This guy couldn't be more wrong, to clarify and correct him being that I am a Union Grip in Hollywood. The DP is the boss of the camera, electric and grip department. He helps the director paint the picture, camera angles for example. The Gaffer a.k.a Chief Lighting Tech helps the DP light the scenes and set the mode for what they're shooting. The Key Grip then helps make the light look right, shaping it and cutting it to help fit the mode of the scene. Grips are pretty much shape and manipulate light, support camera, camera rigs, light rigs, and other sort of rigging, we also are in charge of set safety. We also take care of moving shots that dont involve a steadicam or techno crane. Those shots can be accomplished with a dolly or with a jib. The Gaffer and the Key Grip are the right and left hand of the DP. The Best boys are the right hand for their bosses, Bestboy Grip, Bestboy Electric. The Job of the Bestboy is to manage the gear, the crew, hire the crew , place and deal with gear orders, take care of their departments paper work, deal with production, take care of any problem within their department, just to give you an example. He's rarely on set, he will prep the next set or location, or strike down the previous set. If they Key has to step off for the day most likely the Best will bounce up to Key, if the Key or Gaffer need to step off set they'll normally have a Grip or Juicer a.k.a Electric a.k.a Lamp Op cover them while they step off set with their Bestboy most likely to go talk about the next set or something of that sort. Hopefully this helps to understand what it is we do. This guy clearly is wrong and has things mixed up. Maybe its the state he's in but this is how it is in Hollywood. Some issues we have here is the low budget world and the film schools think the Gaffer is the boss of both the electrics and grips so the DP will always talk to the Gaffer and gives him notes. That is not how it is down, Grips and Electrics are totally different departments and have their own unions. I can't think of anything that I've missed but I hope this helps people.
The Key Grip is not the head of the lighting department but of the grip department. The Gaffer, or the Chief Lighting Technician, is head of the lighting department and is higher in the chain of command than the Key Grip. The Key Grip is in charge of safety. The Gaffer is the Cinematographer's right hand man, and it is the Gaffer whom the DP talks to, not the Key Grip, and the Key Grip gets the information from the Gaffer of all grip logistics. The Gaffer sticks to the DP at all times.
@1337cookie Grip department's main focus is camera movement (Dolly shots, vehicle tracking, rigging the camera to move, and stabalising the camera on the tripod) they also deal with most general rigging, In the states I believe (correct me here) they will setup stands and mounting/rigging for all the lights but not the lights themselves. This seems to be due to the rediculious union system they have for the film industry that requires many people are employed for every shoot.
This information couldnt be more WRONG! The Director tells the director of Photography what he wants, the DP tells the Gaffer how he'd like it to look, the Gaffer lights the set, provides the power and tells the key grip how to shape it. The best boy is the 2nd in charge in most departments, He does the hiring of personell, managing of equiptment, etc...
@1337cookie Art dept also deal with making sure lots of people dont ruin grass or a field before the shots are all finished. A crew of 30 will rip up a lawn in a matter of minutes. On larger jobs they even get a special title for this job called Greens. All they do is replace the grass when it gets ripped up.
The Best Boy, also known as the Chief Electrical Technician, is the person in charge of electrical safety on set. He/she runs cables, wires, feeders, stingers; the Best Boy also fires up the power generators and makes sure all the lines are hot before burning the lighting instruments, he/she keeps all the gels, diffusion and scrims. The Best Boy is also in charge hiring and firing the lighting department. He/she keeps all the electrical floor plans as well. The Best Boy can also be a female.
@1337cookie I left out Art Dept HOD and camera dept. Camera dept is ussually right next to the DP so they already know what they are supposed to do. DP asks for a different lens, camera assist changes the lens. Grips have a Key Grip (HOD) and then can have as many Grip Assistants (there are other names for this) as are required. Sometimes you will see Best Boy Grip which will mean second in command in grip department.
@1337cookie Lighting department deals with setting up lights, lighting control, and power distribution. lighting control can be things like cutters/flags to block light or create certain shadows. Diffusion to creat softer light. Gels to give the light different tones. The Gaffer is the HOD of lighting and under him is the Best Boy. The Gaffer will talk to the DP to get his vision of the shot and then tell the best boy how it should be done.
@1337cookie The best boy will organise the Lighting assists/Sparkies/Electricians (different names same job) to setup the appropriate things required. Makeup and Wardrobe are self explainitory. Art dept does things like groom sand on a beach to make it look nice. Make sure anything thats going in shot looks good and portrays the directors vision properly. Thing like finding the perfect toy for a child to play with and having a variety of unique things to try if it doesnt work.
