Glossary
Director of Photography (DP)
see also: Director of Photography, Cinematographer, Camera Operator
The cinematographer is responsible for filming the dramatic and visual concepts of the director. For an actor/director, the DPs involvement in the directing process goes deeper further than with a more visually oriented film director. By default, the DP is responsible for the entire camera crew, lighting, shot setups, camera position and movement. In the US (and in general in most countries), the cameraman is limited to these decisions, in Germany most DPs also operate the camera for cost reasons. In the US a camera operator runs the camera. Though on smaller productions in the US, the DP also operates the camera himself.