Howard Davidson Podcast

Howard is a New Yorker now living in London and still works on set as a Camera Grip  and Lighting Gaffer.

He also imports a range of cinema products to his web store at www.newyorkfilmgear.com

He’s located at Pinewood Studios but I met up with him earlier this year at the BSC show.  I interviewed him on the George Lucas stage at Elstree Film Studios.

Howard Davidson- Lighting Grip and all round nice guy

Here’s the Podcast:

• Hear about some of the cultural differences in the movie business in NYC vs. in the UK, he had to adapt.  But adapting is what working in the Film & TV Business is all about.

• Howard offers some core advice for anyone looking to get into the business and a start on set.

• The difference between wanting to work in film and actually demonstrating it is persistence and professionalism.

• It’s a very social industry but it’s not secure and you have to be comfortable with that to succeed.

• He also talks about the regimentation of working on set and the discipline that it requires.  The importance of the correct lines of communication and leaving your ego behind.

• The most important lesson here is that you have to earn your respect and work your time on set in order to earn the respect of the senior crew.  It’s simple, pay attention and work efficiently and you’ll do very well.

• There’s only one Director on set and one DoP.  Don’t be obsessed with these two roles, a film set has many many other jobs that will allow you to get involved and importantly gain experience.

• Also hear from Howard on one of his first big jobs that involved 7 separate dolly moves and he was extremely nervous and was under pressure on set…..”freezing and sweating at the same time” that’s pressure.

• The big lesson here is you learn from doing it wrong, not doing it right…..

If you don’t screw up, you don’t learn.

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