The film set is a hierarchy, director on top, the director of photography (DP) who is next, realizes the director's vision. The DP is in charge of the film techs, usually the camera dept, Grip and Lighting depts. The Key Grip and Gaffer (or Chief Lighting Tech) are equal under the DP, working in unison with the DP to create the shot for the scene. The Key Grip is in charge of the Grip dept. and the Gaffer in charge of the lighting or electrical dept.
Wow, this guy has no business pretending to tell people what these positions are. Read the post by DonKeedic, he's got it right. The DP determines what he wants the shot to look like lighting wise. He can either be very specific and tell the gaffer what lights wants, or lets the gaffer achieve the look however he chooses to. The key grip "shapes the light", by using diffusion, flags, etc. Best Boys are often not on set. They are at the truck or in the office getting equipment, phone call
This guy's totally clueless. I doubt that he's ever been on a film or television set. The Chief Lighting Technician (Gaffer) directs what type of lighting instruments are to be used and where they are to be placed. This is to realize the vision of the director and cinematographer. Grips shape lighting creating darkness & shadow with flags and scrims and also reflect light with reflective cards or boards. As well, grips set up camera dolly equipment and move 'wild' studio walls. As you may be able to tell, grips react to what has been put into play by other departments. the Key Grip is the head of his department only and reacts to what other department heads, such as the Gaffer, have put into play. Pascal G. - 30 year veteran of every type of filmed production in the town with the best lighting technicians in the world - Hollywood
The each dept has a Best Boy (or Girl) that is the second in command of the dept. taking care of equipment and crew. During exterior day scenes, there may not be any lighting to be done, but there could be grip work in regards to camera movement or sunlight reflection onto subjects. Maybe even taking away sunlight from subjects.....
Where I am from it works like this and im pretty sure it is standard elsewhere too. Director and DOP/DP Work on the shot composition, generally DP will know how he/she wants it lit framing and camera movement.The director will worry about the acting and whether or not its working for them in general, it is then the DP's job to communicate the directors vision to the Key Grip, Gaffer, Makeup HOD (Head of department) and the Wardrobe HOD.
And the script supervisor holds a boom mic against the dolly grip's heart to make sure that they're professional during the love making scenes. And the actors have to make the visual confirmation that the dolly grip is not aroused before the 2nd AC yells "action." 2nd AC's are notorious for clapping the sticks and just blurting out to start the scene and save film. The UPM's have to sprinkle the chicken blood on sets so the gods think it's real. I learnt all this from HowToActing/Explore Talent.
As many others have said, extremely basic wrong information here. A google search with a creditable source or a 50-year old book on the subject will reveal this as misinformation.
I always wondered what a key grip was in movie credits. I don't note gaffer or best boy (or even any 'grips'), but you will often see lists of key grip, key grip, key grip. At a guess he was in charge of the grips. I thought bestboy sounded like some sort of runner. Perhaps differing teams depending on size might work with them in their own way. .mentalfloss.com/article/50626/11-strange-movie-job-titles%E2%80%94explained
I subscribe to exploretalentdotcom in an attempt to get my girlfriend modeling work. if this is indicitive of your "industry knowledge" I may have to rethink my subscrioption
This guy couldn't be more wrong, to clarify and correct him being that I am a Union Grip in Hollywood.
The DP is the boss of the camera, electric and grip department. He helps the director paint the picture, camera angles for example. The Gaffer a.k.a Chief Lighting Tech helps the DP light the scenes and set the mode for what they're shooting. The Key Grip then helps make the light look right, shaping it and cutting it to help fit the mode of the scene. Grips are pretty much shape and manipulate light, support camera, camera rigs, light rigs, and other sort of rigging, we also are in charge of set safety. We also take care of moving shots that dont involve a steadicam or techno crane. Those shots can be accomplished with a dolly or with a jib. The Gaffer and the Key Grip are the right and left hand of the DP.
The Best boys are the right hand for their bosses, Bestboy Grip, Bestboy Electric. The Job of the Bestboy is to manage the gear, the crew, hire the crew , place and deal with gear orders, take care of their departments paper work, deal with production, take care of any problem within their department, just to give you an example. He's rarely on set, he will prep the next set or location, or strike down the previous set. If they Key has to step off for the day most likely the Best will bounce up to Key, if the Key or Gaffer need to step off set they'll normally have a Grip or Juicer a.k.a Electric a.k.a Lamp Op cover them while they step off set with their Bestboy most likely to go talk about the next set or something of that sort.
