Will Fewkes, camera assistant

One of the names you're likely to see roll up the screen at the end of the programme is Will Fewkes, camera assistant. A popular member of the behind-the-scenes crew, Will can often be seen wading through the mud with various bags and bandoliers of equipment.

'As it sounds, the camera assistant has to make sure that the camera operator has everything they need for the day's shooting: cables, monitors, batteries, tapes – a camera! I also have responsibility for the tapes (the crews can shoot 30 hours over three days) to make sure they're logged properly with production.

'I don't think there's a down side to the job. You're always busy, have a great laugh, and get to travel a lot. They're great people who work on Time Team, a bit like an extended family. Everyone's very positive, though you can get a slump about mid afternoon when the night before catches up with you. I've been offered other jobs to do that I've turned down because I like coming back to Time Team. It's a good one to do.'

Do camera assistants eventually become camera operators?

'I suppose. I started out as a training assistant working with one cameraman for about a year and a half. It takes a long time to learn everything because you need to know how all of the equipment works and also learn all about how filming is done, understand photography and get to the stage where you can second guess what they want. Now I'm full on as a CA. I guess I'm thinking about what I'm doing next in changing my career. I'll do less assisting and more operating. I guess I look at the cameraman and think: "I'll be doing what he's doing before long." It's a fantastic job and I enjoy it a lot.'

Will Fewkes talks about camera assisting.

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