(In His Own Words)

The first time I knew that I wanted to be a cinematographer was when I went on a family trip to the film studios located in Florida. We visited Walt Disney studios and Universal studios. That’s where we took tours of the back lots and walked around the sets. Seeing all that is involved in putting together a motion picture is when I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be involved in the making of movies.



Top-Left: John Correira working as Steadicam Operator on the set of FINDING SIGHT, on location in Boston.
Bottom-Left John Correira concentrating on his next moves on the set of FINDING SIGHT on location in Boston.
Right: John Correira working as Steadicam Operator on the set of FINDING SIGHT, on location in Boston.
Photos by Brien Jennings.

I used my high school to help me prepare for my career. When I was a freshman I was one of the pioneers to launch a TV studio located inside of my school. In my high school later years, the studio started broadcasting school news to every classroom. That is where I started being in front, behind and all around the camera in a production setting. After high school I went looking for a college to advance my TV and video skills. I ended up attending a local Technical college and received a degree in TV and Radio Production. Immediately after graduating I worked for local production companies doing commercials. Then I moved on to work in broadcast as a news shooter for about 4 years. This is where I learned not only broadcast but I got to see the ups and downs of life through other peoples’ true stories.

My abilities now as a cinematographer are mostly self-taught with real world production experience. I learned that you can teach someone the basic mechanics of cinematography, but skill boils down to the individual. Willingness to learn, observe, and to implement concepts of good composition, lighting, and storytelling is taught by one's self. I always tell myself everything has been done before but it is the little twists that make someone's camera work stick out in the crowd.

John Correira in New Hampshire on the set of the independent film LIVING WAKE. Photo courtesy of LIVING WAKE.

John Correira working on the B&W music video "Bob's Day Off" shot on High Def in Fairhaven, MA. Photo by Brien Jennings.

I gravitated to Steadicam after many years in the broadcast world. I knew if I wanted to make it to my personal goal of being in the movie business I had to work full time on it. I found out that without knowing someone in the biz, it would be hard work. So I told myself I would have to find a niche. Steadicam for me was that niche I needed. I found that the Steadicam was something that would make me standout among all the others who wanted to work in the motion picture industry. So one day I attended a local camera show where there was a booth that sold Steadicam/Glidecam systems. I checked it out. From the second

I put the rig on I was hooked. It just felt good to me and I could handle it and make it do what I wanted it to. It was a skill and the “niche” I wa looking for to enter the movie business. Practice is the key to becoming a great Steadicam operator. I am often asked if there is a certification program to be a Steadicam operator. The answer is no. Good owner operators practice all the time to perfect their craft.

My most challenging assignment would be most of the jobs I get. Every shot done with a Steadicam requires a degree of skill and stamina. To be a successful Steadicam operator you need to challenge yourself on every shot and learn to keep your eyes open to different ways the shot can be done. I am always looking for a challenging shot or scene to shoot. When operating a Steadicam, safety is always my main concern. Knowing ones limitations and also the limitations of the Steadicam is a key factor in the safety of the operator.

It is hard to say what has been my favorite assignment. I find that I have never had a bad day operating because I love what I do and it shows to everyone on the set. If I had to pick one of my most rewarding shoots it has to be a music video with a clear message informing young kids on the importance of staying in school and to stay away from drugs.

My favorite cinematographer/director is the late Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick was one of the few directors that early on when Steadicam first came out, was capable of understanding its potential. The movie industry owes the use of modern Steadicam in motion pictures and television to Kubrick and the gentlemen who invented it, Garrett Brown. Brown has shot some famous films like BOUND FOR GLORY, ROCKY, MARATHON MAN, THE SHINING, and A CLOCK WORK ORANGE.

My work is mainly in independent film, music video, commercial and corporate production.My goal right now is to get on some big budget films or TV shows shooting in the New England area. I have recently become a member of the International Cinematographers Guild, local 600 under the category of Steadicam operator. I am finding out that it is hard to get your foot in the door on big union productions. This is due to the fact that many production companies bring in their own key players from out of state for camera department and Steadicam operator positions. It is a struggle but I always say that it will pay off in the end as long as I don't stop trying. So, I am hoping for that “big” break soon.

I hope one day to be a Steadicam operator on a big budget movie that has been well written, directed, and perfectly cast and when it is all done I can look back at it and I can be proud to say I was part of that production!

My take on Film vs. HD is that I don't think it matters what format a production is done on as long as it works for the story or project at hand. I think personally the story is more important than the format the film is delivered on. Without a good story the format doesn’t matter. A good operator will be happy to shoot any camera that has been put in his or her hands and use it to make great pictures.

A little about me personally that not a lot of people know is that I am into a sport called freediving. This is a sport unlike scuba diving where it is all breath hold diving. The premise behind freediving is to dive unencumbered by scuba tanks and diving gear. It is more of a natural diving water experience. Diving down to depths on one breath of air is very relaxing and challenging. Freediving is where I get to relax and travel to another exciting world underwater.

John Correira is a Steadicam/GlideCam (a Massachusetts company)Owner/Operator who works in both Film and Video Formats. He can be reached by email: johnnyc@edgenet.net.