A(n on going) List of Set Positions

You've always seen it on the credits, but what exactly is a best boy grip (and other positions)?

(to be filled in later)

-- Director
The Director is the person who directs the efforts that go into making the film. From the scrip (sometimes), lighting, and performances. Depending on the project he or she can be highly or not at all involved in almost every aspect of the film making process.

-- Producer
There are many types of producers, but in this case we will concentrate on the one who does all the behind the scenes work. From creating a budget breakdown, bringing together talented people the director wants and needs, and taking care of all the myriad pre-production, shooting, and post issues that arise.

-- Director of Photography (DP)
The Director of Photography works with the director to come up with the "look" of the film. From camera angles, lens, lighting, and movement.

-- Key Grip
The Key grip along with the Gaffer works with the Director of Photography to execute the aesthetic design of the film. The Key grip is the head of the grip team and is also in charge of safety on set.

-- Best Boy Grip BBG
The Best Boy Grip is the Key Grip's right hand person. They are in charge of the inventory, repairs, ordering, and overall management of all the gripology as well as hiring and maintaing the crew needs for the day. They are also in charge of the paperwork and is the liaison to the producers for grip side.

-- Grips
The Grip team in the American lighting system is in charge of everything lighting that does not plug in. That could be reflectors, bounces, diffusions frames, and can also be rigging, flagging, adjusting color with gels the light units. They also work camera support with dolly, and safety.

-- Gaffer
The Gaffer along with the Key grip works with the DP to execute the aesthetic design of the film. The Gaffer is the head of the electric team.

-- Best Boy Electric
The Best Boy Electric is the Gaffer's right hand person. They are in charge of the inventory, repairs, ordering, and overall management of the lighting unit and peripheral equipment as well as hiring and maintaing the crew needs for the day. They are also in charge of the paperwork and is the liaison to the producers for electric side. The BBE is also generally in charge of the power set up from the generator to the individual units; balancing the amperage of each "leg" over hundreds and even thousands of feet of cable to make sure that each unit get the appropriate amount of power.

-- Electricians or Electricss
Electricians in the American Lighting System are in charge of all the units (and their appropriate power), to "light" the set as well as any lighting effects that involve electronic units.

An anecdote to explain the difference between the two teams is that the electrics put up the lights, and the grips put up the shadows.

-- Scripty is shorthand for the Script Supervisor. They are in charge of the continuity, and making sure that the lines are correct (or that what is important in the lines are covered).

If anyone reading this works in a particular area on set and would like to submit a definition of their department or perhaps a more accurate definition than what is already listed, please post in the comments or e-mail us.