MEMBER APPLICATION FORM
October 2023
1. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Categories
Categories – Membership of the Society shall consist of Full Members, Associate Members, Friends of the ACO, Honorary Members, and Life Time Members.
FULL MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
ACO Section 2: Full Membership.
Any career Camera Operator engaged in the production of Feature Films, Television Drama and/or Commercials and Promotional projects, who has held the position of career Camera Operator for 5 consecutive years, can produce verifiable dated credits, and affirm that such occupation has been the main source of income for each of those 5 years, and that they have at least 2 years previous experience in the camera department and can produce verifiable dated credits. Applicants with significant previous experience outside the camera department but within the film industry may also be considered at the discretion of the board for Full Membership after they have completed 5 consecutive years where camera operating has been the main source of income.
A Full Member must nominate candidates for Full Membership, provide a short character reference, and act as a referee during the application process.
In the case of applications where the applicant is not personally known to any ACO Full Member, the applicant shall provide three letters of recommendation from industry professionals, one of whom must be a Director of Photography.
Full Members shall be elected to Membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, who reserve the right to accept or reject any applicant at their absolute discretion for whatsoever reason.
If considered appropriate by the Board, an applicant whose application is judged unsuitable for Full Membership may be offered Membership as an Associate, Friend, or Honorary Membership.
Unpaid projects should not be submitted on C.V’s. IMDB profile details are not accepted to replace a C.V.
Application forms can be found https://www.theaco.net/application-form-full-and-associate/
Full Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
• Applicants should confirm in their application statement that they have read the ACO Manifesto, Rules, Membership Criteria, Responsibilities & Duties of Members.
• Use of the ACO letters after their name, in the form of capital letters without punctuation, i.e., “ACO”, or to use “Member of the Association of Camera Operators” or “Member of the ACO” in any correspondence or email.
• Full Members are encouraged to use the letters “ACO” after their name on any screen credits as an Operator. Please also refer to the Letter of Accreditation https://www.theaco.net/letter-of-accreditation/
• Will have a voting status and will be encouraged to serve as a Board Member.
• Will have a responsibility to contribute to the running and well-being of the Association, for example by participating in Committees, supporting events, sharing your knowledge with members whose aspirations are to be full-time operators by being a tutor at ACO workshops and contributing photos and articles for the website and other publications of the ACO.
• Access to all ACO General Meetings, events, seminars, workshops, and demonstrations.
- Access to Membership Newsletter ‘In the Frame’.
- Personalised Membership Certificate.
- Listing on the ACO website with a personalised page.
- Right to Vote for the Operators Awards.
- Membership Subscription £175 per annum.
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A £30 non-refundable administration fee is payable to the ACO for processing your application.
• Proof of a Standing Order or Equivalent for payments on 1st September each year must be received by the Secretary after acceptance is agreed by the Board, final ratification of membership will not be processed until this proof is confirmed.
• If new members’ payments are not made within 30 days, their membership should be rescinded, and they would need to re-apply.
• For further information contact email:
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Section 3: Associate Membership.
Associate Membership is intended for those individuals who, although working as a Career Camera Operator, do not qualify for Full Membership as defined in Section (2) of the Rules.
Any career Camera Operator engaged in the production of Feature Films, Television Drama, Commercials and Promotional Projects, who has held the position of career Camera Operator for at least 2 years and affirm that such occupation has been a significant source of income and that they have at least 2 years previous experience in the camera department and can produce verifiable dated credits. Applicants with significant previous experience outside the camera department but in within the film industry may also be considered for Associate membership at the discretion of the board after after they have completed 2 years where camera operating has been a significant source of income.
A Full Member must nominate candidates for Associate Membership provide a short character reference, and act as a referee during the application process. In the case of applications where the applicant is not personally known to any ACO Full Member, the applicant shall provide three letters of recommendation from industry professionals, one of whom must be a Director of Photography.