Hopefully this helps to understand what it is we do. This guy clearly is wrong and has things mixed up. Maybe its the state he's in but this is how it is in Hollywood. Some issues we have here is the low budget world and the film schools think the Gaffer is the boss of both the electrics and grips so the DP will always talk to the Gaffer and gives him notes. That is not how it is down, Grips and Electrics are totally different departments and have their own unions.
I can't think of anything that I've missed but I hope this helps people.
what is the DP?
DP = Director of Photography. Usually members of ASC. But there are some pretty good non-union DP's shooting shorts, commercials, and music vids.
You guys are the keepers of light.
@@gmo9172 director of Photography/Cinematographer
The Key Grip is not the head of the lighting department but of the grip department. The Gaffer, or the Chief Lighting Technician, is head of the lighting department and is higher in the chain of command than the Key Grip. The Key Grip is in charge of safety. The Gaffer is the Cinematographer's right hand man, and it is the Gaffer whom the DP talks to, not the Key Grip, and the Key Grip gets the information from the Gaffer of all grip logistics. The Gaffer sticks to the DP at all times.
This fellow has a different understanding of how things work than the IATSE crews I work with.........maybe in never ever land they work this way.
thank you,positive energy
@1337cookie
Grip department's main focus is camera movement (Dolly shots, vehicle tracking, rigging the camera to move, and stabalising the camera on the tripod) they also deal with most general rigging, In the states I believe (correct me here) they will setup stands and mounting/rigging for all the lights but not the lights themselves. This seems to be due to the rediculious union system they have for the film industry that requires many people are employed for every shoot.
I am from Brazil and i always wondered what those things were. Thanks a lot for the explanation. :)
This information couldnt be more WRONG! The Director tells the director of Photography what he wants, the DP tells the Gaffer how he'd like it to look, the Gaffer lights the set, provides the power and tells the key grip how to shape it. The best boy is the 2nd in charge in most departments, He does the hiring of personell, managing of equiptment, etc...
@1337cookie
Art dept also deal with making sure lots of people dont ruin grass or a field before the shots are all finished. A crew of 30 will rip up a lawn in a matter of minutes. On larger jobs they even get a special title for this job called Greens. All they do is replace the grass when it gets ripped up.
The Best Boy, also known as the Chief Electrical Technician, is the person in charge of electrical safety on set. He/she runs cables, wires, feeders, stingers; the Best Boy also fires up the power generators and makes sure all the lines are hot before burning the lighting instruments, he/she keeps all the gels, diffusion and scrims. The Best Boy is also in charge hiring and firing the lighting department. He/she keeps all the electrical floor plans as well. The Best Boy can also be a female.
@1337cookie
I left out Art Dept HOD and camera dept.
Camera dept is ussually right next to the DP so they already know what they are supposed to do. DP asks for a different lens, camera assist changes the lens.
Grips have a Key Grip (HOD) and then can have as many Grip Assistants (there are other names for this) as are required. Sometimes you will see Best Boy Grip which will mean second in command in grip department.
Thank you for the clarification.
very helpful
And I always thought a Key Grip was someone that went around gripping keys all day.
@1337cookie
Lighting department deals with setting up lights, lighting control, and power distribution. lighting control can be things like cutters/flags to block light or create certain shadows. Diffusion to creat softer light. Gels to give the light different tones. The Gaffer is the HOD of lighting and under him is the Best Boy. The Gaffer will talk to the DP to get his vision of the shot and then tell the best boy how it should be done.
@1337cookie The best boy will organise the Lighting assists/Sparkies/Electricians (different names same job) to setup the appropriate things required.
Makeup and Wardrobe are self explainitory.
Art dept does things like groom sand on a beach to make it look nice. Make sure anything thats going in shot looks good and portrays the directors vision properly. Thing like finding the perfect toy for a child to play with and having a variety of unique things to try if it doesnt work.
The film set is a hierarchy, director on top, the director of photography (DP) who is next, realizes the director's vision. The DP is in charge of the film techs, usually the camera dept, Grip and Lighting depts. The Key Grip and Gaffer (or Chief Lighting Tech) are equal under the DP, working in unison with the DP to create the shot for the scene. The Key Grip is in charge of the Grip dept. and the Gaffer in charge of the lighting or electrical dept.
Wait what? Can we somehow get rid of this?
