In short: A best boy is the second in command of the electric or grip department. They handle kit hire, paperwork, crew logistics and much of the admin so the gaffer or key grip can focus on the light or the rig. On a small shoot one person often covers the best boy's tasks.
A best boy is the second in command of their department, and the person who keeps the paperwork, the hire and the logistics moving. The title is used in both the lighting department and the grip department. The electric best boy works under the gaffer. The grip best boy works under the key grip. This page covers the electric version and notes where the grip version differs.
What a best boy does on a shoot day
- Check the kit in and out. Compare what the hire company sent with the list for the day, count the lamps, stands and cable, and log anything damaged or missing.
- Keep the paperwork moving. Hire returns, timesheets for the lighting team and receipts for consumables all go through the best boy.
- Prepare the next set-up. Sort what the crew will need from the truck before the gaffer asks for it, so the change between shots is quick.
- Add kit or people when the day changes. When the plan shifts, the best boy arranges the extra hire and tells the gaffer what it costs.
- Liaise with the production office. The lighting team needs to know what is on the call sheet, and the production office needs to know what the lighting team is using.
- Strike and pack down. Take everything down, then check that every item has come back in the right place.
On a small job the best boy often does some of the spark's work too, from checking cable to replacing a dead lamp. That is normal, and it is part of learning the job.
In the grip department, the best boy handles the same kind of work for the grips, and also takes on risk assessments and contracts. ScreenSkills describes the grip best boy as the second in command, handling paperwork, equipment hire and communication between the production office and the grip department.
Who they work with
ScreenSkills says best boys handle logistics, paperwork and hiring, and often work freelance with the same gaffers. The best boy reports to the gaffer. Lighting trainees report to the best boy and the gaffer and work closely with the spark, so the best boy usually directs the trainees day to day. On the grip side, the best boy works with the key grip and the production office.
For the other lighting roles, see what a spark does and what a gaffer does.
Kit and skills
- Organisation. A clear paper trail, often kept in a spreadsheet, is the most useful skill on the job.
- Working knowledge of lighting kit. You need to know what each lamp and stand needs, and what the spark will ask for.
- Basic power understanding. Distribution, loads and generator limits are part of the planning, even when a qualified person does the connecting.
- Calm when a day changes. Plans move, and the best boy is usually the person who turns a change into a list.
- Hire judgement. Knowing what kit is worth hiring, and for how long, keeps costs down.
At the barn, house lighting on the 8-bar grid comes with every space hire, so there is less to hire in than on a location shoot. The grip kit in our studios includes C-stands, flags, bounce and apple boxes.
How to become a best boy
ScreenSkills describes the lighting team as a set of roles to work through rather than a fixed ladder. It lists the lighting trainee, lighting technician, console operator, practical lighting electrician, generator operator, best boy and then gaffer. The roles do not follow a set order, so people move up as opportunities come.
In practice, many best boys start as trainees or sparks who learned the kit lists on the job. ScreenSkills points to these routes:
- Trainee roles. Apply through ScreenSkills' Trainee Finder, which offers paid placements, or ask kit hire companies about trainee work.
- Apprenticeships. The Screen Lighting Technician apprenticeship standard is one route. Electrical apprenticeships and the creative venue technician standard also lead into lighting work.
- Qualifications. Level 3 vocational electrical qualifications help people move straight into work. A degree is not required.
- Experience. Work experience with a kit hire company builds contacts and an understanding of how hire works.
The union Bectu offers advice on terms and contacts to members. As with most crew jobs, the best boy slot usually comes through a gaffer who has seen you work.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A talking head, interview or podcast: usually not. One person who knows the lights can set them up.
- A multi-day studio shoot with changing lighting: a gaffer or spark can cover it. A best boy helps when the hire and paperwork start to pile up.
- A multi-camera shoot, a rain rig, haze or a location with generators: often yes, because the hire, distribution and risk paperwork take real time.
All electrical and rigging work needs a competent person to assess the actual job. This page is general guidance only.
Crew is booked on top of the room hire. The gaffer and lighting crew page describes the lighting crew we can supply.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Gaffer, film and TV drama job profile, read 5 November 2026
- ScreenSkills, Grip, film and TV drama job profile, read 5 November 2026
- ScreenSkills, Lighting trainee, film and TV drama job profile, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does a best boy do on a film set?
In the electric department, the best boy is the gaffer's second in command. They look after hire, paperwork, crew logistics and the day to day running of the lighting team. A grip best boy does the equivalent job in the grip department, including risk assessments and contracts.
Is a best boy the same as a gaffer?
No. The gaffer decides how the lights are used with the director of photography and leads the lighting team. The best boy supports the gaffer with organisation, paperwork and hiring. On a small job one person may do both.
Do you need a best boy on a small shoot?
Not usually for a talking head or a single-camera interview. A gaffer or spark can light a small set alone. A best boy becomes useful on a bigger job with more kit, several days, or a rig that needs hire paperwork and risk assessments.
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