Associate Members shall be elected to membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, who reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant at their absolute discretion for whatsoever reason.
Associate Members may apply for their status to be changed to Full Membership when they fulfil the requirements of Section (2), and this change in status must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and supported by a Nomination from a Full Member or in the case of applications where the applicant is not personally known to any ACO Full Member, the applicant shall provide three letters of recommendation from industry professionals, one of whom must be a Director of Photography for the upgrade.
Unpaid projects should not be submitted on CV’s. IMDB profile details are not accepted to replace a C.V.
Application forms can be found at https://www.theaco.net/application-form-full-and-associate/
Associate members wishing to upgrade to full membership should approach a Full Member for nomination.
Associate Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
• Applicants should confirm in their application statement that they have read the ACO Manifesto, Rules, Membership Criteria, Responsibilities & Duties of Members.
• Associate Members shall be permitted to use “Associate Member of the Association of Camera Operators” or “Associate ACO” in correspondence or email, but not as a screen credit. They are not permitted to add the letters “ACO” after their name in either correspondence or screen credits since this is reserved solely for the use of Full Members.
• Associate Members will have voting status and can serve as a Board Member.
• Associate Members have a responsibility to contribute to the running and wellbeing of the Association, by participating in Committees, supporting events, and contributing photos and articles for the website and other publications of the ACO.
• Associate Members will have access to all ACO General Meetings, events, seminars, workshops, and demonstrations, but NOT have access to Private area in the ACO Website, unless they are a serving Board Member.
• Access to Membership Newsletter ‘In the Frame’.
• Listing on the ACO website with a personalised page.
- Right to Vote for the Operators Awards.
- Membership Subscription £125 per annum.
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A £30 non-refundable administration fee is payable to the ACO for processing your application.
• Proof of a Standing Order or Equivalent for payments on 1st September each year must be received by the Secretary after acceptance is agreed by the Board, final ratification of membership will not be processed until this proof is confirmed.
- If new members’ payments are not made within 30 days, their membership should be rescinded, and they would need to re-apply.
- Any further benefits will be listed on the website.
• For further information contact email:
FRIENDS OF THE ACO MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Section 4: Friends of the ACO.
Any individual that does not qualify for either Full or Associate Membership, but that shares and supports the aims of the ACO,1st & 2nd Assistant Camerapersons, Camera Trainees, Certified Grips, DIT’s, Set Stills Photographers and Cinematographers are welcome Friends for example, membership is reserved for industry professionals therefore students may not apply.
A Full Member or Associate Member may nominate candidates for Friend Membership, provide a short character reference, and act as a referee during the application process.
In the case of applications where the applicant is not personally known to any ACO Full Member, the applicant shall provide three letters of recommendation from industry professionals, one of whom must be a Director of Photography.
Friends of the ACO shall be elected to membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, who reserve the right to accept or reject any applicant at their absolute discretion for whatsoever reason.
Applicants should confirm in their application statement that they have read the ACO Manifesto, Rules, Membership Criteria, Responsibilities & Duties of Members.
Unpaid projects should not be submitted on CV’s.
IMDB profile details are not accepted to replace a C.V.
Application forms can be found at https://www.theaco.net/friends-of-the-aco-membership/
In future, if you wish to upgrade your membership, please use the appropriate application form and procedure.
Friend Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
• Friends of the ACO Members shall be permitted to use” Friend of the Association of Camera Operators” or “Friend of the ACO” in correspondence or email, but not as a screen credit. They are not permitted to add the letters “ACO” after their name in either correspondence or screen credits since this is reserved solely for the use of Full Members.
• Friends of the ACO will have a non-voting status and cannot serve as a Board Member.
• Friends of the ACO Members will not have access to General Meetings unless specially invited, but to all other ACO events, Seminars,
Workshops, and demonstrations, and the use of the Private area in the ACO Website is not permitted.
• Access to Membership Newsletter ‘In the Frame’.
• Listing on the ACO website with a personalised page.
