Ever watch the closing credits of a film and notice a few unusual job titles: “best boy” “gaffer” “grip,” etc.? Ever wonder, “Who are these people?” Well, allow me to run down the description of each of these lesser known crew people. That way, you will be more enlightened about film production and will be able to show up your friends when they can’t define these positions.
1. GAFFER - He is the key electrician on the set. He works along side the Director of Photography and discusses the placement of each light and the type of light that needs to be used for a particular shot.
2. BEST BOY - He is the Gaffer’s first mate, if you will. He’s in charge of organizing the necessary equipment and crew to ensure that the Gaffer gets what he needs.
3. KEY GRIP/GRIP - A Grip does exactly what his title implies - he grips things. These people move the equipment around on location and are responsible for setting it up where it needs to be and wrapping it when the shot is complete. Believe me, it is a tough job.
4. DOLLY GRIP - Whenever you are watching a movie and the camera glides side to side, or front to back, without any camera shake, it is on a dolly. Basically, a dolly is a flatbed cart that the camera can sit on. The dolly can either have wheels, or track, so that the camera can move through the scene without any bumps or shakes. The dolly grip is the one responsible for actually setting up and pushing the dolly.
5. CRAFT SERVICES - Although usually listed toward the bottom of the closing credits, the craft services person is usually a crew’s favorite person. He/she keeps the crew fed by providing snacks and drinks.
If you’re interested in learning more about production lingo, may I recommend you visit the Internet Movie Database Glossary.
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