Camera Operator of the Year - Television Nominees

Dave Chameides, SOC

Ozark, S 4 Ep 14, “A Hard Wayto Go”

After a third failed attempt at professional glockenspiel, Dave Chameides, SOC found Steadicam at the age of 21. Career highlights include ER, West Wing, Donnie Darko, and Leprechaun 2, considered to be the finest entry into the Leprechaun oeuvre. Honors include two SOC Award nominations, two Emmys, and a ‘where’s the commissary’ from Mickey Rooney, all eclipsed by the sheer joy Dave experienced working on Ozark alongside his oldest daughter, watching her excel in every way. Dave is overwhelmed by this nomination and thanks the entire SOC body. To be considered by one’s peers worthy of recognition such as this is an incredible honor and he wishes all the nominees luck. Dave’s thanks go to his wife, their daughters, dog Rocky, and of course, his parents, who still can’t believe he is actually wearing a tie.

Cristian Trova, “B” Camera Operator

Ozark, S 4 Ep 14, “A Hard Wayto Go”

Cristian Trova is a 1995 Graduate of USF Tampa with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, with emphasis in Cinematography. He returned home to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts in 1996 to work in VFX with Douglas Trumbull, Joel Hynek, and John Gaeta on projects such as Eraser, Event Horizon, and The Matrix. Cristian worked and learned with Richard Sands and Gregory Crewdson also while living in the Berkshires. He transitioned to New York in television, working and learning with Frank Prinzi, ASC, Mike Latino, John Heron, David Mullen, ASC, and Craig Dibona, ASC. In 2018, he moved to Atlanta and was fortunate enough to meet, work, and learn from Ben Semanoff, Liam Sinnott, Ari Issler, Dave Chameides, and Andrew Fisher. Cristian wants to thank all who helped shape his career.

Sam Ellison, SOC

Severance, S 1 Ep 3, “In Perpetuity”

Sam Ellison, SOC is a camera operator, traveler, and documentarian based in New York City. Specifically, he lives in Ridgewood Queens, which was recently named the 4th-coolest neighborhood in the world. Sam was previously nominated for the SOC’s Camera Operator of the Year Award in 2020, for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Other highlights of his recent operating work include The Nickel Boys (2023), The Good Nurse (2022), I Know This Much is True (2020), and the Academy Award winner Manchester By The Sea (2016). Sam also directed a feature documentary, Chèche Lavi (Looking for Life), which premiered at Rotterdam in 2019, and played a long run of festivals worldwide. He received his BA from Harvard and his MFA from Stanford University.

Stanley Fernandez, Camera Operator Severance, S 1 Ep 3, “In Perpetuity”

Stanley Fernandez was born in Brooklyn, NY from Ecuadorian parents. He worked his way up through the camera department, working at Camera Service Center rental house and eventually finding the path to camera PA on the set of Law and Order. Stanley settled in on a focus puller career in features like Eternal Sunshine, Precious, Moonrise Kingdom, A Most Violent Year, Selma, Ghostbusters, A Quiet Place, and television’s Pose. Camera operating, Stanley’s passion, allowed moving up on The Glorias, Tick Tick Boom, When They See Us, and Severance. Netflix’s The Watcher and FX’s American Horror Story NYC have offered opportunities to be director of photography.

Sarah Levy, SOC

WinningTime:TheRiseoftheLakers

Dynasty,S1Ep5,“PiecesofaMan”

Born and raised in Pasadena, California, surrounded by music and the arts with a classical musician/painter mother, and a scientist/pianist/cellist/photographer father, Sarah Levy, SOC, discovered a love for cinematography and camera operating while at UCSD and USC film school. Sarah spent the first ten years of her career traveling around the world camera operating and DP-ing documentaries, reality shows, and independent features. She has worked as a camera operator in scripted television and feature films for the last thirteen years. Memorable past credits include the Disney reboot of Haunted Mansion, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Captain Marvel, Little Fires Everywhere, The Muppets, and The Office.

Dominic Bartolone, SOC

“B” Camera / Steadicam Operator

WinningTime:TheRiseoftheLakers

Dynasty,S1Ep5,“PiecesofaMan”

Born and raised in Southern California Dominic Bartolone, SOC got his start in the motion picture industry in 2000, at Panavision International in Los Angeles. During his 3 years at Panavision, Dominic worked as a camera service and preparatory technician. On his departure from Panavision, Dominic immediately became part of big Hollywood productions as a camera assistant and technician, working on projects such as Collateral, Open Range, Flicka, Rush Hour 3, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, and more. Dominic is currently working as an SOC camera operator on Emmy and ASC nominated Winning Time on HBO. He recently finished season 1 of Disney+’s National Treasure “Edge of History” and is mentored by SOC Historical Shot Award winner Jimmy Muro.

WinningTime:TheRiseoftheLakers

Dynasty,S1Ep5,“PiecesofaMan”

Born and raised in the Midwest, Justin Cameron, SOC grew up reading and admiring the pictures in American Cinematographer. After studying at and graduating from Columbia, he began chasing that admiration by joining Local 600 in 2008 as a 1st AC and worked his way up to the camera operator position. Justin has spent the last decade learning the art, craft, and contribution of the camera operator through his work on both television and feature films. His credits include Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, and The Most Dangerous Animal of All. Justin is currently working as an SOC camera operator on the Emmy and ASC nominated show Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO.

WinningTime:TheRiseoftheLakers

Dynasty,S1Ep5,“PiecesofaMan”

At age five John Lyke wasn’t allowed to hold the home video camera, instead he bossed his mom around as they shot perfect remakes of Gilligan’s Island. Unfortunately, John was devastated to constantly find his masterpieces looked just like kids playing around. Luckily his neighbor, Bruce Taylor, Emmy Awardwinning cinematographer, took John under his wing. Imagine ESPN interviews with sports legends, where a fourteen-year-old is back focusing the camera. Rewind back to age five when John started roller-skating. By age ten he was rollerblading with cameras and by twenty was a pro rollerblader. A few years later a BTS clip of John operating on blades went viral (2013 commercial introducing Freefly’s Movi), launching his rollerblade camera operator career.