A Gaffer is the head electrician, responsible for the execution of the lighting plan for a production. The term gaffer originally related to the moving of overhead equipment to control lighting levels using a gaff. The term gaffer has been used in films since at least 1936. The Gaffer is responsible for managing lighting, overseeing a crew of other electricians, moving and setting up lighting instruments and electrical equipment. The Gaffer works closely with the Director of Photography (DP) and implements their directions as to what the lighting will be for each scene in the film. The Director of Photography(DP) is responsible for the overall lighting design for the film, but delegates the implementation of the design to the Gaffer and the Key Grip. In this course you will learn about the different types of lighting instruments used in film work, as well as the terminology most commonly used by the Gaffer and electricians on a film set. You will also learn the art of thinking outside-the-box in order to overcome lighting challenges, which often occur during the filmmaking process.
*Prerequisite – The Art of Filmmaking 101, Lighting