What's a Gaffer Do - Assignment Example

Lighting, its effective designing and timely execution is crucial for the success of any shot, making the man responsible for the whole affair central to the art of filmmaking. According to Iggy, one of the leading gaffers in the filmmaking and who is also an avid blogger, the prerequisites for working as a gaffer is the acquisition of technical knowledge and a sound know-how of the equipment (Iggy, n.p.). For having an executive position, creativity and decision making skills are extremely crucial as well.

Gaffer unions and guilds do exist; they offer internships as well as support for a gaffer while s/he is under employment. For example, the Motion Picture Studio Electrical Lighting Technicians Local 728 is one such organization listed on the IATSE website that works to support gaffers in the filmmaking industry (IATSE 728). An initiation fee is usually mandatory to gain membership in such unions. A gaffer’s importance to filmmaking cannot be emphasized enough since it is one of the most pivotal roles in the entire process of cinematography.

Effective management of the lighting on the set ensures a brilliant filming of a scene; hence, the correlation between a good gaffer and the success of the film is strong. Best Boy Electric is the assistant to the gaffer in the filmmaking industry.. To get started as a best boy, it is not necessary to have an academic degree since it is sound technical knowledge and effective organizational skills that determine a best boy’s success on the film set. As far as internships in the field are concerned, there are plenty of opportunities for a prospective best boy to learn the tricks of the trade, either under the mentorship of a professional gaffer or by enrolling in technical assistance programs offered.

For instance, the Film New Orleans webpage offers a list of individuals who can assist upcoming technicians to train as best boys (Film New Orleans). The medium of filmmaking is extremely dependent upon the efforts of the best boy, especially in the productions phase, making the job central to the lights, camera and action. A Dolly grip is one of the posts that is related to the cinematographic field of filmmaking. Responsibilities of a dolly grip revolve around the technical supervision and operation of the camera dolly.

A word known to filmmakers, the Media College defines a camera dolly as specialized equipment, a lot like a track, along which the camera moves (Camera Moves). The camera dolly not only allows the cameraman to take smooth shots but also facilitates the capturing of shots from multiple angles. Since a dolly grip is responsible for the operation of the camera dolly, the post is very closely related to that of a cameraman and thus falls under the camera department. In essence, it is a post linked with the production process of filmmaking.

As is the case with most of the production department related posts, a dolly grip does not require prior academic achievements to be able to enter the field. Moreover, since the dolly grip is required to handle and