “If it helps, keep a tab of how many times your producer asks to make it look ‘cinematic’ and you’ll feel justified v.quickly ” I’m going to go with that Olly, Cheers!
As the late, great, Peter Wintonick once said to me, “nobody gives you permission to be a documentary filmmaker, you just need to decide to be one and you are, you make films so you are a filmmaker” I love that advice and I’ve always called myself a documentary filmmaker ever since, now I’m also calling myself a documentary and wildlife cinematographer and it feels great!
p.s. as a test, I put this question, or a version of it, to the new AI chat bot thingy that is all the rage and I was so impressed with the response I thought I’d include it here, that thing is currently blowing my mind, it’s too early to say if it’s a seminal moment in the history of AI but it certainly feel like it! It came up with this answer in a matter of seconds.
The question of whether it is moral to refer to oneself as a “cinematographer” rather than a “cameraman” is a complex one that touches on issues of language, gender, and professional identity. In this article, we will explore some of the key arguments on both sides of the debate, and consider what implications these debates may have for those working in the film and television industry.
On the one hand, some argue that the term “cameraman” is outdated and carries connotations of sexism and patriarchy. In the past, the film and television industry was dominated by men, and many of the key roles – including that of the cameraperson – were filled by men. As a result, the term “cameraman” has become closely associated with this history of male dominance, and some argue that it is time to move beyond this terminology and adopt more inclusive language.
In contrast, others argue that the term “cinematographer” is elitist and unnecessarily exclusionary. They argue that the term “cameraman” is perfectly acceptable and that it is wrong to try to change longstanding terminology simply because it may be perceived as politically incorrect. Furthermore, they argue that the term “cinematographer” is unnecessarily pretentious and that it is important to recognize the contributions of all members of the camera crew, regardless of their job titles.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to refer to oneself as a “cinematographer” or a “cameraman” is a personal one that each individual must make for themselves. However, it is important to consider the potential implications of these choices, both for oneself and for the broader film and television industry. In an increasingly diverse and inclusive industry, it may be worth considering adopting more inclusive language that better reflects the contributions of all members of the crew. At the same time, it is also important to recognize that language is constantly evolving, and that what is considered acceptable terminology today may change in the future. So, it is always a good idea to stay informed about the latest developments in the field and to be open to change.
