Yonks ago when I started working in television behind the lens when you first started you were always referred to as a foozle and then you graduated eventually to being called a Cameraman or if you only worked in a studio, or shot events, a Cam Op or Camera operator. The term Shooter came along years later, but no one was ever referred to as a Camerama’am. It feels like it is time to change that. Me, I have always been happy to be called anything just as long as I get paid. More on the Best Damn Cameraman or Best Damn Camerama’am which one are you wearing in a second.
But first a little history of how the Best Damn Cameraman and Best Damn Camerama’am came about.
Like most of you I too am an avid collector of camera and gear maker merch, t-shirts, hats anything with a name on it and I will take with me and wear it on location. There has been many a time on a set or out on the road in the Australian Outback filming stories and contributors and there was me sporting a Panavision, or a Litepanels t-shirt, a RED, Redrock Micro or Porta-Brace hat. However what I was wanting and could not find was designs that summed up the camera craft that I love. I just wanted anything with a decent sized camera and someone holding it, that is all I was after. Well, Pre covid is when I thought you know what I will make my own t-shirts and a couple of hats. Originally and very selfishly they were going to be just for me. I had the Best Damn Cameraman and Best Damn Camerama’am phrase in mind and was working on some early designs. Never happy with the results, so I put the project on hold for a bit. Eventually I came across some designs that worked well with the templates I had mocked up and the Best Damn Cameraman and Best Damn Camerama’am merch roared back to life. How did the name for Camerama’am come about? Again good question thanks for asking. When I was doing the designs cameraman looked fine but I was not happy with the look of Camera Operator or any other combo I put together, so the term Camerama’am was born. The phrase Camerama’am isn’t just a fun play on words. It’s a correction. For decades the default was Cameraman regardless of who was behind the lens. Later on Cam Op or Camera Operator has been used, but damn it flip the switch and grab the portmanteau and run with it.
My point is when I started in the industry 31 years ago cameraman was the only word used, except cinematographer and DoP. And videographer was not a thing back then. So Camerama’am is a nod to the the history of women in cinematography, and how the language on a set has evolved over the years.
The first Cinescopophilia apparel drop includes the Best Damn Cameraman tee, and the Best Damn Camerama’am tee f/0.7 edition. All available in the Cinescopophilia shop now. Why f/0.7 edition? Great question, it is a nod and a tip of the hat to the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/0.7 legendary ultra-fast lens. Yes there are other designs that will join this collection as well as many more film and TV job positions that are in the merch pipeline.
The Best Damn Cameraman and Best Damn Camerama’am says the craft belongs to everyone who earns it.
Go ahead and click the banner link and wear what you do.
Best Damn Cameraman or Best Damn Camerama’am
Grab yours from the Cinescopophilia merch store — wear what you do.