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Tips To Improve Your Communication With Your Gaffer

  • Maura Nicolaita
    • 422 posts
    July 8, 2022 3:37 AM PDT

    The name "gaffer" comes from the hooked metal pole that was used to adjust the stage lights back in the days, which was called "gaff". Today, the Gaffer, also known as "chief lighting technician", has a very important role on set because he is the one responsible for executing and sometimes even designing a production lighting plan. There is a close connection between the DoP and the Gaffer and the two must work together and their communication skills are important for the smooth running of a shoot.

    Talk to your Gaffer

    The Gaffer can help if you talk to him. You can talk with your Gaffer about the quality of a light that you want on your subject to send a specific emotion of the scene. Based on this information, the Gaffer can make a few helpful suggestions.

    Make the plan with your Gaffer

    You are not alone on set and you have experts that are willing to help you achieve the best results. The lighting plan can be produced by the DoP alone and executed by the Gaffer, but it would improve the outcome if the DoP would work together with his Gaffer during this process.

    You can ask your Gaffer: "If I wanted to do this, what do you think would be the best lighting for this?". Then, the Gaffer can come up with a few ideas and take care of the technicality. 

     

  • Anong Lawan
    • 81 posts
    July 8, 2022 3:40 AM PDT

    When you are just starting, you have to really do everything by yourself but when you are working with a professional crew, you have a lot of people you can count on. All you have to do is talk to them and allow them to help you.

  • Deleted Member
    July 9, 2022 2:54 PM PDT
    Anong Lawan said:

    When you are just starting, you have to really do everything by yourself but when you are working with a professional crew, you have a lot of people you can count on. All you have to do is talk to them and allow them to help you.

    Yes I agree with Anong Lawan! When you are just starting, you are kind of a one man show. But once you get yourself started and you work with a big team, the Gaffer can be the one who makes the difference between an extraordinary scene and a mediocre scene. Never underestimate the magic that a good Gaffer can make!