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

November 16, 2025 125 mins

Jeffrey and I sit down and talk about how cool the Baltimore film community is, Starting out with John Waters and his crew, The Wire, Serial Mom, and much much more.

Jeffrey'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 our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Pa...

Mark as Played

Tune in as we talk about starting out cabling for college football, breaking into Steadicam, American Fiction, Snowfall, and so much more.

Xavier’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 our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

Mark as Played
October 27, 2025 110 mins

Join us as we discuss growing up normal in Hollywood, the magical bond between the operator and the actor, Halloween, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and so much more.

Jamie'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 our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles...

Mark as Played
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 ...

Mark as Played
September 14, 2025 100 mins

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

Bill'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 our website and on instagram and like us and review us if you enjoyed the episode.

Theme Music - Tatyana Richaud

Theme Mix - Charles Papert

 

 

Mark as Played
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

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

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

...

Mark as Played
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

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

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 Pape...

Mark as Played
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

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

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

 

Mark as Played

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...

Mark as Played
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

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

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

Mark as Played
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

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

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 - Charle...

Mark as Played
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

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

Mark as Played

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...

Mark as Played

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...

Mark as Played
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...

Mark as Played
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...

Mark as Played

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 ...

Mark as Played
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

 

 

 

Mark as Played
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...

Mark as Played
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

 

 

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Ruthie's Table 4

    For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.