Hector Ramirez

Camera Operator

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Hector Ramirez (1944-2023) discusses his career as a camera operator, from his start on All in the Family to one of his then-current positions as an Emmy-winning camera operator on Dancing With the Stars. He speaks of his move from Colombia to the United States, attending the Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences, and his work on Norman Lear sitcoms All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Good Times. He details his work shooting several music and comedy specials, including Paul Simon's Concert in Central Park, as well as his experiences as camera operator for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Emmy Awards, the Grammys, and MTV's award shows. Ramirez also comments on holding the then-record for the most number of Emmy nominations, and shares his thoughts on reality television and what forms good composition. Beth Cochran conducted the interview on May 12, 2011 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Norman Lear came down and he goes, 'my name is Norman Lear.' I said, 'yes sir, I know.' And then he said, 'you did a good job.' And that's it. So I figured well, maybe I'm coming back. And I did."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Hector Ramirez on Carol Burnett's spoof of Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show

01:34

Hector Ramirez on his Emmy win for the "Steadicam Tango"

00:54

Hector Ramirez on on working with David Copperfield

05:10

Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured

01:14

Hector Ramirez on advice to someone about to appear on camera

01:21

Hector Ramirez on shooting George Carlin's comedy specials

01:28

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on moving to the United States from Colombia; on his love of photography; on moving from New York to California; on attending the Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts in Hollywood and learning about camera work

On his first professional job in television at Los Angeles station KLXA; on KTLA; on his start as a camera operator for CBS; on the equipment used in the 1970s; on becoming the camera operator for All in the Family; on testing, lighting, the cast, and favorite episodes of All in the Family

On working as a camera operator on Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and The Carol Burnett Show; on the music and bloopers on The Carol Burnett Show; on technological developments in the 1970s and how they changed shooting

On working with new technology on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour; on working with David Copperfield on The Magic of David Copperfield

Chapter 2

On working with David Copperfield on his television specials; on being a camera operator on In Living Color; on responding to improv vs. shooting a carefully scripted show; on qualities a good camera operator has; on being a camera operator for Kennedy Center Honors

On being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve; on working on Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert; on techincal issues of shooting a concert; on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television

On shooting Diana Ross' concert in Central Park; on working on Super Bowl halftime shows, Christmas in Washington, and in Monaco for Prince Rainier

On shooting live awards shows: the Academy Awards, the Grammys and MTV's award shows

Chapter 3

On preparing for shots for the Academy Awards ;on MTV award shows; on equipment changes over the years; on shooting comedy specials for television; on how sitcoms in the '80s and '90s differed from those in the '70s; on shooting Fail Safe

On working with a Steadicam; on shooting American Idol with a Steadicam; on working in HD; on shooting Fail Safe

On differences between shooting American Idol and shooting Dancing With the Stars; on rehearsals, the production schedules, hosts, and the dancers on Dancing With the Stars

Chapter 4

On his Emmy win for the "Steadicam Tango"; on his opinion of reality television; on shooting Presidential Inaugurations and Democratic and Republican Conventions; on 9/11; on his preference between shooting weekly variety shows or sitcoms

On working on This is Spinal Tap with Rob Reiner; on his work on feature films; on the most significant technological advancement to his field; on elements of good composition; on shooting in 3D; on changes in staffing from staff to freelance

On advice to aspiring camera operators; on memorable experiences in his career; on holding the then-record for the most Emmy nominations; on his most meaningful Emmy wins; on what makes a good camera operator; on the key to his success; on the highlight of his career; on the most important image he's ever captured; on how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Academy Awards, The

Hector Ramirez on shooting live award shows

03:01

Hector Ramirez on how shooting the Academy Awards differs from shooting the Grammys

09:22

Hector Ramirez on preparing for shots for the Academy Awards

07:12

All in the Family

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for All in the Family

17:07

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for Maude and how it differed from All in the Family

00:54

Hector Ramirez on how sitcoms in the '80s and '90s differed from those in the '70s

01:42

American Idol

Hector Ramirez on shooting with a Steadicam on American Idol

05:33

Hector Ramirez on how shooting Dancing With the Stars differs from shooting American Idol

01:57

Barbra Streisand Specials

Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert

06:39

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for The Carol Burnett Show

06:35

Hector Ramirez on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch on The Carol Burnett Show

00:53

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78): "Went with the Wind!" Sketch

Hector Ramirez on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch on The Carol Burnett Show

00:53

Christmas in Washington

Hector Ramirez on working on Christmas in Washington

03:53

Dancing With the Stars

Hector Ramirez on equipment he uses on Dancing With the Stars

01:40

Hector Ramirez on shooting with a Steadicam on Dancing With the Stars

01:15

Hector Ramirez on working on Dancing With the Stars; on how a British director differs from an American

24:59

Hector Ramirez on how shooting Dancing With the Stars differs from shooting American Idol

01:57

Hector Ramirez on rehearsals, the production schedules, hosts, and the dancers on Dancing With the Stars

16:48

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

01:53

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Hector Ramirez on attending the Emmy Awards

01:09

Fail Safe

Hector Ramirez on shooting Fail Safe

04:10

Good Times

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for Good Times

02:27

Grammys, The

Hector Ramirez on how shooting the Academy Awards differs from shooting the Grammys

