Gaffer
Definition
The Gaffer is the head of the electrical department on a film or video production and is the chief lighting technician. Working directly under the Director of Photography, the Gaffer is responsible for designing and executing the lighting plan for every scene. This involves selecting the appropriate lighting instruments, positioning them to achieve the desired effect, managing the electrical crew (including the Best Boy Electric), and ensuring that all electrical systems on set are safe and functional. The term "gaffer" is believed to derive from the use of a gaff — a long pole — to position lights in early filmmaking.
Contextual Usage
The DP describes the desired lighting for a scene to the Gaffer: "I want the scene to feel like it's lit entirely by the fireplace. We'll use the practical fireplace as our key light, but I need you to augment it with a couple of tungsten sources just off camera to give us enough exposure. Keep it warm and flickery."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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