← Glossary · Crew - Lighting

Gaffer

aka Chief Lighting Technician

The head of the lighting department, who executes the DP's lighting plan and runs the electrical crew on set.

The gaffer is the chief lighting technician: the head of the electrical department who turns the cinematographer's lighting design into reality on the floor. They choose the fixtures, place them, manage the power distribution and lead the electricians, with the best boy electric as their second running the truck, the orders and the crew roster. On a budget the gaffer's plan drives a real share of the rental and the day rate, so they sit close to the DP and the line producer. A good gaffer reads the storyboards and the shot list ahead of the day and pre-rigs, so the camera is not waiting on lamps. List them on the crew roster and the call sheet with the rest of the department's staggered calls.