Best Boy
Definition
The Best Boy is the first assistant to either the Gaffer (in which case they are the "Best Boy Electric") or the Key Grip (in which case they are the "Best Boy Grip"). The Best Boy Electric is responsible for managing the electrical crew, ordering equipment, and handling the administrative duties of the electrical department. The Best Boy Grip performs the same function for the grip department. The origin of the term is debated, but it is believed to come from the early days of cinema when foremen would ask for "the best boy" from a labor pool to assist them.
Contextual Usage
The gaffer is occupied with a complex lighting setup and cannot leave the set. She tells her Best Boy Electric, "I need you to go to the truck and pull the 12x12 silk and two more 4K HMIs. We're going to need them for the exterior scene after lunch."
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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