Focus puller
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In cinematography, a focus puller or first assistant camera (1 AC) is the member of a film crew responsible for keeping the camera's focus right during a shoot. This typically requires pulling the focus with a follow focus device during the take, to compensate for camera or subject movement. The depth of field may sometimes be very small, as little as 1/4 or 1/8th of an inch (3–6 mm) in extreme circumstances. Since focus pullers do not look through the camera (camera operators do that) and thus cannot see the results of their focusing in real-time, this job is considered to be extremely technically difficult.
To accurately focus on the subject, it is common to measure the distance (usually with a tape measure or, more recently, with electronic tape measures using lasers) between the camera and the subject before the take. Specifically the measurement is taken from the subject to the film plane or image sensor. Most movie cameras have a small stud level with the film plane where focus pullers attach their tape measure. Professional focus pullers have many tricks for pulling focus in difficult situations, such as when accurate measurement is impossible.
It is also the focus puller's responsibility to maintain the camera through the duration of the filming period, to apply or remove any accessories (such as lenses, filters, matte boxes and external viewing monitors), to reload the camera, to keep the camera, lenses and film gate clean, and to be aware of lens flares. Focus pullers also oversee the 2nd assistant camera (also known as the "clapper loader") and any other members of the camera assist team.