A question inquiring about the responsibilities or activities of a 'best boy', a term often used in film production to refer to a key grip or assistant grip.
In the world of filmmaking, there are many unusual job titles that may leave outsiders scratching their heads. One such title is the "Best Boy," a role that is far from being a child's assistant. Instead, it refers to a full-grown adult, usually male or female, who plays a crucial part in the production process.
The term "Best Boy" originated from the seafaring world, around the turn of the 20th century, where it referred to the captain's second-in-command. In the film industry, Best Boys serve as the right-hand persons of the gaffer (head electrician) and the key grip (leader of the grips or camera crew). There are usually two Best Boys on a film set, each responsible for supervising the crews of grips that work under their respective leaders.
Grip jobs, including that of a Best Boy, are union jobs, requiring membership and potentially having some job security issues until one's foot is firmly in the door. It takes at least a few years to build up enough experience as an electric or camera grip to be promoted to Best Boy.
Life as a Best Boy is not for the faint-hearted. They work long and unpredictable hours, often including 20-hour days and six-day workweeks. Their responsibilities are diverse, ranging from supervising the physical labor needed on a film shoot, such as building sets, setting up and adjusting cameras and lights, and running errands, to handling paperwork, verifying work hours, ordering equipment, and keeping in contact with the production office. They stay in constant communication with the gaffer and key grip to ensure that everything runs smoothly on set.
The annual salary for a Best Boy is estimated to be about $50,000 to $75,000, with big-budget films paying more. This estimation is based on various sources, including Roney and Forbes. However, it's important to note that the specific details about Best Boys can be hard to come by, as they are not often the focus of articles discussing the film industry.
Despite the challenges and long hours, the role of a Best Boy is an essential one in the film industry. Their hard work and dedication ensure that the vision of the director and cinematographer is brought to life on the big screen.
Sources: - Roney, A. (n.d.). Hollywood Hard Hats. Forbes. - (n.d.). What do Best Boys do? MediaMatch. - (n.d.). 11 Strange Movie Job Titles - Explained! Mental Floss. - (n.d.). How Becoming a Movie Director Works. - (n.d.). What does a film editor do? - (n.d.). How Steadicams Work. - (n.d.). Book "What I Really Want to Do On Set in Hollywood" by Brian Dzyak.
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