A best boy is the first assistant to the grip crew or the lighting department and fills a number of roles on a television or film set. While the gaffer and key grips work closely with the director of photography (cinematographer), the best boys take care of everything topside to ensure a seamless production.
What do gaffer and best boy do?
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.
Why do they call it 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 is a best boy grip job?
The best boy grip is second in command of the lighting department on a film set. He is responsible for making sure that lighting equipment is at the proper location and in good working order. For location shooting, the lighting requirements may change daily.
What is the difference between a grip and a gaffer?
The Answer:
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.A grip is also concerned with lighting, but from the mechanical side.
What do grips do in film?
What does a grip do? Grips make sure that what the director and director of photography (DoP) want to achieve on a shoot is possible. While directors think of the artistry of the shots, grips work out how they are going to move the cameras to make that happen.
What is a dolly grip in movie credits?
The dolly grip operates the dolly during the shoot, with the camera operator and an assistant riding atop it to get the tracking shots. In addition, dolly grips put the track together for the shots. They may also mount the camera in addition to moving the dolly as needed.
How do you become a Best Boy?
How To Become A Best Boy
- Contact as many Grips, Best Boy Grips, and Key Grips as possible. Buy them coffee and have a conversation.
- Be frank and honest about your skill sets. Don’t oversell when applying for a job.
- Be teachable.
- Move to a city where lots of film production takes place.
What do gaffers do?
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 does Best Boy mean in Kpop?
Best boys are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the lighting or grip department.
Are there any female best boys?
‘ By default the 2nd in charge of either department came to be known as best-boy. This term may also have been borrowed from early sailing and whaling crews, as sailors were often employed to set up and work rigging in theatres. There are no ‘best girls’ per se; female chief assistants are also called ‘Best Boys.
Do grips make a lot of money?
Key grip salary
According to Forbes Magazine, a best-boy grip can expect to make around $50,00 to $75,000 a year if they’re working regularly. A key grip can expect to make between $60,000 to $100,000 a year if they are regularly working.
How much do grips make?
Once there be sure to join a union to ensure success and guarantee wages. On average, a key grip will make $37,000 per year. It’s not unheard of for a big Hollywood key grip to make between $80,000 and $100,000 per year, but the work is inconsistent. If there is no filming, there is no work.
Why is the last shot called Martini?
Martini Shot (also called Window Shot) is a Hollywood term for the final shot set-up of the day. According to Dave Knox, author of the film industry slang guide Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde, the Martini Shot was so named because “the next shot is out of a glass”, referring to a post-wrap drink.
How much do gaffers make?
The salary range for a gaffer stretches from $19,000 to $129,000, with the average salary coming in at approximately $54,700.
What is an electrician on a film set called?
The gaffer is the chief lighting technician on a set and is head of the electrical department. The gaffer’s job is to run a team of lighting technicians to execute the lighting plan for a production.
What is a camera operator called?
A film’s camera operator, also called a cameraman, is the professional responsible for operating the camera and capturing the film’s footage.
What is lighting and grip?
The lighting department, led by the gaffer and best boy, work together to setup the appropriate lighting instruments and cabling needed for shooting. The grip department, led by the key grip, will setup the gear used to alter the lighting scheme including diffusion, blocking or coloring the light.
Who is a famous grip?
‘Chainsaw’ Tommy May, Famed Key Grip in Hollywood, Dies at 81. He teamed with Sam Peckinpah, Billy Wilder, John Frankenheimer, Blake Edwards and Vilmos Zigmond during a long, colorful career.
How much does a grip make per day?
Grip Salary
While salary is dependent on experience, working conditions (budget, location, hours of work, union status), a 2019 report from Career Trend found that an average salary for grips is $30,000, while dolly grips earn between $200 and $300 per shooting day, according to Saddleback University.
Do directors get paid more than actors?
Directors and producers work behind the scenes of movies, television and other industries. While not as prominent as actors, they can make a lot of money working in the film industry. While some film directors and producers make six figures with ease, the majority of directors and producers make more modest incomes.
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