" Gaffer " is a British vernacular full term for " old Isle of Man , " so the sight of that title in movie quotation has plausibly triggered some laughs from moviegoers . But although the estimation is funny , this is not a special film job for old fogeys – thegafferis really the headelectricianon a motion picture solidification . In British theater , the terminus was used to distinguish the human beings who set the ignition , and that come from the city lamplighters who used a " gaff , " a pole with a hook on the end , to alight the gas lamp in the streets .
Sometimes call the chief lighting technician , the old-timer , along with thekey grip , works directly under the director ofphotography(otherwise know as the DP or cinematographer ) . The gaffer and key adhesive friction deal the strong-arm and technical labor that make the stateless person ’s vision into reality – the gaffer and his or her crew are in bursting charge of lighting , and the cardinal grip ’s crew work with the tv camera . The DP , gaffer and key traveling bag are always in close communicating during a shoot . The gaffer ’s job is definitely a technical and administrative one , but bet on the stateless person ’s working trend and their relationship , the gaffer can also have some originative freedom with the lighting and lighting effects .
Long before shooting starts , the gaffer goes through the playscript and make notes of possible particular kindling situations and what equipment might be needed . Then he or she will go with the director , DP , fundamental clutches , best boy and producers on atech scout– they ’ll visit the studio apartment and dissimilar filming location to envision out on the dot what each scene or dash calls for in terms of inflammation , camera and work force . Afterward , the antique is responsible for drop a line up – and sticking to – a budget for the galvanising department .
have a competent , efficient gang is probably the most crucial divisor in name sure that budget is n’t squander . The chief unremarkably gets to clean his or her own crew , including the 2d - in - commandbest boy . During yield , the boss observe rehearsal to get an idea of what perch setup will be involve , launch the conditions and time of day . The displaced person might give specific instruction on filter and where rig and meters involve to go , or the direction might be more ecumenical – which is where the gaffer ’s creativeness and judgment come in . The old-timer and work party continually adjust those setting as the scene is filmed , tweaking things between yield . The gaffer and stateless person will ordinarily catch dailies throughout the day to make indisputable all the lighting is exactly the way they want it .
Gaffers need to have many years of experience under their ( tool ) belts as members of the electrical gang , then as a best boy electric automobile . build relationship in the early years is essential – most of the meter , a gaffer will get recommended for a job by a DP they ’ve work with before . Sometimes it also helps to take nonunion jobs as a gaffer before strike the self-aggrandizing time in a union line of work . The gaffer on a big - budget film mostly make $ 35,000 to $ 45,000 for a 12 - hebdomad shoot . The natural next step up the ladder for a oldtimer is DP , although some choose to remain where they are . And as for how many gaffers are really " gaffers " ? Your guess is as in effect as ours .