09:31

In Living Color

Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator on In Living Color

03:06

Jeffersons, The

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for The Jeffersons

01:07

Kennedy Center Honors

Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Kennedy Center Honors

05:09

MTV Movie Awards, The

Hector Ramirez on how MTV's award shows influenced other award shows

02:31

MTV Video Music Awards

Hector Ramirez on how MTV's award shows influenced other award shows

02:31

Magic of David Copperfield, The

Hector Ramirez on working with David Copperfield on The Magic of David Copperfield

03:26

Hector Ramirez on working with David Copperfield

05:10

Maude

Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for Maude and how it differed from All in the Family

01:51

Roseanne

Hector Ramirez on how sitcoms in the '80s and '90s differed from those in the '70s

01:42

Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

Hector Ramirez on working with new technology on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

01:46

Super Bowl

Hector Ramirez on working on Super Bowl halftime shows

05:24

Tony Orlando & Dawn

Hector Ramirez on working on Tony Orlando & Dawn

01:04

Topics

9/11

Hector Ramirez on 9/11

02:58

Advice

Hector Ramirez on advice to someone learning Steadicam

01:17

Hector Ramirez on advice to someone about to appear on camera

01:21

Hector Ramirez on advice to aspiring camera operators

01:16

Bloopers

Hector Ramirez on bloopers on The Carol Burnett Show

01:08

Emmy Awards

Hector Ramirez on his Emmy win for the "Steadicam Tango"

02:50

Hector Ramirez on holding the then-record for the most Emmy nominations; on attending the ceremony

02:34

Historic Events and Social Change

Hector Ramirez on 9/11

02:58

Memorable Moments on Television

Hector Ramirez on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television

01:53

Richard M. Nixon

Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured

01:14

Technological Innovation

Hector Ramirez on technological developments in the 1970s and how they changed shooting

02:27

Hector Ramirez on working in HD

02:55

Hector Ramirez on the most significant advancement to his field - the mini-cam

00:44

Television Industry

Hector Ramirez on advice to someone learning Steadicam

01:17

Hector Ramirez on advice to someone about to appear on camera

01:21

Television and the Presidency

Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured

01:14

Professions

Camera Operator

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Hector Ramirez on his start as a camera operator for CBS

01:44

Hector Ramirez on how shooting in front of a live audience changes what was done in rehearsal

01:38

Hector Ramirez on being staff vs. a freelance camera operator

03:17

Hector Ramirez on qualities a good camera operator has

03:06

Hector Ramirez on the elements of good composition and his visual style

03:04

Hector Ramirez on what makes a good camera operator

01:36

Production Professionals

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Hector Ramirez on being staff vs. a freelance camera operator

03:17

Hector Ramirez on how shooting in front of a live audience changes what was done in rehearsal

01:38

Hector Ramirez on his start as a camera operator for CBS

01:44

Hector Ramirez on qualities a good camera operator has

03:06

Hector Ramirez on what makes a good camera operator

01:36

Hector Ramirez on the elements of good composition and his visual style

03:04

Genres

Awards Shows

Hector Ramirez on shooting live award shows

15:51

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Hector Ramirez on how shooting a variety show differs from shooting a sitcom

01:00

Reality TV

Hector Ramirez on working on Dancing With the Stars

24:59

Hector Ramirez on his opinion of reality television

01:02

People

Barbra Streisand

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert

06:39

Beatrice Arthur

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Maude

00:55

Bill Clinton

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Hector Ramirez on interacting with Bill Clinton

02:18

Carol Burnett

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show

02:42

Carroll O'Connor

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family

01:08

Cher

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Hector Ramirez on working with Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

00:46

Dave Powers

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show

02:18

David Copperfield

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Hector Ramirez on working with David Copperfield on The Magic of David Copperfield

03:26

Hector Ramirez on working with David Copperfield

05:10

Diana Ross

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Hector Ramirez on working on Diana Ross' concert in Central Park

02:05

Dick Clark

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

01:53

Elvis Presley

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Hector Ramirez on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television

01:53

George Carlin

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Hector Ramirez on shooting George Carlin's comedy specials

01:28

George Clooney

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Hector Ramirez on shooting Fail Safe

04:10

Harvey Korman

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show

02:42

Jean Stapleton

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family

01:08

Jim Carrey

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator on In Living Color

03:06

Jimmie Walker

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Good Times

01:58

John Rich

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Hector Ramirez on working with John Rich and Norman Lear on All in the Family

00:45

Hector Ramirez on working with director John Rich on All in the Family

01:11

Norman Lear

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Hector Ramirez on working with John Rich and Norman Lear on All in the Family

00:45

Hector Ramirez on working with Norm Lear on the day-to-day work of All in the Family

02:53

Prince of Monaco Rainier III

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Hector Ramirez on working with Prince Rainier of Monaco

02:31

Richard M. Nixon

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Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured

01:14

Rob Reiner

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family

01:08

Hector Ramirez on working on This is Spinal Tap with Rob Reiner

03:08

Robin Williams

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Hector Ramirez on shooting Robin Williams' comedy specials

01:12

Rue McClanahan

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Maude

00:55

Sally Struthers

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family

01:08

Sonny Bono

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Hector Ramirez on working with Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

00:46

Tim Conway

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show

02:42

Tom Bergeron

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Hector Ramirez on the host of Dancing With the Stars

01:16

Tony Orlando

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Hector Ramirez on working with Tony Orlando on Tony Orlando & Dawn

01:04

Vicki Lawrence

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show

00:24