Director of Photography Lloyd Ahern first balked at being interviewed for this site because of the way he got into his field. (His father was a DP and back when Lloyd was coming up, being a “legacy” got him into the union.) But we here at YII know a good story when we hear one and despite his “in,” Lloyd had a lot to teach us about getting as much experience as possible early on and then the benefits of working “too” hard once you have the job.

Current position: I’m the Director of Photography on “Army Wives” and I directed 2 episodes last season and 2 episodes the previous season.

College & degree: I never enrolled in college, but I say I “dropped in” at USC. I was there all the time.

Internship: My father was a Director of Photography, so in those days, I was a legacy. The union accepted me based on that but more importantly, I was raised in a dark room. I shot my own movies all the way through my teen years and hung out on my dad’s movie sets all the time. (Editor’s note: Lloyd’s father Lloyd Ahern, Sr.’s first job as a DP was on MIRACLE ON 34^th STREET.)

First job in the entertainment industry: I started as a film loader at CBS Radford. I loaded the unexposed film into the magazines and then unload it for processing. It was a great place to start because there were twenty productions at any given time and, all day long, I was on set, learning how to conduct myself, how to deal with people… I made friends with a DP who approached me one day to say he was going to start shooting a show called “The Big Valley” the following week and he needed a camera assistant. I jumped at the opportunity.

Big break: I was shooting a TV pilot (by this point I was an established television DP) when I was contacted by Walter Hill (note: the legendary writer/director/producer). He was about to start a movie, TRESPASS (1992, Bill Paxton, Ice Cube, Ice-T) and his DP wasn’t available. This allowed me to break into DPing movies and now I could do both.

Eureka moment: I was making a movie on location in Mohave, UT in a projection room after a long day shooting in the hot desert sun. We had all of these cowboys and Indians up on the big screen and everything was perfect. Four cameras, great light, perfect shot. I knew that I always overplanned and overthought and, in spite of my anxiety, it always worked out. At this moment, I realized that it was because of my overplanning and overthinking that it worked out. It was not a lucky accident. It had been eight years of worry before I got to this place of confidence and knew I was on the right path.

Career path: I went from camera loader to slate to focus puller to camera operator to DP. I got promoted from operator to DP on an established show (”Simon & Simon”). I was bored to death. On an established show, the look is already defined. Everything is old news. During the hiatus from that show, though, director Robert Butler (who had directed the pilots for “Moonlighting” and ”Hill Street Blues”)  hired me to shoot a pilot and it launched my career. If Robert Butler wants you, everyone wants you.

Describe a typical work day in your current position: You come in the morning and create an energy on the set, get the momentum of the day going. (You know what you’re shooting from the day before, having collaborated with the director, the gaffer and the key grip before leaving set.) You set up the first shot, focusing everyone on the plan, and getting it. And then the second shot. All the way through the shooting day.

Worst job (or day) in entertainment industry: I’d rather not bring it up, but if there’s not unity at the top, it makes for a bad set.

Best job (or day) in entertainment industry: Working on “Geronimo: An American Legend” with Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall (see “eureka moment” above). There was massive cooperation and integration with every department. It was just a joy.

Best thing about your current job: When you get to a certain point in your career, you have an incredible amount of knowledge and you can use your experience to solve problems unique to each situation. You get an incredible rush of getting great images in the constraints of TV. It’s fun, invigorating. There’s no time to contemplate. You’ve got to keep moving and do different things every time. Confident, prepared DPs and directors do better work. It’s a rush.

Worst thing about your current job: Literally nothing.

Brush with greatness: The only thing I can think of, the only time I’ve ever been impressed by a celebrity… When I was real young, I did a John Wayne movie. He was completely dressed and up on his horse. That was the only time I’ve ever really been in awe. Very impressive. (Though personally, I didn’t like him. He was a mean son of a bitch.)

Secret of your success/advice to the newbie: If you’re in film school, the secret is to be constantly making movies. As a DP, you’ll make a couple of big mistakes and realize half the mistakes you make end up being the best shot in the movie. And then get into the editing room. Practical shooting is ten times more valuable than learning theory. The bottom line is that what you think you’re shooting and what you end up with is never the same. And once you learn that, you automatically give yourself options. You don’t learn that sitting in a classroom. You learn that on a set.

As a beginner, realize that the whole movie business is a Catch-22. Basically, you can’t do something unless you’ve done it already. But the whole business is filled with people who were told they couldn’t do something and did it anyway.

There is nothing fair about the movie business. Sometimes you get a break and sometimes you get your heart broken. Which leads me to… Make sure your life is full so that when you’re not working, you’re not worried and you have something fun to do.

Next move: I’m always looking for either a script that’s exciting or people you admire to work with.

Know anyone who could use an entertainment industry insider? If so, please encourage them to subscribe to YourIndustryInsider.com and sign up to receive YII’s Mogul Mindset eBlasts today! Also, please visit Your Industry Insider Store to check out recommended books and DVDs. Content will be added regularly as suggestions come in from industry insiders!