1 The Director of Photography – an overview

The camera crew 33
them to fix a camera to almost any object. A good and experienced
grip’s van is an Aladdin’s cave.
The gaffer
The gaffer is the chief electrician and works directly for the DP. Some
DPs will set their own flags and barn doors and some won’t – it just
depends on how they like to work together.Very often, the DP will be
closer to his gaffer than any other member of the crew. They are vital
to his success.
It is said that one very well known and much respected American
DP, when asked by a student what was the single most important thing
they could do to improve their photography, replied ‘hire the best
gaffer you can afford, even if you have to give them part of your fee’.
I must say I agree with that advice.
The best boy is simply the gaffer’s best boy. On a large crew, the
gaffer will plot the cable runs and how to fix and support the lamps –
it’s the best boy’s job to organize the lighting crew and actually move
and fix the lamps. On most small units, say three sparks in total, the
gaffer acts as his own best boy.
My gaffer and I do most of the tweaking between us, unless it is a big
set where I leave it entirely to my gaffer and his best boy. My regular
gaffer is so good and understands lighting so well that I will often ask
him to light simple set-ups without me there and without a plot. I just
have to give him an idea of how I want the artists to look and the
mood of the scene, perhaps adding where a main key light should be.
On larger set-ups, I give him a floor plan of the set with all the main
lamps marked on it; this is then known as the lighting plot, and often
he will have to go off with this and put in a very big pre-light without
me, as I need to stay with the principal artists.
Crew protocol
On any film set, the camera crew always arrive at least half an hour
before the call on the call sheet.The camera will be built and ready on
the tripod or dolly before the call time and will be positioned roughly
where the first shot of the day is expected. Breakfast is usually taken
after the camera is prepared. It will not be taken after the call; if you
arrive too late for breakfast, tough, the camera comes first. It is your
responsibility to be on time. More technicians lose work through bad
timekeeping than anything else, so don’t be late – be half an hour early
and get into the habit.
On a feature film, it is traditional for all the other technicians to call
the DP and the director ‘Sir’; the DP very often calls the director ‘Sir’ as
well, perhaps because in the first few days he can’t remember their
name and the habit just sticks. You may not approve but you may also
get fired if you don’t. If ‘Sir’ has become your habit, then working with
lady directors or DPs can cause embarrassment; wait and see what they
seem to prefer. I know one lady director who likes to be called ‘Skipper’,
but I wouldn’t try that unless you are very, very sure she will like it.
If you show respect to others you are likely to receive it in return –
film sets are not unlike the rest of life.