Wow, this guy has no business pretending to tell people what these positions are. Read the post by DonKeedic, he's got it right.
The DP determines what he wants the shot to look like lighting wise. He can either be very specific and tell the gaffer what lights wants, or lets the gaffer achieve the look however he chooses to. The key grip "shapes the light", by using diffusion, flags, etc.
Best Boys are often not on set. They are at the truck or in the office getting equipment, phone call
so wait, if the best boy is a helper of a key grip and or a Gaffer, then isn't he (or they) technically like the 3rd best?!?
This guy's totally clueless. I doubt that he's ever been on a film or television set. The Chief Lighting Technician (Gaffer) directs what type of lighting instruments are to be used and where they are to be placed. This is to realize the vision of the director and cinematographer. Grips shape lighting creating darkness & shadow with flags and scrims and also reflect light with reflective cards or boards. As well, grips set up camera dolly equipment and move 'wild' studio walls. As you may be able to tell, grips react to what has been put into play by other departments. the Key Grip is the head of his department only and reacts to what other department heads, such as the Gaffer, have put into play. Pascal G. - 30 year veteran of every type of filmed production in the town with the best lighting technicians in the world - Hollywood
And the PA tells the Director what to do, but only after they clear it with Craft Services first.
The each dept has a Best Boy (or Girl) that is the second in command of the dept. taking care of equipment and crew.
During exterior day scenes, there may not be any lighting to be done, but there could be grip work in regards to camera movement or sunlight reflection onto subjects. Maybe even taking away sunlight from subjects.....
Where I am from it works like this and im pretty sure it is standard elsewhere too.
Director and DOP/DP Work on the shot composition, generally DP will know how he/she wants it lit framing and camera movement.The director will worry about the acting and whether or not its working for them in general, it is then the DP's job to communicate the directors vision to the Key Grip, Gaffer, Makeup HOD (Head of department) and the Wardrobe HOD.
What the hell are you talking about????
@Sparks2221 i know, the DP is the Gaffers Boss the gaffer tells the grips what to set up
And the script supervisor holds a boom mic against the dolly grip's heart to make sure that they're professional during the love making scenes. And the actors have to make the visual confirmation that the dolly grip is not aroused before the 2nd AC yells "action." 2nd AC's are notorious for clapping the sticks and just blurting out to start the scene and save film. The UPM's have to sprinkle the chicken blood on sets so the gods think it's real. I learnt all this from HowToActing/Explore Talent.
Best boy ....fills in for grip and key grip when they are away...GIT IT GOT IT GOOOOD
What the? Check out this guy's other videos: How camera loaders provide wardrobe and makeup, and how assistant directors drive those big trucks.
ask a Gaffer what he thinks about this take on what a Key Grip is. Go to Europe and there isn't even a key grip just the Gaffer. lol
thanks for the information !
This is misleading. The Director of Photography is the Camera/ Lighting boss his right and left hand guys are the Gaffer and Key Grip.
Well I learned something new thanks
This is so misleading...why is this still up?
CINEMATOGRAPHERS LEAD THE WAY,HOOAH!
I'm a key grip for 27 years and I can tell you that no gaffer is gonna happy about me calling e
As many others have said, extremely basic wrong information here. A google search with a creditable source or a 50-year old book on the subject will reveal this as misinformation.
I always wondered what a key grip was in movie credits. I don't note gaffer or best boy (or even any 'grips'), but you will often see lists of key grip, key grip, key grip.
At a guess he was in charge of the grips. I thought bestboy sounded like some sort of runner. Perhaps differing teams depending on size might work with them in their own way.
.mentalfloss.com/article/50626/11-strange-movie-job-titles%E2%80%94explained
@theAssetSosa are you local 80???
Um no...
I subscribe to exploretalentdotcom in an attempt to get my girlfriend modeling work. if this is indicitive of your "industry knowledge" I may have to rethink my subscrioption
I'm
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
From a 30 year key Grip.
Stop giving wrong information to the public.
Uhhhh.... Nope. Not at all. Not even close.
best comment on this vid!
Haha yeah that sounds like the film industry, misinformation to anyone whos not already in it.
so wrong.....what do you expect from a schwoogie
What a joke!
Wow, epically wrong.
This is so wrong... clearly explore talent doesn't know what they are talking about and is a scam.
so wrong
filmmaking - misrepresented and wrongly explained by people that assuredly never work on real films. What a laugh.
is this a joke?
wrong!!!!!
SOOO WRONG!!!
This guy is way off. don't listen to this BS.