• Right to Vote for the Operators Awards.
• Membership Subscription £40 per annum.
• Proof of a Standing Order or Equivalent for payments on 1st September each year must be received by the Secretary after acceptance is agreed by the Board, final ratification of membership will not be processed until this proof is confirmed.
• If new members’ payments are not made within 30 days, their membership should be rescinded, and they would need to re-apply.
• Any further benefits will be listed on the website.
• For further information contact email:
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Section 6: Lifetime Membership.
Lifetime Membership may be awarded only to a Retired Member in good standing by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors and shall have a non- voting status.
Lifetime Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
• Use of the ACO letters after their name, in the form of capital letters without punctuation, i.e., “ACO”, or to use “Member of the Association of Camera Operators” or “Member of the ACO” in any correspondence or email.
• Lifetime Members will have access to all ACO General Meetings, events, seminars, workshops, and demonstrations, and the use of the Private area in the ACO Website.
• Access to Membership Newsletter ‘In the Frame’.
• Listing on the ACO website with a personalised page.
• Right to Vote for the Operators Awards.
• No Membership Subscription
• For further information contact email:
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Section 5: Honorary Membership.
Honorary Membership may be awarded to those persons who have notably contributed to and ‘fostered the advancement of the aims of the Association of Camera Operators (ACO).’
Honorary Members must be nominated by a Board Member of the ACO. Honorary Members shall be elected to membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and shall have a non-voting status.
Honorary Membership Benefits & Responsibilities
• Honorary Members shall be permitted to use” Honorary Member of the Association of Camera Operators” or “Honorary Member of the ACO” in correspondence or email, but not as a screen credit. Honorary members are not permitted to add the letters “ACO” after their name in either correspondence or screen credits since this is reserved solely for the use of Full Members.
• Honorary Members will not have access to General Meetings unless specially invited but to all other ACO events, Seminars, Workshops, and demonstrations, and the use of the Private area in the ACO Website is not permitted.
• Access to Membership Newsletter ‘In the Frame’.
• Listing on the ACO website with a personalised page with background for Honorary status.
• No Membership Subscription.
For a full explanation of the rules governing membership criteria, click HERE
I confirm that I will provide suitable 1:1 (min. 600×600 pixels) head and shoulders PORTRAIT picture for use as my ‘headshot’ on the ACO website members page.
For UK residents: Furthermore I acknowledge that a confirmation of the setting up of a Standing Order is compulsory and a requirement before the membership can be announced and to be listed on the roster of the ACO.
Please send both the portrait and a confirmation of the standing order to the ACO Secretary.
TO SUPPORT YOUR APPLICATION
We require:
1) Completely fill in the online application form below. Please fill in the information as completely as possible. This will form the basis of your ‘members page’ on the ACO website. Details can be modified/updated after your members page has been created.
2) A short statement telling us why you would like to join the ACO and how you can help to support the aims of the Association.
Please bear in mind that the ACO is operated at all levels by existing members – help and engagement with the workload of the Association are crucial to the success of our goals.
The ACO expects the members collaboration and support – you will be called on from time to time to engage and serve either at Board level, in one of the Committees or to assist with events and initiatives organised by the Association. Please specify any practical help you can offer the ACO. This is considered as an important obligation of membership.
3) A nomination from a full member who provides a short character reference. If you don’t know a full member please provide three letters of recommendation form industry professionals, one of whom must be a Director of Photography.
4) Your current CV with the following information:
• Credits should be an accurate representation of applicant’s role on production.
• Daily engagements should be quantified and clearly marked as such.
• Your CV must include the year of production for each credit.
• For episodic productions, state episodes for which you received a credit.
After you have finished the online application form, please email your CV and statement to the ACO Secretary. (In case you don’t know a full member please send the three letters of recommendation as well)
Looking forward to receive your application.
Failure to observe these criteria may prejudice your application!
Cosmo Campbell ACO
Captain Phillips
