Chai Rolfe

A small thank you to the epic team at @opticalsupport 🖤 Plus a sneak peak at some of the great features in the latest issue of the ACO magazine, In The Frame! /resources/in-the-frame

Pleased to announce that our Chai Rolfe @camera_chai is now working as a Camera Operator 🎥 Chai’s experience in the camera department currently spans over 15 years in both commercials and narrative. She started out wearing multiple hats as a DP, Gaffer and AC in the indie film world. After a few years, Chai took a side-step to become a Camera Trainee and break in to TV dramas. She went on to become an experienced 2nd AC in dramas and commercials, with most of her days being spent on location as A-Camera Loader. She spent years learning from highly skilled ACs on British drama and commercial sets, and spent her free time shooting whenever she could. With encouragement from a couple of her regular DPs, Chai began stepping-up to Operate in 2022. She now works as a Camera Operator in commercials, documentaries and live events. Having completed the Steadicam course at Optical Support towards the end of 2023, Chai is also now working as an emerging Steadicam Operator in music promos and short films. Huge congratulations from us all at Loop Talent. Looking forward to the next chapter 👌🏼 🖤🧡 #CameraOperator #CrewDiaryService #InTheLoop #LoopTalentCrew #LoopTalent

Last Saturday’s POV camera shoot is under NDA, so here’s a throwback to 2023. I was 2nd ACing for the wonderful @peteblakemore and was asked to step up to Operate a prototype of the @cyclopspov 🤖 - the world’s first true POV helmet camera rig - designed by our DP and total tech wizard @jamesmedcraft_dop Operating the Cyclops is way more intuitive than most rigs due to the prism system (the camera sits on top, so no camera blocking your face) and makes for a better balanced rig on the old neck bones than earlier helmet systems. What I saw was what I shot, and it was a lot easier to see my immediate surroundings. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to get some POV shots for your next shoot 👌☺️ You can find it at @focuscanning

Intelligence Rising, a feature length documentary that I Operated on for a few days last year will premiere at @cphdox on March 15th. I loved working on this one! Director Elena Andreicheva @_andreicheva and DP Harry Truman @harryctruman organised a huge team of Operators and ACs to cover a mega lineup of talent and intellect. It was a surreal few days. Keep an eye out for the trailer! ‘Global heavyweights - from military strategists to philosophers - join AI leader Marc Warner for a bold wargame exploring how artificial intelligence might reshape power itself. Intelligence Rising reveals what happens when the brightest minds face the future they helped create.’

I may delete this soon as I prefer to keep my political views to Stories (mostly), so share now if you think it will help anyone. See you at the @palestinesolidarityuk protest on Oct 11th. Also check out the latest from total legend @jaseflem123 for what you can do on Oct 18/19th. If you can’t protest, disrupt with your wallet - @bds.movement . Remember to look after yourself and your loved ones as well. We cannot do anything if we slip into despair or apathy.

Great practice session earlier this week with @d.biancodp and @marcoalonsomonedero 🎥 Turns out three is the magic number! The cross-hairs and our pink-haired pal at @opticalsupport are great for basic exercises but nothing quite beats having friends to block and shoot some shots with (hands up if you have staged a classic ‘handing-over-the-briefcase’ shot in low-mode at Optical Support 😆) No funky timelapses yesterday but we spent a good amount of time trying to navigate the stairs. Thanks for the excellent Don-Juan tips and grip work @steadiwood 🙏

Delighted! @milk_shortfilm is officially a @bafta and @bifa_film qualified film, we are all over the moon to be screening @asffestival in the drama programme. The more festivals the wider the reach to bring this often taboo subject to a greater audience. 🙌🙌✨✨✨ well done team.

We are so very excited to be screening @milk_shortfilm at the brilliant @boltonfilmfest and @womenxfest the importance of screening films to an audience especially when the subject matter feels so important is fundamental to why we make films. Thank you 🙏 to these wonderful festivals for programming us, it’s a tuff ride out there and we’re so glad you enjoyed our film. Thank you 🙏 @theycallmevinnie_ @paisleyvalentine @anarchitecture_fabrication @anabelateixeiraoficial @__helds

Here we go, our trailer for @seed.shortfilm is out 🌱🎬✨🥰xx #shortfilm #festival #horror #drama #mystery #release #filmmaking #folklore #trailer Written by @sara_l_roberts_insta Directed by @sara_l_roberts_insta @shepherdessbee Cast @amelieleroynow @alexdicuffa @aasthamohapatra @isharappa098 @lalagoodwin Amantha Edmead / Jenny Johns / Jamie Potton / Ayla Bates Producer @adriana_akafilm @sara_l_roberts_insta Executiive Producer @schoenfeldcarl @key.to.the.kingdom Cinematographer @adamhale_dop Composer @emma_butterworth_music Editor @benjaminputlandedits Production Designer @_.mimiwest._ Costume Designer @ariadnagkfilm Head of Makeup @daisyoldershaw.hmua Makeup @phoebe.s_costume @hollyrosetomlinson 1 AD @leohopes Production Assistant @lana_naoum_filmeditor 1 AC @lukeflahertycine @coynecamera 2 AC @iona.greaves @yadeta_ Steadicam @camera_chai Gaffer @kingrauni @charlie_lodge Grip @daleyjohn Lighting Trainee @kianvealfilms Sound @janthesoundman Sound Designer @bobpepek Visual Effects @dodmedia Animator @andresmontesinosart Script Consultant @tinas_polefit xxx

The noise makers need healers. The healers need nurturers. The nurturers need dismantlers. The dismantlers need organisers. The organisers need planners. The planners need dreamers. The dreamers need speakers. The speakers need creators. The creators need table shakers. The movement needs us all. - @browngirlart

‘Out of the Office’ … currently on dailies as 2nd AC or Operator. Practising Steadicam, reading scripts, getting addicted to saunas and seeing my favourite people a lot. Life is short. The world seems f*cked. Go outside 🌱See your faves.

THAT’S A WRAP!!! 5.5 month shoot as A Camera Loader on a UK drama series. All location work, splits, nights, cross-loads twice a week… there was a lot to manage and it could not have been done without this immense team. Massive thank you to @frankie.cilia (A Cam Trainee / C Cam Loader) who shared half the Central Loading responsibilities with me and covered me on the floor for what felt like half the shoot. She is an absolute force. Huge thank you also to @ash__rees B Cam Loader, who was a total dream to work with! Thank you @zezegule B Cam Trainee who worked incredibly hard and kept us all sane her great vibes and caring nature. @dean_o_wood thank you for always having our back. Can’t wait to make those shorts!! 🙌 @aarondop Thank you for trusting me to take a few shots!! Honestly still stoked about that! @slowmofocus @tuncerozdemirr @james_leigh_aco @james.chesterton.aco @grantskg Thank you for taking time to teach me about focus pulling and operating whenever you could 🙏 No mean feat on our schedule but it meant a huge amount. Those little windows into the future go a long way on those tough days and nights. @shane_de_almeida_gbct and @taylorcmcclay it was a total joy to have you with us for the final leg of the shoot!! @griptom @relaxi_its_maxi @lrcgrips @streatherscarpentry Don’t ever change. Except you, Tom. Stop stealing our sh*t. And last but certainly not least, massive thanks to @evan.film who stepped in and killed it as A Cam Trainee for the final month of the shoot, and also to our brilliant team of dailies Camera Trainees: @mac_carr96 @tristankassam @alexandra.brannan 🫶 You guys all kept this thing going.