How did I start out? What was my path to becoming a cinematographer? How do you recommend going about being a DP? I get asked these questions on a daily basis. My path has been one that only a few have traveled. Most cinematographers started out as a camera assistant, then moved to focus puller, then operator and eventually cinematographer. I came from the lighting side. I was a grip truck packer first. Day in and day out, I loaded grip and electric packages for crews. This was my job right out of film school. I quickly learned all of the names of every grip and electric tool, but not how to use them. That would come with more experience. I feel that this knowledge of the tools of the trade is absolutely essential to being able to communicate to your crew effectively, plus it makes you really fast. You don’t have to say, “Give me something kind of big over there, and a small light over here and bounce into something white.”