WHAT YOU DO: A best boy, also known as Assistant Chief Lighting Technicians, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the lighting or grip department on a TV or film set. A best boy's many responsibilities include the hiring, scheduling, and management of crew; the ordering, inventory, and returning of equipment; overseeing workplace safety and maintaining discipline; completing timecards and other paperwork; stocking expendables; loading and unloading production trucks; and planning and implementing lighting or rigging of locations and/or sound stages.
EDUCATION: Electrical training; plus familiarity with math, lighting instruments, and film and TV production. Courses in art, photography, and electrical engineering can be helpful.
USEFUL SKILLS: Leadership skills, communication skills, physical fitness, knowledge of a hundred different lights.
HOW TO GET IN: Become an apprentice or intern in the Electric/Lighting Department.
CAREER PATH: Become an apprentice to get some experience as an electrician, and then move up to best boy. The next step is to become a gaffer, the head of the electrical department.
PAYBACK: Median annual salary: $41,630.
DOWNSIDES: Long hours, physically demanding.
FUTURE OF JOB: The number of jobs is expected to grow 10-19% during the 2013-23 decade, which is average.
NETWORKING: The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees offers an apprenticeship and journeyman program:
www.iatse-intl....
The Professional Lighting And Sound Association also offers resources:
www.plasa.org/
Video produced by students at LAHSA (Los Angeles High School of the Arts) working with Gigniks' career media program.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit us at: www.Gigniks.org