The Best Boy Grip implements the creative decisions of the Key Grip with the rest of the grip department crew. The Best Boy Electric implements the decisions of the Gaffer with the rest of electric department crew.

What’s important to keep in mind regarding both positions is that they serve as the second-in-command within their respective departments and work closely with the most senior person – either the Key Grip or Gaffer – in each one.

The Key Grip is responsible for the creative side of shaping light, so when on set, they work closely with the Director of Photography and the rest of the camera department.

The Best Boy Grip works in the grip department directly under the Key Grip and manages the other Grips. It is an on-set job where the Best Boy Grip interacts closely with the electric department and the camera department.

A wonderfully concise and clear breakdown of the differences between the Best Boy position within the gaffer and grip departments.

The Gaffer is the Chief Lighting Technician on a set and is responsible for the entire electrical and lighting needs of a production.

In the same way, the Best Boy Electric works in the electric department directly under the Gaffer and managers the other Film Electricians. It is also an on-set job where the Best Boy Electric interacts closely with the grip department and the camera department.

Yohan Herman is a veteran Best Boy Grip and Key Grip who has worked on feature films, television shows, music videos, and commercials. Some of his projects include Uncensored, Debt Collectors, and Blackmark.

Herman states, “The Best Boy Grip needs to anticipate what the Key Grip is going to ask to use. On large crews, a good Best Boy Grip will run the company Grips and delegate the workload, essentially, divide the labor so everyone is working on specific jobs and the Key Grip can focus. Some tasks require experience, others are good for teaching more inexperienced Grips.”

The Best Boy Grip must know the strengths and weaknesses of the entire grip department. That way they can address what the Key Grip needs to be done as efficiently as possible while developing the crew.

Similarly, the Best Boy Electric must familiarize themselves with each person within the electric department to better understand how each Electrician can best serve the production.

Regarding equipment, the Best Boy Grip and Best Boy Electric must both know where and what is available to use for rigging or electrical purposes at all times, respectively.

If an item is needed, the Best Boy Grip or Best Boy Electric should know if it’s on the truck or being used on another set up. It can be very easy to lose gear during a production, which is why being organized is necessary as a Best Boy.

The Best Boy will also put in equipment orders and take note if anything is broken. Coordinating equipment, people, and paperwork can easily make this one of the most demanding jobs on set.

It’s important to note as well that given the respective departments in which the Best Boy may work, safety is a top priority in each. Safety in making sure both that the equipment – whether rigging or electrical – is handled in a responsible manner and that everyone who is part of each department remains unharmed during a production.

The average annual salaries for both a Best Boy Grip and Best Boy Electric are fairly similar. For both, it’s approximately $50,000 to $100,000 in a given year.

Why the broad range? It’s because what a Best Boy makes can vary depending on a number of factors. Among the most influencing factors is union status. Both Best Boy Electric and Best Boy Grip positions are eligible to join IATSE, the union that protects the professional livelihoods of thousands of film and television workers.

A deeper dive into the responsibilities of the Best Boy.

Should a Best Boy enter the union, they automatically are afforded certain payment minimums according to project, workday hours, and other factors.

But even if a Best Boy is in the union, their salary will also be affected by frequency of work.

If they are hired onto only a single project in a given year, they likely will be earning less in those 12 months versus working on multiple productions. However, that is also variable according to what the project is. If it’s a single studio-backed feature film, that will likely pay more than several ultra-low-budget indie movies.

And if a Best Boy is not part of a union, they probably will be making less per project as well. For those just starting their careers, they may also take on lower paying projects or projects for no pay at all to gain experience and connections.

Herman explains how he got his start. “I volunteered at a sound stage and that’s how I met a few people. I was able to be around sets and around the industry. It cost me money to drive down to where it was, but that’s how I learned. People there were willing to teach me. I considered that an investment. So, expect to start out rough.”

He adds, “It helped a lot to save money for expenses so I could afford to take low wage and no pay jobs. It took me about eight months to get enough work to pay my bills. Each year, assuming you do a good job and don’t burn bridges, the natural progression will be to get entrusted with bigger budgets, which means more money.”

“In my second or third year, I made $200 to $300 per day. And now in my fourth and fifth year, the day rates are around $400. But it varies. Music videos pay around the $300 to $350 range, while commercials are higher, like $450 to $550. A lot of indie features can’t pay very much. I still do those, which are around $200 per day,” Herman notes.

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In the past, set workers were predominantly male, hence why the department heads would ask for the “best boy” available for certain tasks. Today, the role is much more defined and open to all genders.

The daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules of a Best Boy Electric and Best Boy Grip are unconventional ones.

As the salary ranges for both positions may indicate, work is nearly never constant or the similar in terms of workday and overall project duration. To be candid, an aspiring Best Boy must be prepared for the ebb and flow of extended periods of no work, as well intensely busy periods of on-set work. This inconsistent schedule may continue throughout your career should you pursue the profession of a Best Boy Electric or Best Boy Grip.

Grips and Gaffers are different positions, but they both have Best Boys. This video clears up any lingering confusion.

Herman advises, “It’s beneficial to take every opportunity because it maximizes a person’s experience and their professional network. Having a larger network will give them more control over their lives in the future.”

