--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got on my first set, I watched…" description: "\"When I got on my first set, I watched what the cinematographer was doing, and at that level in film school, the cinematographer has the most control. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/reed-morano-7427_camera_when-i-got-on-my-first-set-i-watched-wha_1261496.jpg" --- # When I got on my first set, I watched what the… ![“When I got on my first set, I watched what the cinematographer was doing, and at that level in film school, the cinematographer has the most control. They're the one looking through the viewfinder, carrying the camera, framing the shots.” quote by Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/reed-morano-7427_camera_when-i-got-on-my-first-set-i-watched-wha_1261496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/reed-morano-7427_camera_when-i-got-on-my-first-set-i-watched-wha_1261496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/reed-morano-7427_camera_when-i-got-on-my-first-set-i-watched-wha_1261496.jpg) > “When I got on my first set, I watched what the cinematographer was doing, and at that level in film school, the cinematographer has the most control. They're the one looking through the viewfinder, carrying the camera, framing the shots.” [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The cinematographer controls visual storytelling by choosing framing, movement, and camera handling. **In simple terms:** Cinematographers shape what the audience sees. Key Takeaway Learn to see through the lens, master framing. Themes visual storytelling control collaboration Mood inspirational technical Type advice educational When to use this quote - directing - storyboarding - lighting design - camera operation - post‑production Key Concepts cinematography visual language film production Questions to Reflect On - How does collaboration affect visual decisions? - What techniques improve your framing instincts? A Different Perspective Other crew members also influence the final image, limiting sole control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Cinematographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinematographer/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I was at the National Film School and was a cinematographer there. I got quite a lot of experience on documentary film-making and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-ramsay/i-was-at-the-national-film-school-and-was-a-cinematographer-there-i/) [Lynne Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-ramsay/) > [As a cinematographer, I was always attracted to stories that have the potential to be told with as few words as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/as-a-cinematographer-i-was-always-attracted-to-stories-that-have-the/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [I know how a cinematographer wants to be treated by their director, and so I already have a leg up in that department, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/i-know-how-a-cinematographer-wants-to-be-treated-by-their-director/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Being a cinematographer taught me a lot. I got to expedite the visions of many directors and learned how to navigate many styles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/being-a-cinematographer-taught-me-a-lot-i-got-to-expedite-the-visions/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [When you work as a cinematographer, the actors look to you for reassurance. When you're lighting them, they can never think you're making an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/when-you-work-as-a-cinematographer-the-actors-look-to-you-for/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [As a cinematographer or director, I'm always looking for projects that are able to say a lot with the actor's expressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/as-a-cinematographer-or-director-i-m-always-looking-for-projects-that/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [In a period piece, particularly a fantasy, the lighting is your own choice, the lenses are your own choice. It's really a great thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/in-a-period-piece-particularly-a-fantasy-the-lighting-is-your-own/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I'm usually known for films that look beautiful and attractive, probably because I am a cinematographer too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/i-m-usually-known-for-films-that-look-beautiful-and-attractive/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [In comics, the writer is also the director in a certain way. So if this were a film, you wouldn't tell the cinematographer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-bemis/in-comics-the-writer-is-also-the-director-in-a-certain-way-so-if-this/) [Max Bemis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-bemis/) > [I was interested in photography from my college days and wanted to become a cinematographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rao-ramesh/i-was-interested-in-photography-from-my-college-days-and-wanted-to/) [Rao Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rao-ramesh/) > [For many years I thought, "Well, I need to know a lot more to direct." But I looked around and watched all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/for-many-years-i-thought-well-i-need-to-know-a-lot-more-to-direct-but/) [Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/) > [I don't know one lens from another. That's not my job. It's the cinematographer's job. But I can talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-marshall/i-don-t-know-one-lens-from-another-that-s-not-my-job-it-s-the/) [Penny Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-marshall/) > [I have developed my eye as a cinematographer through the craft of operating. When I am not operating, I am often anxious, uncertain, restless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-richardson/i-have-developed-my-eye-as-a-cinematographer-through-the-craft-of/) [Robert Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-richardson/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Really, anyone in the business who transitions into directing as a writer or editor or an actor or a cinematographer, at some