Pieter has been passionately fulfilling the role of Video Assist/Data Wrangler on film sets for many years. He ensures that the camera’s image is immediately visible on monitors for those who benefit from it, such as the director and client. This is the primary task of a Video Assist. Additionally, Pieter ensures that all camera files are properly stored, preventing any loss of recordings. This is the Data Wrangling aspect.

Pieter Both

Pieter is the first Video Assist in the Netherlands. When he started over 20 years ago, he worked with videotapes, and actual cutting and pasting were done on the footage. Not with a keyboard and mouse, but literally, analog. Now everything is digital. It works much faster, but it also presents challenges. How do you ensure that all your equipment has a power source and remains mobile? Pieter has mastered this to perfection, and we spent a morning with him to see how.

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Building up in Amsterdam-Zuidoost

Today, Pieter is in Amsterdam-Zuidoost for a commercial shoot. Like with other assignments, the workday begins by setting up his mobile setup. From the sliding doors of his Chrysler, he rolls out two carts with equipment from the car. To work well under all circumstances, Pieter has a tent at his disposal, where he initially places the carts. There are also chairs for the client, director, and other stakeholders to follow the recordings. On the cart where Pieter has his Wattsun Dock, there is also the monitor and his impressive computer. He is now ready to go.

Flying from location A to B

Pieter’s setup time is already impressive, but the mobility of his setup is even more so. Because everything is on his carts, including his own power supply, he can effortlessly move from location A to location B. Quite handy in the film world. He doesn’t need cables or a polluting and noisy generator. Moreover, his equipment is always on this way. “People don’t have to run after me with a generator. When we have to move, I leave everything on. I walk from one place to another with my equipment on. When I arrive, I’m already ready to film. It works on all fronts, not only on my side but also on the production side.”

Independent

Pieter practices his profession with passion. He is always up for a chat and seems to know everyone on the set. As a Video Assist, he ensures that everyone can see live what the camera sees at any moment. He displays this directly on his monitor, which runs on the Wattsun. Meanwhile, he ensures that all recordings are properly saved. A precise activity where, of course, nothing can go wrong. Hence, he does not want to depend on the power supply of others. He relies entirely on his Wattsun and, in this way, never has to worry about running out of power.