A month ago we started a new article series here in Journeys of Life - Occupations! In these articles we go through some lesser known occupations. Occupations and job titles that may leave some of us wondering what the work actually entails.
So, this time around we talk about best boy. Which many of us have surely seen at the end credits of a film. But do you know what it means?
Best boy, also known as Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the lighting or grip department on a TV or film set. His - or her - many responsibilities include the hiring, scheduling, and management of crew, the ordering, and inventory. HowStuffWorks explains well what the job entail, but please do check the video below to know even more!
The name comes originally from the seafaring world where best boy was captain’s second-in-command, who once on land would often help, together with the other sailors and dockworkers, to build sets in a theater. That term then stuck - a term used also of women, though most best boys are men.
There are usually two best boys on a film set. One is for the right-hand men (or women) of the head electrician (also called gaffer). When the best boy works with the gaffer, he or she is called the best boy electric. The other best boy type works for the leader of the camera crew, i.e. grips (key grip), and is therefore called the best boy grip. The key grip is, as you may know, in charge of building, moving and maintaining all the equipment that carries the cameras.
So, here’s Miguel Sanchez explaining his trade. Video credit to gigniks: