WHAT DOES A GAFFER DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Gaffer Do?)

Gaffer Lighting / Photo Credit: Creative Skillset

WHAT DOES A GAFFER DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Gaffer Do?)

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What Does A Gaffer Do?

A gaffer in the motion picture industry and on a television crew is the head electrician, responsible for the execution (and sometimes the design) of the lighting plan for a production. ... The key grip is the head grip, in charge of the labor and non-electrical equipment used to support and modify the lighting. The term gaffer originally related to the moving of overhead equipment to control lighting levels using a gaff. The gaffer's assistant is the best boy.

Lighting is one of the most important components to setting up the perfect shot. Proper lighting completes the scene by adding a dark and gloomy hue to an ominous rainy night, or sundrenched haze on a deserted island. Directors cannot rely on natural lighting to accomplish their vision; instead they create their own effects with the help of the gaffer.

Sometimes the gaffer is credited as Chief Lighting Technician (CLT).

The term has been used for the chief electrician in films since the 1930s. The Oxford English Dictionary has a citation from 1936; a 1929 book on motion picture production also uses the term. The gaffer is responsible for managing lighting, including associated resources such as labor, lighting instruments and electrical equipment under the direction of the Director of Photography (the DP or DOP) or, in television, the Lighting Director (LD).

The DP/LD is responsible for the overall lighting design, but delegates the implementation of the design to the gaffer and the key grip. The key grip is the head grip, in charge of the labor and non-electrical equipment used to support and modify the lighting. Grip equipment includes stands, flags and gobos. 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.

Although gaffer tape is used within the film/TV Industry as a strong cloth-backed adhesive tape, many other types of tape are also used, such as paper tape, pressure-sensitive tape (A.K.A. snot tape), electrical tape, J-LAR, and cloth tape. Gaffer tape is typically utilized by set lighting technicians under the supervision of, and not directly by, a gaffer. The gaffer is the head electrician in a movie crew; it's their 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.

Duties

In the film and television industry the head of the electrical department is known as the chief lighting technician (CLT) or, more commonly, the gaffer. The gaffer answers to the director of photography, who helps interpret the director’s vision of the overall look of the film. Assisting the gaffer are the best boy electric (assistant CLT) and a crew of technicians generally called electricians or lamp operators.

The gaffer is tasked with designing the lighting plot for each shot of a film or TV show. (In some cases a lighting director may handle this duty on a television set.) The gaffer selects the proper instruments for each shot based on the environment, camera angles, desired effect, and available ambient lighting. The gaffer adjusts color temperature with the use of colored gels and manipulates the direction and intensity of light by using barn doors, flags, and reflectors. The set-up of all lighting instruments, cables, generators, and accessories is directed by the gaffer, supervised by the best boy, and carried out by the crew of electricians. During the filming of the scene the gaffer monitors the lighting conditions, while the electricians and grips are tasked with holding flags or reflectors and operating other lighting effects for complex shots such as action sequences. After the shot, the electricians tear down the gear and move on to set up the next one. As a department, the gaffer and electricians are responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of all electrical (not audio or camera) equipment on set. A gaffer will typically have his or her own truck stocked with a basic lighting kit, and will rent additional gear as needed.

Skills & Education

You are not expected to have a specific degree to become an electrician or gaffer, but you will need experience and training in film/TV production. A college education in this field is a great place to start to build your résumé and compile a demo reel of your work. Student films and independents are the best way to start learning the trade. Work in the electrical department requires knowledge of lighting equipment, electricity, and color theory. Courses in art, photography, and electrical engineering are helpful. Most electricians at all levels must become members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union that represents technicians in film, TV, and theater. IATSE offers an apprenticeship program to learn the craft, and requires members to complete specific training and safety courses.

What to Expect

To become a gaffer you will have to spend years working your way up the ladder. To get your foot in the door, look for opportunities as an intern with a production company or jobs as an on-set production assistant. You will have to do a lot of grunt work before you land a slot in the electrical department, but once you prove that you are a hard worker and reliable, you will be given the chance to take on more responsibility. A good attitude and willingness to learn is key, and a sense of humor and lack of ego will help you fit in with the crew. Stress and long hours are part of the package. Cultivating a successful career in film/TV production takes commitment; results rarely come quickly, but a comfortable living can be made as a gaffer.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Ella Laryen,

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Gaffer Lighting / Photo Credit: Creative Skillset