Meet Bridget Lamonica | Camera and Steadicam Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bridget Lamonica and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bridget, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
This is an interesting question right now. The film industry has just had two years of struggle, thanks to the (honestly understandable) Writer’s and Actor’s Strikes of 2023 and the distinct lack of work for many film professionals in 2024. There was a bit of a production boom after Covid protocols were put into place in 2020, in which every streaming service suddenly wanted tons of content, but since there was so much competition, they all cut back on production in order to re-evaluate their business model, which left a lot of film folks in the lurch.

But even in a “normal” year, the ebbs and flows of work in this industry is enough to scare the toughest person. If you are serious about being in this business, you’re also aware that there will be periods of time where you just won’t work. Or a show cancels on you. Or a strike. Or a pandemic that shutters productions for half a year or more. So you plan ahead, you save, you get smart asking for a rate you’re worth rather than trying to give a cheap price that will land you in hot water with your landlord later.

How else do you know? You work a 12 or 14 hour day and you don’t hate it enough to not go back the next day. You deal with the spurts of work and the unsure nature because you still have a love of the process. You have a hundred film set horror stories but there’s still that magic when you see things come together. That’s how you know.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What I think sets me apart is my personality. Folks just genuinely like to work with me. One of the best pieces of advice I can give to anyone just starting out in the film industry is to maintain a good and upbeat attitude. Nobody wants to work a long grueling day with someone who is miserable. If you’re nice to be around, people will more likely want to work with you.

No matter how hard the job is, how hot it is outside or how long that shot is taking to set up, keeping a more positive attitude will always help. That’s whether I’m working on a feature film, a reality TV show, or even a short film. it doesn’t matter. Keep the positivity going. The job is hard but it’s ten times harder if someone is being a grump.

I also just try to provide a helping hand where I can. I’ve taken time to teach an intern or PA how to set up a light on a small set, made sure to let the newbies know when it’s okay to ask questions. There were people who helped me along the way by teaching me about film etiquette or specific equipment so I’d like to pay it forward by helping the next person.

My community minded mentality led me to partner with Tina Somphone and Erin Zellers in 2024 when we put together the Atlanta Film Yard Sale. For the inaugural year, we hosted the yard sale at 24ATL Studios. The yard sale was really a big event — not only did it provide a safe way for film people to sell their gear, it was also a networking opportunity without being overtly about networking, plus it provided opportunities to learn about gear at businesses in the area. We had Image Engine showing off their impressive arm car, Kodak was showing film loading techniques, Hammerhead wheels showed off their wheels setup, and of course 24ATL displayed their beautiful LED volume wall as a backdrop to the whole event. We had a great turnout for a first year and if you keep your eyes open soon, you may see an update on the next event. You can follow the Atlanta Film Yard Sale on Instagram @atlfilmyardsale and Facebook.

My next endeavor is… well, doesn’t everyone have a podcast now? My fellow camera department friend Erica Strout and I are hosting a podcast called “Lights, Camera Remake!” in which we compare an original film and its remake (or sequel) and answer the age-old question “Has Hollywood run out of ideas?” The answer will sometimes surprise you. You can follow the podcast updates on Instagram @lightscameraremakepodcast and we have a Facebook page as well. You’ll find the podcast on Spotify.

And if you’re so inclined, I host a blog on my website www.bridgetlamonica.com in which I cover various educational topics about filmmaking as well as covering the red flags to look out for so you don’t get scammed by a fake film job. It’s more common than you know.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite places is outside the perimeter, White Windmill Bakery in Doraville. I was introduced to this Korean bakery by a fellow film friend after a workshop at the Otto Nemenz camera rental house.

In the city? You gotta check out Piedmont Park, the Beltline, and Ponce City Market.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I do want to get all schmaltzy and thank my father, Ray LaMonica, because he was always the biggest supporter of my dreams and aspirations. Not everyone has a parent who hears their kid wants to make movies and says “Let’s make it happen.” My dad was never the one to ask “What’s your backup plan? What’s your REAL job going to be?” because he knew I could do it. I don’t have a film-making family. There was no in, no special privilege, no famous cousin to provide a lead into this industry. I was the one with the highest education level in my family as well. A lot of career firsts happened with me.

I would also not have accomplished as much without the filmmaking community in general. From my start in northeast Pennsylvania to my move down to the Atlanta area, the personal connections I made were what made a career even possible. Most jobs come about due to recommendations or someone wanting to work with me again, and I thank each and every person who threw my name out there to get me the next gig. I like to return the favor too. This is a film community, so let’s keep the community part thriving.

Website: https://www.bridgetlamonica.com

Instagram: BridgetLaMonica

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063439761008

Other: Upcoming Podcast in 2025:
Lights, Camera, Remake! A podcast about sequels, remakes, and whether or not Hollywood has run out of ideas.

Instagram: lightscameraremakepodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560111332548