So what do those letters like ACL and such after the director of photography's names? I'm sure it's schooling, but what does it stand for? Also, do you have to go to film school to get those?

I'd love to go to school for this stuff, but boy wouldn't it be cool to have some letters after YOUR NAME?!?

The only letters after a DP's name that matter are PhD—"Doctor of Photography".

The letters that follow DP's names mean they are part of a professional organization or society. Some common ones include ASC, BSC, and AFC which stand for American Society of Cinematographers, British Society of Cinematographers, and Association of French Cinematographers, respectively.

These organizations are by invitation only and include only a few hundred members. DPs usually must earn credits on distinguished films (often inside the "industry") to be invited.

I think I'm going to put a few letters after my name.. What do you guys think about this.

Adam Rench S.T.U.D.

too direct?

What about ASC? I've seen that before. I thought that the titles were like educational titles like MD or PhD.

http://www.theasc.com/

Don't forget SOC -- Society of Operating Camerapersons.

Now who would put THAT after their name?

oh.

Tak Fujimoto has to be one of the most solid DoPs in the biz. I wasn't sure if he was an ASC, but he's on the list on their site. Very cool! Boy it would nice to get that good and to be on that list.

You are quite right, Adam. Tak Fujimoto is one teriffic DP. Interestingly, he shot the film, "Signs" which featured great deep focus photography, but very few of the posters here have ever commented on it, as everyone seems to feel shallow depth of field is "cinematic."

Great to see someone work with deep focus who really knows what they are doing.

Wayne Orr, SOC
(BTW, in an effort to be more politically correct, SOC now stands for "Society Of Camera operators" The backstory is, when we started the SOC twenty-five years ago, I, and a few others, pointed out to our fledgling group that "Socitey of Operating Cameramen" could be deemed sexist by many people, especially female operators, whom we would welcome to the group. We were outvoted by a majority that wished to differentiate from the Directors of Photography who often went by the generic term "cameraman," as they still do today. www.soc.org)

SOC now stands for "Society Of Camera operators" I appreciate the clarification. I don't know where I pulled "Society of Operating Camerapersons" from. Just goes to show that I should look this stuff up before posting. Thanks again,

I went to the soc.org (http://www.soc.org) website and the magazine cover at the bottom left reads "Operating Cameraman". Go figure.

"Society of Operating Camerapersons"

Thanks for clearing that up Chris... I always thought it stood for "Stumbling Over Cables".

OK. That's funny. Read it carefully. It is "Operating Cameraman" The Joutrnal of the Society of Camera Operators. Some things die hard?