point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/really-anyone-in-the-business-who-transitions-into-directing-as-a/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) ## More by Reed Morano > [I don't want to just make the safe, easy commercial films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/i-don-t-want-to-just-make-the-safe-easy-commercial-films/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [I like movies as a viewer that challenge me to actually think rather than spoon feed everything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/i-like-movies-as-a-viewer-that-challenge-me-to-actually-think-rather/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Eventually, when I got the 'Meadowland' script, I saw something in it that made me think I could make something special out of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/eventually-when-i-got-the-meadowland-script-i-saw-something-in-it/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Color correction is one of my things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/color-correction-is-one-of-my-things/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Being a cinematographer taught me a lot. I got to expedite the visions of many directors and learned how to navigate many styles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/being-a-cinematographer-taught-me-a-lot-i-got-to-expedite-the-visions/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Real people - everyone is not just one thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/real-people-everyone-is-not-just-one-thing/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Definitely the biggest misconception is that it is overly burdensome to be a woman and pursue this line of work. But being a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/definitely-the-biggest-misconception-is-that-it-is-overly-burdensome/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [The interesting thing about 'The Handmaid's Tale' is that everything that happens in it has happened or is happening somewhere in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/the-interesting-thing-about-the-handmaid-s-tale-is-that-everything/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [We moved around every winter. I don't know. Maybe my dad was, like, on the run from the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/we-moved-around-every-winter-i-don-t-know-maybe-my-dad-was-like-on/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [Huge studio movies are handed over to a man with less experience before they're handed over to a woman with less experience. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/huge-studio-movies-are-handed-over-to-a-man-with-less-experience/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [The instant feeling I had after I gave birth was you couldn't get that baby in my hands fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/the-instant-feeling-i-had-after-i-gave-birth-was-you-couldn-t-get/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [As a cinematographer or director, I'm always looking for projects that are able to say a lot with the actor's expressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/as-a-cinematographer-or-director-i-m-always-looking-for-projects-that/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [My biggest wish is that I would have more time with my husband and my boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/my-biggest-wish-is-that-i-would-have-more-time-with-my-husband-and-my/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [When you work as a cinematographer, the actors look to you for reassurance. When you're lighting them, they can never think you're making an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/when-you-work-as-a-cinematographer-the-actors-look-to-you-for/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [I always like to do sound design, and in movies, you have more leeway with that, but I don't really notice that sound design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/i-always-like-to-do-sound-design-and-in-movies-you-have-more-leeway/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) [Explore all 91 Reed Morano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) ## More Camera quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farhan-akhtar/when-i-made-my-debut-as-an-actor-in-rock-on-i-was-confident-to-get-in/) [Farhan Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farhan-akhtar/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [To be honest, I don't know... something about the camera like turns me into such a diva. Like when it's on and I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-i-don-t-know-something-about-the-camera-like-turns-me/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-the-camera-is-on-i-am-an-actor-otherwise-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“A camera is an opening in a box: that is the best emblem of the fact that a camera holding an object is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-cavell/a-camera-is-an-opening-in-a-box-that-is-the-best-emblem-of-the-fact/) [Stanley Cavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-cavell/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [“The camera lets me see things in a different way. It's like I finally have perspective. I can't always say stuff right in words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-camera-lets-me-see-things-in-a-different-way-it-s-like-i-finally/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [I was so green, and my background was mostly in theater. The only thing I'd done in front of a camera, besides an infomercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-was-so-green-and-my-background-was-mostly-in-theater-the-only-thing/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [As far as lighting and blocking, camera angles and facial expressions, all that stuff that has to be very specific in film, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/as-far-as-lighting-and-blocking-camera-angles-and-facial-expressions/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Browse all 2,026 Camera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got on my first set, I watched what the cinematographer was doing, and at that level in film school, the cinematographer has the most control. 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