What does a gaffer do in music?

The gaffer’s job is to run a team of lighting technicians to execute the lighting plan for a production. The name “gaffer” in Hollywood actually comes from British slang for a tool called the “gaff,” which was a hooked metal pole used in theatre to adjust the stage lights.

What does the gaffer do on a film set?

During filming, they work out the positioning of the lights and fastest way to change the lighting setups between shots. Gaffers mediate between the DoP and the rest of the lighting crew. They’re also responsible for safety and need to comply with the law on electricity, driving and employment.

What skills do you need to be a gaffer?

Career Requirements

Degree Level Varies; technical certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree
Key Skills Manual dexterity; creativity and flexibility; working knowledge of electrical wiring and schematics, understanding of film-making process
Training On-the-job training with specialized equipment

What makes a good gaffer?

The gaffer is a detail-oriented person who is organized and knows a lot about lights, cameras, and equipment. They should be a good communicator who can anticipate pitfalls and needs before the cinematographer does. They also need to be able to speak up if they see something wrong.

Who works for a gaffer?

The gaffer will usually have an assistant called a best boy and, depending on the size of the job, crew members who are called “set lighting technicians” or “electricians”, although not all of them are trained as electricians in the usual sense of the term.

How much does a gaffer make per day?

A Gaffer’s salary depends on the project. Typically, on non-union commercials, corporate videos or music videos they are based on a 10 or 12 hour day and that rate can vary between $450 USD to $750 USD.

What is gaffer in broadcasting?

Gaffers have all the power when filming, quite literally. They head up the team that sources, installs and runs all the electrical equipment needed to make a programme. They are responsible for cables, lights and generators. The role of a gaffer varies depending on the type of unscripted TV show being made.

What is a best boy in the film industry?

THE BEST BOY is a senior electrician on a film crew, coming second in the hierarchy to the “gaffer”, the chief electrician. The electricians are responsible for the technical side of the lighting and are known as the “sparks” in this country or “juicers” in the US.

Where does gaffer come from?

What is its origin? In 16th century England, a gaffer was the head of an organised group of labourers. Also used colloquially to refer to an old man, which several managers were, the word entered the sports lexicon. It’s thought to derive from ‘godfather’ or ‘governor’.

What is a best boy in the movie industry?

What is the difference between a grip and a gaffer?

The gaffer is the head electrician in a movie crew; it’s her job to manage the lighting, making sure the levels are appropriate for the desired effect in the scene. The gaffer is assisted by the best boy, and may have a crew of electricians. A grip is also concerned with lighting, but from the mechanical side.

What is a dolly grip in film?

In cinematography, the dolly grip is a dedicated technician trained to operate the camera dolly. This technician places, levels, and moves the dolly track, then pushes and pulls the dolly and usually a camera operator and camera assistant as riders.

What does gaffer mean?

Definition of gaffer 1 : an old man — compare gammer. 2 British. a : foreman, overseer. b : employer. 3 : a head glassblower.

What is a Gaffa?

An electrician in charge of lighting on a movie or television set. 2. Chiefly British An old man or a rustic. 3. Chiefly British A boss or foreman.

What is a dolly grip in a movie?

Who is under the gaffer?

In film and television crews, the gaffer or chief lighting technician is the head electrician, responsible for the execution (and sometimes the design) of the lighting plan for a production. The gaffer’s assistant is the best boy electric.

Why is it called best boy?

Legend has it they were called ‘best boys’ because, back in the day, the people rigging up lighting, electricity or cameras would yell out for a bit of assistance by asking someone to send them ‘their best boy’. As in, the best qualified person from their team for the job at hand.

What are grips and gaffers?

What are gaffers and grips?