If there is a department that rarely gets a real break, it's the camera peeps. They are go go go all the time. And their jobs are brainy and physical, and artistic all rolled into one. It was a long shot, but I saw Chris Tufty SITTING... that's so weird... and made a bee-line for him. He was actually on a small break so I naturally invaded his one moment of solitude. I'm sorry, but it's all about The Blog.

STACEY K. BLACK: I'm so glad I caught you with a free moment! Thanks for agreeing to chat with me.

CHRIS TUFTY: No problem, happy to do it.

SKB: What's the most challenging part of your job?

CT: On this show? When we have like a five page, or five minute take, because we're holding those heavy cameras and it starts to get difficult after a while.

SKB: Didn't I hear that you like to get in the jacuzzi as soon as you get home from work?

CT: When I can, I try to. I got the jacuzzi after the first season, and it really helps.

SKB: So this week, episode 12 our Summer finale airs, and we had that big car hauler action sequence. How many cameras did we have out there in Hades, I mean Acton, for all that?

CT: Hmm, I'm not sure, I think nine all together? Four film, three or four video, the helicopter.

SKB: I love helicopter shots. It reminds me that I'm working on a really big show. Or, at least that we're shooting like we're a really big show!

CT: It was a big episode.

SKB: How long have you been in the business?

CT: Over 20 years, can we leave it at that?

SKB: Yes of course.

CT: I first started operating in film school for student projects, I would jump in and volunteer for that, so I've been doing this since I was 22. But before I was a professional Camera Operator, I was a DP and a Gaffer.

(Nearby, we hear D-Mac yell "Rolling!" and a dog starts barking, but luckily for Sound, this dog is one of our animal actors "Tank," and he's SUPPOSED to be barking. But we still have to stop talking for a bit until D-Mac calls "cut.")

D-MAC: CUT!

SKB: Okay, so the leap from Gaffer to Camera Operator. Can you tell me a little about that?

CT: I did start as an assistant right out of college for about six months, then I was hired by the Smithsonian Institute to DP a shoot on old men with their old tools.

SKB: Oh neat!

CT: They told me to hire a Gaffer and a Focus Puller and a Sound Mixer, and rent a camera and go out and shoot it. And I was asked by the Gaffer how I wanted to light it, and I said well that's why I hired you, you light it. And he said well normally the DP tells the Gaffer what he wants. I thought ahhh... I may have missed something in my education. So we did the shoot and it came out fine they loved it. But then I decided I'd better learn some more about lighting, so I became a Gaffer for about five years.

SKB: Wow.

CT: Did nothing but lighting for a while then started operating again when I felt I knew enough about lighting and got back into Camera and started shooting again.

(D-Mac calls "ROLLING" and we have to zip it for a bit. But here's the best part. Tank the Canine Actor is on a break, so D-Mac does the "Off Camera" barking for him. I'm still laughing as I type this up. D is nothing if not committed! But I will not be deterred from my mission. I have limited time with Tufty, so I lean closer and whisper, and force him to do the same.)

SKB: I know you're gonna have to get back to work in a few minutes. The only reason I'm even able to chat with you now is because only "B" camera is shooting. Usually you don't even have a minute to sit.

CT: True. And they're calling me back now.

SKB: You have to go back?

CT: Yeah.

SKB: So uncool!

NOTE FROM SKB: Hey! Since this is the Summer Finale episode, this blog will pause until the show airs again. This is such great fun for me. Thanks so much for allowing me to hopefully, entertain and educate, and to show a little bit of how I Live My Dream, here on The Closer. Until next time!

Stacey has been burnin' hair on Hollywood TV and Film sets since 1996. Her credits include "The Stepfather," "Nip/Tuck," "EZ Streets," "Running With Scissors," "Providence," and of course, TNT's "The Closer," where she is enjoying Season 5 as the Department Head Hair Stylist. She also enjoys making music and movies. And pizza.


The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer/speaker and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc.