As far as the rest of your email, good for you for defending your position!
Yes, you are indeed a "Director of Photography" if you are in charge of the lighting and the crew. I think that Bill and I both were referring to the union title of "Director of Photography" - the one you acquire after climbing slowly up an apprenticeship ladder. This person would have ASC after his name (if he's from the U.S.).
But I think it's fair to call someone a "Director of Photography" if he or she is in charge of lighting and shooting a scene, or movie, or interview, or whatever.
To me it's much more accurate than "Videographer"- which not only implies a format, but suggests a wedding or event person (not that there is anything wrong with that!)
"Cameraman" is sexist I suppose. "Camera Person" is too politically correct. "Cinematographer" is okay, but suggests that one is shooting on film to me.
The one I hate the most is "Shooter" - which is often thrown around in the news world. First of all a shooter reminds me of someone atop a bell tower killing a bunch of people. I live too close to Columbine for that to be my title. I've also done work with heads of state, and at least one president. I don't want to even connect the word "shoot" with our work there. Not when I have to get screened by the secret service! Also, a "Shooter" to me implies one who uses a shotgun to "spray" his or her shots. I think of what we do as much more selective than that. If you go into shooting, even documentary shooting, with the idea that you are going to "spray" the room without any eye for what you want to shoot - just to fill tape or cards - then I guess you deserve to be called a "shooter."
Anyway, I'm on a rant now. I think I might suggest a column to Ron in the next issue of the COW magazine called "What's in a Name?"
Let me know if anyone has any other anecdotes to add to this, and I'll try to roll it into the column.
Sorry, William, I never really addressed the issues of the room you need to light!
Tom Miller
Big Pictures Media
Denver, Colorado
http://www.BigPicturesMedia.com
