Hector Ramirez

Camera Operator


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

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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

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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

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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

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert
06:39

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

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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

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Hector Ramirez on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch on The Carol Burnett Show
00:53

Christmas in Washington

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Hector Ramirez on working on Christmas in Washington
03:53

Dancing With the Stars

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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

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
01:53

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Hector Ramirez on attending the Emmy Awards
01:09

Fail Safe

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Hector Ramirez on shooting Fail Safe
04:10

Good Times

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Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for Good Times
02:27

Grammys, The

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Hector Ramirez on how shooting the Academy Awards differs from shooting the Grammys
09:31

In Living Color

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator on In Living Color
03:06

Jeffersons, The

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Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for The Jeffersons
01:07

Kennedy Center Honors

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Kennedy Center Honors
05:09

MTV Movie Awards, The

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Hector Ramirez on how MTV's award shows influenced other award shows
02:31

MTV Video Music Awards

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Hector Ramirez on how MTV's award shows influenced other award shows
02:31

Magic of David Copperfield, The

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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

Maude

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Hector Ramirez on working as a camera operator for Maude and how it differed from All in the Family
01:51

Roseanne

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Hector Ramirez on how sitcoms in the '80s and '90s differed from those in the '70s
01:42

Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

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Hector Ramirez on working with new technology on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
01:46

Super Bowl

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Hector Ramirez on working on Super Bowl halftime shows  
05:24

Tony Orlando & Dawn

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Hector Ramirez on working on Tony Orlando & Dawn
01:04
Topics

9/11

View Topic
Hector Ramirez on 9/11
02:58

Advice

View Topic
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

View Topic
Hector Ramirez on bloopers on The Carol Burnett Show
01:08

Emmy Awards

View Topic
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

View Topic
Hector Ramirez on 9/11
02:58

Memorable Moments on Television

View Topic
Hector Ramirez on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television
01:53

Richard M. Nixon

View Topic
Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured
01:14

Technological Innovation

View Topic
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

View Topic
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

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Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured
01:14
Professions

Camera Operator

View Profession
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

View Profession
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

View Genre
Hector Ramirez on shooting live award shows
15:51

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Hector Ramirez on how shooting a variety show differs from shooting a sitcom
01:00

Reality TV

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Hector Ramirez on working on Dancing With the Stars
24:59
Hector Ramirez on his opinion of reality television
01:02
People

Beatrice Arthur

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Maude
00:55

Tom Bergeron

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Hector Ramirez on the host of Dancing With the Stars
01:16

Sonny Bono

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Hector Ramirez on working with Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
00:46

Carol Burnett

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show
02:42

George Carlin

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Hector Ramirez on shooting George Carlin's comedy specials
01:28

Jim Carrey

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator on In Living Color
03:06

Cher

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Hector Ramirez on working with Sonny and Cher on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
00:46

Dick Clark

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
01:53

Bill Clinton

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Hector Ramirez on interacting with Bill Clinton
02:18

George Clooney

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Hector Ramirez on shooting Fail Safe
04:10

Tim Conway

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show
02:42

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

Prince of Monaco Rainier III

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Hector Ramirez on working with Prince Rainier of Monaco
02:31

Harvey Korman

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show
02:42

Vicki Lawrence

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show
00:24

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

Rue McClanahan

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Maude
00:55

Richard M. Nixon

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Hector Ramirez on the most important image he's ever captured
01:14

Carroll O'Connor

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family
01:08

Tony Orlando

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Hector Ramirez on working with Tony Orlando on Tony Orlando & Dawn
01:04

Dave Powers

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Hector Ramirez on the dress rehearsals and memorable moments of The Carol Burnett Show
02:18

Elvis Presley

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Hector Ramirez on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television
01:53

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

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

Diana Ross

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Hector Ramirez on working on Diana Ross' concert in Central Park
02:05

Jean Stapleton

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family
01:08

Barbra Streisand

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Hector Ramirez on being a camera operator for Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert
06:39

Sally Struthers

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Hector Ramirez on working with the cast of All in the Family
01:08

Jimmie Walker

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Hector Ramirez on the cast of Good Times
01:58

Robin Williams

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Hector Ramirez on shooting Robin Williams' comedy specials
01:12

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