SOC Camera Operator of the Year nominations now open

This award is given to a Feature Film and/or Television full-time Camera Operator who has operated on a distinguished project of considerable quality during the previous year.

Anyone in the film/TV community may nominate a Camera Operator for this award, including, but not limited to, SOC members, directors, producers, production crew members, studios, and production companies. Camera Operators may also nominate themselves.

Submissions will be vetted for their qualifications by the Awards Committee and then a Jury of Awards Committee members will select five (5) nominees in each category by vote. Selections will be made from the previous year’s best films or television projects, specifically those that employed a full-time Camera Operator responsible for operating the majority of the project.

The list of the final five nominees in each category will be sent to all active voting members of the SOC in good standing for a vote by secret mail, email, or web-based ballots.

For this award, there will be no consideration of any Director of Photography who also operated the camera on the same project.

The awards will only be announced at the Awards Celebration and will be kept private until that time.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Film Nominee Submissions

To be eligible:

• The nominee should be credited as “Camera Operator” or “A Camera Operator” and be the lead Camera Operator on the production.
• A nominated Camera Operator may include other Camera Operators as part of the nomination (e.g., B Camera or Steadicam). All Camera Operators on the specified production must have verifiable Camera Operator credits and have worked for the production for the majority of the schedule.

There are two methods of qualification for Film nominees:

• Films that are intended for theatrical release, but are initially made available in the previous calendar year through commercial streaming, video-on-demand service, or other broadcast.
• Films released during the previous calendar year that complete a screening run of at least seven consecutive days in theaters in at least one of the six qualifying U.S. cities. Qualifying cities: Los Angeles County; City of New York (Five Boroughs); the Bay Area (counties of San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, and Contra Costa); Chicago (Cook County, Illinois); Miami (Miami-Dade County, Florida); and Atlanta (Fulton County, Georgia). Drive-in theaters are included as a qualifying commercial venue in the above cities (must run for seven consecutive days with at least one screening daily).

Television Nominee Submissions

To be eligible:

• The nominee should be credited as “Camera Operator” or “A Camera Operator” and be the lead Camera Operator on the production.
• A nominated Camera Operator may include other Camera Operators as part of the nomination (e.g. B Camera or Steadicam). All Camera Operators on the specified production must have verifiable Camera Operator credits and have worked for the production for the majority of the schedule.
• The submitted project must have been broadcast on television, cable, or streaming service with at least 50% of the episodes released in the calendar year 2022. One season of a production may only be submitted for one calendar year’s award; a single season of a production may not be submitted for more than one calendar year’s consideration.

SUBMISSION AND FEES

This form allows you to submit for nomination a Camera Operator for their work on a project. There is a $75 USD submission fee per submission. Payment must be made to complete your submission, and is available at the end of the form.

Any questions or special requests, please contact Kristin Petrovich at kristin@createasphere.com.

TIMELINE

• November 1, 2022 – Submissions for Nominations open for Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television
• January 6, 2023 – Submissions for Nominations close for Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television
• January 19, 2023 – Nominees for Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television announced
• January 23, 2023 – SOC Membership voting opens for Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television
• February 19, 2023 – SOC Membership voting closes for Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television
• February 25, 2023 – Society of Camera Operators Awards (Camera Operator of the Year – Film & Television honorees announced live)

Submit here.