How to be a Cinematographer without Film School

Rob Draper ACS explains his idea on the best way to move into narrative film (feature films or TV) as a Director of Photography or Cinematographer, with loads of baseline experience and avoiding Film School.

[davepov]

After college I ended up in TV news as a reporter and in small markets I shot and edited video as well as writing and being on-camera. I also got to do one documentary. Ultimately I got into corporate video and we did some pretty high end productions. I needed to know more about that tough so, I took a class at the then, Maine Photographic and Film Workshop and my teacher was Rob Draper. I think the class was about how to make video production look more like film. I learned so much from Rob and he inspired me to keep pushing to be the best I could be. I still did a variety of jobs after that...writer, producer, DP, editor, but for the last ten years I have been DP at an advertising/marketing agency in Texas and I have learned tons on-the-job, especially about lighting. You never stop learning, although I might learn less starting in 2024 when I retire. Rob, good to see you and it's great that you are still sharing your knowledge with us all!

[DavidBlodgett]

Im in the documentary space! started with my own spec docs, now Im filming documentaries for streamers. Cant wait to make the jump to narrative. Will work on my own spec projects till then

[RSill]

Great advice, brother. Don’t forget those of us who’ve come up through lighting department. Also a great spot to learn if you stay close to the DP and pay attention to what goes on the front of the camera.

[HonJazzz]

Great advice Rob, thank you for starting this channel and sharing your knowledge. I have been working in a mix of documentary and commercial work. I’m looking forward to working on narrative work in the future. Cheers from New Jersey.

[GetWorkProductions]

Rob....I just watched your last Youtube video. I noticed a "Tiger Warsaw" poster in the background. I did not know you were the D.P. on that film. I am born and raised in Sharon, Pa. (also the hometown of Chilly Billy)...I wrote, shot, and edited my first Documentary a couple years back. The subject was a "No Budget" film that was filmed in and around Sharon, Pa. Thank you for taking the time to make this short youtube video, it greatly boosted my confidence. I look forward to possibly working together in the future!

[CACINEdp]

💯 Rob!!! No better film school than being a documentary cinematographer. 👊🏻

[Kidnappedbyart]

Rob, 1st - great content and 2nd - that's a very good advice, thank you for that. Here is my two cents on it. It is also hard to jump as a DP or even as a cam op on a pro doc project. The market is over saturated and you already need to be an experienced DP/Operator to be a part of a project that would elevate your career further up, cause not every project can do that. And with little to no experience, it's very hard.
Now, don't get me wrong, I do believe that working hard to get what/where you want to be will eventually pay off, but to have the LUCK or being at the right time and the right place or knowing the right people, which is just another ways of being simply lucky, is the only easiest way to get to the top of this business. Whether you are going for a narrative work or not.