While having some level of acceptance of this lifestyle is critical for anyone who wants to have a long-lasting career as a Best Boy, with time and experience will come a better appreciation of how to manage such a hectic schedule.

That means using periods of downtime to network and perhaps improve certain skillsets, as well as financially preparing for lulls in income. That being said, it will be a constant juggle to strike a work-life balance no matter how far along in your career you may be.

It also cannot be overstated how important it is to develop and maintain professional relationships throughout one’s career as a Best Boy Grip or Best Boy Electric. Those relationships can turn into referrals for future jobs and opportunities to learn from others more senior in the position.

The road to becoming a Best Boy can go in many directions, but in most cases, it begins with working on small projects that pay either very little or nothing at all. Those projects are typically student films, short films, and other productions that generally come with minimal budgets.

Herman advises, “I never recommend working for free, but it’s sort of built into the industry. If an opportunity is paid or not, they are all valuable, regardless if it’s a poorly run set. Entry-level positions on passion projects and student films are inherently going to have challenges.”

“There’s not a lot of money, which can cause logistical problems, and a lot of inexperienced people, who make mistakes and are learning, too. It’s necessary to go through these trials and gain practical experience. You yourself won’t be very experienced when you start,” he states.

Working your way up to becoming the Best Boy? Be sure to heed these tips.

Most people start out at the bottom in the grip department or electric department as a company Grip or Electrician. If they’re good at their job, they likely will be offered bigger projects. After some time, they might get asked to be the Best Boy Grip or Best Boy Electric on student films, which will be a step down in size of project, but a step up in responsibility.

The step ladder of responsibility versus budget continues as a person’s career develops.

Herman notes, “I Key Grip most of the time, but I will also Best Boy Grip for other Key Grips and vice versa. On each set, the roles are clearly defined, but when it becomes a career, that isn’t always the case.”

To learn more about being a Best Boy Grip or Best Boy Electric, utilize these career tips:

• Contact as many individuals as possible in the respective roles of Grip or Electrician to learn about their jobs. Buy them coffee and ask for their professional insights.
• Be honest about skill sets and don’t oversell when applying for a job.
• Be teachable. People are willing to take someone under their wing, but not if that person has an unfounded sense of arrogance.
• Move to a city where lots of film production takes place.

Herman advocates for taking on pro bono work simply because becoming a Best Boy who regularly gets hired is highly dependent upon gaining the experience that will make people want to work with you. It also helps when you understand the chain of command and can efficiently take orders from others.

He states, “The number one priority for me when hiring someone is figuring out if they are teachable and understand the chain of command. It can be terrible to have someone who questions everything their boss does. There will be space for trust to be built, so opinions can be stated, but people should be focused on their job.” If people are constantly making suggestions, it can very easily become a power struggle.

Get a firsthand perspective of the role of the Best Boy Electric from Miguel Sanchez.

When it comes to practical skills, an understanding of physics and a mechanical aptitude is crucial. It’s also important to have a good physical work ethic because working in the grip or electric department is a physically demanding job. There is a lot of mental endurance required for a 12-hour day of hard labor. A person should take care of their body, even between jobs, by eating healthy and staying fit.

Herman mentions that the most important quality a Best Boy needs to have for success is the aptitude to learn how to communicate and manage people. This will allow them to make their respective departments run smoother and the life of the Key Grip or Gaffer easier.

He adds, “The other thing, whether natural or learned, is an attention to detail. They need to have a tendency toward organization. There may be hundreds of pieces of equipment. All which cost money, all of which reflect poorly on the department if lost or broken.”

Someone who has a natural inclination to keep detailed records, can manage people, and has a strong work ethic will be an ideal candidate for a Best Boy.

There is no single path to becoming a Best Boy Electric or Best Boy Grip. Herman notes that while a college education isn’t requisite to becoming a Best Boy in either the grip or electric department, it can help.

He adds, “The most usable courses would be in visual media, as well as in math and physics. The classes don’t need to be too high of a level, nothing beyond calculus or physics, but a fundamental understanding will help a person in rigging. A lot of the concepts like objects, masses, ratios, and fulcrums are used every day by Grips.”

And for a future Best Boy Electric? An understanding of both electricity and lighting is key. Given that some Best Boy Electrics and Gaffers go on to become Cinematographers, going to school to learn cinematography can be incredibly useful for those interested in becoming a Best Boy Electric one day.

The difference between a good Best Boy and a great Best Boy is a great Best Boy also knows the reasoning, not just the method. The visual media side is important because sometimes the Best Boy will be asked to fill in for the Key Grip or Gaffer.

Though perhaps not on the level of other higher profile positions like Director, Producer, or Screenwriter, resources are out there for aspiring Best Boys.

IATSE typically offers events and learning opportunities only to its members, but it never hurts to occasionally check out its website for information.

Those looking for help may be better served by exploring online forums and groups often found via social media. Facebook groups in particular may offer community and connections, though the prerequisites for being accepted into them may vary.

Aspiring Best Boys should also look into books that explore this side of filmmaking. In particular, Eric Taub’s Gaffers, Grips and Best Boys: From Producer-Director to Gaffer and Computer Special Effects Creator, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Who Does What in the Making of a Motion Picture is a comprehensive resource for those in this specialty.

As with virtually every other aspect of the industry, though, most of the job of a Best Boy is learned through practical experience. So the best thing you can do to further your career is to get on set!