Created by Taylor Sheridan, writer of Sicario and Hell or High Water, Yellowstone’s story of crime, corruption, and cattle ranching has grown into a gargantuan cultural institution, earning critical praise, some of the highest cable viewership numbers of the last decade, and generating an expanding tapestry of spin-offs and tie-ins.
Camera Operator had the opportunity to sit down with series A camera operator Scott Dropkin, SOC, to talk about his role on the show. From working alongside horses, cattle, and buffalo to shooting in some of the most beautiful locations on the planet, working on Yellowstone is rife with challenges and rewards, but through it all Dropkin emphasizes the value of seeing a film crew as its own sort of unconventional family. It was this feeling of familial bonds that carried the crew through the challenges of relocating from Utah to Montana as well as weathering the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic.