Grips, Gaffers, Gofers and Other Exotic People of Production

You can be sure Akira Kurosawa didn't tape down cables on the set of Ran. Alfred Hitchcock most likely achieved that Suspicion cobweb shadow effect without personally moving a light. And Frank Capra sure wasn't up there shaking snow down onto the set of Bedford Falls for It's a Wonderful Life.

Feature film directors just don't do those sorts of things.

But if you're an independent videomaker, chances are you're a one-person shop. You do it all: producer, director, camera operator, purchasing agent, casting director, marketing executive, coffee maker.

The movies you see on the silver screen involve these people and quite a few more. Depending on the complexity and scope of the production, crews may number in the hundreds.

What do all these people do? Some of the jobs are obvious by their titles. It isn't too difficult to figure out what "hair stylist" does. But what about focus puller? Best boy? Continuity director? Gaffer? Does the latter entail poking sharp objects into the heads of fish?

Just who are these people, and what do they do?

Mission Control

Completing a video program, whether a full-length movie or a television broadcast, requires similar processes.

In the beginning there's script preparation, approval, and writing. Then come the chores of pre-production: storyboarding, set building, casting, casting about for locations.

Next comes principal photography: filming the action. Then to post-production to edit and add music, sound effects, and graphics.

Let's examine what people do in television production. Live television, your local newscast, a football game broadcast, or an awards or variety program imply coverage of real-time events with multiple cameras.Job titles may be the same as those on a movie set, but the responsibilities can be considerably different.