Ask anyone who’s worked in film and TV and they’ll tell you the real talent is behind the camera! Sure, the actors dish out the charm, looks and words but they would be nothing without an army of talented, highly-skilled individuals working feverishly in the background to produce a polished final production ready for the audience to enjoy.
If you’ve ever sat through the end credits of a show and wondered just what some of those strange job titles actually mean, the read on and we’ll give you a little inside knowledge…
The Gaffer
Every movie set requires electricity to function and a gaffer is the person responsible for everything to do with this. He or she will be fully responsible for making sure there is power on set, from making sure all the plugs are pushed in and flicked on to ensuring everything is safe and up and running before the talent arrives on set. If you’ve ever seen a movie set and noticed the amount of lighting and other powered devices, the gaffer is the person who feverishly makes sure all this works. All hail the gaffer!
The Best Boy
It may be a strange job title, the best boy is the person who works directly under the gaffer, ensuring all their commands are carried out. In other words, the gaffer shoulders the responsibility whilst the best boy does the actual work! If you need something electrical sorted on a set, chances are it’s the best boy you’ll deal with rather than their boss.
The Dolly Grip
Ever seen those little train tracks on movie sets? Those are dolly tracks. They usually carry a little platform with a camera crew on it, allowing a smooth transition of bulky camera equipment, delivering a seamless, smooth shot. A dolly grip is a much-loved individual who has to lay these tracks and push the dolly camera platform along. Often found between takes massaging their lower back while making “Oooh!” faces.
The Line Producer
A line producer is a mystery to anybody not actually involved in that day’s shoot. To those on set, however, the line producer is mother and father all rolled into one. They are the person responsible for handling all the logistics and running of the set on a day to day basis. They work tirelessly to ensure every element of the shoot is ready to go when needed, from camera operators and props, through to making sure that the cast is ready to be in their places when the director calls “Action”.
The Foley Artist
Most people don’t realize that movie sets are incredibly noisy. A studio set or an outdoor location has so much background noise that sensitive microphones and cameras can pick it all up, leaving most of the audio recorded on the day rendered useless. This is where the foley team steps in. They replicate the sounds needed, from walking on gravel and opening doors right through to all the squelchy sound effects used in horror films. They can be found doing these using ingenious methods, usually involving vegetables and hammers, and, once added to the film, it all gives a seamless extra layer of sensory enjoyment.
The Lighting Technician
Remember at the beginning we looked at a gaffer? Well, working closely under that person is the all-important Lighting Technician. This talented person is responsible for maintaining and utilizing the myriad of lights required to bathe a set in brightness (or gloom) to meet the Director’s requirements. Whether the need is for a gloriously sunny day or a moody, atmospheric night shoot, you can bet your last penny it’s all achieved through the use of lighting. The techs work under the watchful eye of the Lighting Director and are responsible for positioning the lights, making sure they stay working and all other aspects of illumination. Without these unsung heroes, you might as well be making a radio show!
Studio Lighting from Frank Gatto
Our team provides first-class studio lighting to some of biggest names in the business including HBO, ABC, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Telemundo and Univision. Speak to us today to find out more about the services we offer at (561) 368-0101.
Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds. If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.
Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com
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