52110 Film and video camera operators

What this occupation covers

Film and video camera operators operate motion picture and video cameras and related equipment to record news, live events, films, videos and television broadcasts. They are employed by television networks and stations, motion picture and video production companies and in-house communications facilities of large corporations.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 6 main duties for this code.

• Meet with director and senior members of camera crew to discuss assignment and determine filming sequences, camera movements and picture composition
• Select and set up camera equipment to be used and attach lens, filters and film magazine to camera
• Adjust focus, exposure, lighting and other camera settings
• Operate film or video camera to record news, live events, films, videos and television broadcasts
• Label and record contents of exposed film, and complete report sheets
• Test, maintain and store equipment.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 6 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 52113 Audio and video recording technicians
• 53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
• 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
• 53110 Photographers
• 53122 Painters, sculptors and other visual artists
• 52112 Broadcast technicians

Excluded from this code

• Audio and video recording technicians (See 52113 Audio and video recording technicians)
• Audiovisual (AV) assistant (See 53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators)
• Director of photography (See 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations)
• Filmmaker (See 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations)
• Photographers (See 53110 Photographers)
• Video artist (See 53122 Painters, sculptors and other visual artists)
• Video transmission operator (See 52112 Broadcast technicians)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

assistant camera operator · camera operator · dance videographer · electronic field production (EFP) camera operator · electronic news gathering (ENG) camera operator · film camera operator · film cameraman/woman · motion picture camera operator · news camera operator · senior motion picture camera operator · studio camera operator · television camera operator · television news camera operator · video camera operator · videographer

Employment requirements

• Completion of a college or technical program in broadcasting, audio-visual technology or a related field and Experience as an assistant camera operator are usually required.
• Creative and technical ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work and experience, may be required.