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Cinematographer
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About the Role
A leading AI lab is building generative video models that aim to capture true cinematic fidelity: lens choices, sensor behavior, camera motion, motivated lighting, exposure and color, carried faithfully into a new output. We're looking for experienced cinematographers and camera and lighting specialists to help define what excellent camera and lighting work looks like, and to judge where the models get it right or wrong. This is a full-time role of approximately 40 hours per week. This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, with the opportunity to be placed at a leading AI Lab as part of their extended workforce.
What You'll Do
- Set the quality bar: Define clear standards for optics, sensor behavior, camera motion, lighting motivation and exposure, critique current evaluations, and help build a taxonomy of the ways generated footage fails.
- Curate benchmarks: Identify, generate and curate strong examples of excellent and genuinely hard camera and lighting setups, and test early model capabilities against them.
- Critique model outputs: Review generated footage shot by shot and write precise, actionable notes on lensing, movement, lighting and exposure.
- Shape the reviewer pool and captions: Help define how human reviewers are vetted and calibrated, and review captioning guidelines so optical and lighting detail is described accurately.
- Collaborate with other experts to keep evaluations consistent and accurate.
You're a Good Fit If You
- 7+ years of professional experience in film, television or virtual production.
- Credits on 2+ professional films.
- A background in at least one of: Director of Photography / Cinematographer (film, TV or commercial); Gaffer / Chief Lighting Technician; Camera Operator, 1st AC or Digital Imaging Technician (DIT); or Virtual Production / CG Lighting & Camera Layout Supervisor.
- A meticulous eye for lens optics, sensor behavior, motivated lighting, exposure and color spaces.
- Hands-on use of generative image and video tools (e.g., Runway, Midjourney, Sora, Kling) to create your own samples for testing and comparison.
- Nice to have: reliable access to a calibrated 4K display for pixel-level review.
- Ability to engage reliably for approximately 40 hours/week during weekdays.
- Strong written communication and the ability to turn optical and lighting detail into precise language for captions and evaluation templates.
Role Highlights
Pay & Payout
Independent contractor engagement. Apply via the link below - Mercor handles onboarding and pays weekly via Stripe or Wise.
Common Questions
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About Mercor for this role
We track 354 open Mercor roles on AI Work Expert. Across 479 hourly listings, the typical Mercor rate runs from $64 to $90 an hour; this role lists $70-$110/h. Our reliability rating for Mercor is very reliable, with an onboarding time of 1-3 weeks (interview + assessment + trial).
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