What does the “best boy” in a movie do? Specifically, what does the “best boy grip” do?
Thankee!
What does the “best boy” in a movie do? Specifically, what does the “best boy grip” do?
Thankee!
What does the “best boy” in a movie do? Specifically, what does the “best boy grip” do?
Thankee!
i’m sorry this repeated three times. this is my first post, and i think i hit the wrong thing (or maybe the right thing too many times). my bad, won’t happen again.
The gaffer is the head electrician. The best boy is assistant to the gaffer. The grips carry and arrange equipment, and the key grip is in charge of the grips.
Best Boy
AKA: Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Best Boy Grip, Best Boy Electric
The chief assistant, usually of the gaffer, but more often lately used as a general term for the second in command of a group. This term is likely borrowed from early sailing and whaling crews, as sailors were often employed to set up and work rigging in theatres. There are no “best girls” per se; female chief assistants are also called “Best Boys”.
A “grip” roughly means a skilled stage hand on a movie set, sometimes specifically one who moves the camera while it is in use.
A “gaffer” is an electrician on a movie set.
A “key grip” is a senior, or supervising, grip.
In the old days, apparently, a key grip or a gaffer, when speaking of his crew, would sometimes refer to his best or most trusted subordinate as being his “best boy”.
Today, the second-ranking grip or gaffer, the one who is the first assistant, is often listed in credits as “best boy”.
The term “best boy” can refer to either a man or a woman. A “best girl”, by contrast, is a woman working on a pornographic film production who is responsible for making sure that male performers are in a state of arousal at the necessary times times. The term “fluffer” is also sometimes used.:eek:
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, Shirt Ninja, glad to have you with us.
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I’ve merged all of them into one thread.