Electricians maintain electrical lighting equipment on set and on location. They work under the instruction of the Gaffer and Best Boy to ensure all gear is safe, clean, and functional.
Videos on the Web
- Electrician Lighting Technician- from: Youtube Search
Working Life
The Electrician is responsible for looking after the electrical lighting equipment both on a film set and on location.
Role and Responsibilities
- They work under the instruction of the Gaffer (head of electrics department) and the Best Boy (his deputy), usually as part of a team, depending on the sise and scale of a production.
- They must keep the equipment clean, safe, and in good operational order.
- Depending on the sise of the production, lighting equipment or rigging is set up before filming begins.
Works with
- Gaffer
- Best Boy
- All of the Lighting Department
Qualities - Electrician Lighting Technician
Is this role right for me?
For this role, you need:
Strong knowledge of and familiarity with relevant equipment and how it operates, understanding of how to create the right lighting required by the production, and the ability to modify lighting between shots if necessary.
Strong awareness of and adherence to health and safety issues.
Ability to adapt on the job to help create the lighting envisaged for the project.
Great attention to detail, a creative eye, and good vision.
Good interpersonal and communication skills and teamwork.
Interests - Electrician Lighting Technician
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Entry / Progression - Electrician Lighting Technician
Education Route: You need to be a fully qualified Electrician in order to work on a production.
Career Path to Electrician: There is no usual career path to Electrician. Often, they will have worked their way through the lighting department. Working up through the electrical department is essential with lots of on-set experience on productions.
Career Path from Electrician: Best Boy Electric, Gaffer (Chief Lighting Technician), Director of Photography.
