The Op

The Op

Dave Chameides, an A Cam/Steadicam op with 35 years experience, 2 Emmy’s, an SOC Operator of the Year award for his work on Ozark, and a seriously cool collection of international toothpicks, brings you The Op, a podcast about Operating and the Art of Visual Storytelling. Geared towards all storytellers (Ops, DPs, Directors, Writers, and beyond) both young and old, every week the Op will bring you a new interview with some of the best the film industry has to offer. Website and instagram: theop.io

Episodes

October 10, 2025 150 mins

Veteran Camera Op Don Devine, discusses water color painting, Hoosiers, Barry, the joy of the silence after they call 'Roll Camera', and what it was like back in the day when you could actually hear the film moving through the camera.

 

For more on Don, his watercolors, and everything else we talked about in this episode, click here.

 

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music ...

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Bill and I discuss working with puppets, bullet time, Bound, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and much much more.

Bill's IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

 

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September 4, 2025 44 mins

David Emmerichs and Chris Haarhoff discuss the beginnings of the PRO Stabilizer, a device they were instrumental in creating, that propelled the art of Steadicam by leaps and bounds.

GPI PRO Systems Website 

David's IMDB

Chris' IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

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August 28, 2025 82 mins

Aaron and I discuss the amazing relationship between the on set dresser and the operator, Killers of the Flower Moon, Eddington, harmonica playing, and so much more.

Aaron's IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

 

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August 21, 2025 69 mins

Torey and I discuss the job of the loader, the importance of being a people person, Megalopolis, Saturday Night, and so much more.

Torey's IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

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Liza and I recorded a podcast about 6 months ago about her amazing career as a focus puller and right about that time she was poised to make the jump to operating. She was kind enough to come back on and share what that experience has been like, what the challenges were, and what it looks like to her moving forward. A great insight into the jump to operating from an amazing storyteller with a great career behind her and ahead of he...

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August 14, 2025 88 mins

Vince discusses jumping back and forth between A and B cam jobs, early steadicam work with a cable, Slow Horses, Paddington, and so much more.

Vince's IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

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August 7, 2025 99 mins

Director Jonathan Kaplan discusses learning from Elia Kazan, having Martin Scorsese teach him at NYU, hanging up on Roger Corman, The Accused, ER,  and much, much more.

Jonathan's IMDB

Please check us out on our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

We'd like to thank Knuckle Puck Camera for sponsoring today's episode. If you'd like to...

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July 31, 2025 90 mins

Tony and I talk about what a camera operator looks for, working on almost every Star Wars movie, A Bridge Too Far, Superman, and so much more.

Tony's IMDB

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

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A friend pointed out that most people starting out are not going to jump into camera (if that is their goal) and instead will probably start out as PAs on whatever show they can get on. So today we are talking to Lauren Senger (Key PA), Jeff Sweeney (Key PA) and Ana Pellar (First Team PA) about the dos and don'ts, what to do the moment you park your car on day one, and much much more. Take a peak into the world of the PA and find o...

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On todays podcast we talk to Operator Rochelle Brown, 1st AD Kris Krengel, Key 2nd AD Sarah Gorczyk, and 2nd 2nd AD Jackson Lipps discuss the ins and outs of what it takes to be a good PA. This is a sequel to the first part which can be found here.

Rochelle Browns Podcast we mention can be found here.

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and i...

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July 17, 2025 79 mins

David and I talk about the power of failure, his first A camera job, Bad Times At The El Royale, Armageddon, The Green Mile, and so much more.

David's IMDB

Watch David's Shot Breakdowns on The Op Here!!!!

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme...

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July 10, 2025 121 mins

Chris and I discuss the beginnings of the PRO, living in Hollywood in a steadicam flop house, Saving Private Ryan, The Salton Sea, and so much more.

Chris' IMDB

View Chris' Shot Breakdowns Here

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Char...

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Last week the SOC hosted So You Want To Be An A Camera Operator (hint it's more than just panning and tilting) at the Chapman facilities in Atlanta. Operators Matt Petrosky, Chris Duskin, Jessica Hershatter, Greg Faysash, Brigman "Briggs" Foster-Owens, Dave Chameides and Dolly Grip Eric Zucker discuss the 95% of the job of being a camera operator that has nothing to do with with operating itself. Interpersonal skills, working with ...

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June 26, 2025 92 mins

David and I discuss starting out in 8mm film, reading every back issue of the ASC magazine, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Twin Falls Idaho, and so much more.

David's IMDB

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

 

 

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June 19, 2025 120 mins

Olivia and I discuss cookies, acting and the camera operator, The Postman, The Sixth Sense, and so much more.

***TRIGGER WARNING** - There is a discussion of a sexual assault in this episode at the 54 minute mark with a disclaimer just before that portion of the podcast.

Olivia's IMDB

Bystander Training At Right To Be

Check out Filmscape Chicago

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of...

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June 12, 2025 73 mins

Rob and I talk about turning down Forrest Gump, the pros and cons of animatics, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Inception, and so much more.

Rob's IMDB

Check out Filmscape Chicago

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

 

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Cheli thanks a teacher who taught her how to tell stories.

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June 5, 2025 119 mins

Cheli and I talk about focus pulling without rehearsals, making game day decisions, Joker Folie a Deux, Team American World Police, and so much more.

Cheli's IMDB

RIP Norman Parker.

Bystander Intervention Training

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Rich...

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May 22, 2025 111 mins

Gary and I discuss how to work with a dolly grip who doesn't only speaks Thai, what to do as a B camera operator, Good Morning Vietnam, Quantam of Solace, and much much more.

Gary's IMDB

To see pictures and things we discussed in todays episode check out the podcast page of The Op.

Please check us out on the web and instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Pap...

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