Charlie Productions : Electric Department

The Electric Department are of course in charge of the electrics, which is a hugely important part of film-making, due to the amount of power necessary for all the lights needed. It's a common misconception that as digital cameras and filmstocks become more and more sensitive to light, the less lights you'll need... It's not really true, because, for instance, if you're shooting a scene during daytime and the sun keeps going in and out, well, you'll need to add some light when the sun's not there to make it all look the same as the stuff you've already shot. As much as we'd all like to be shooting only at Golden Hour each day using a perfectly worked out positioning for the sun's angle at that time of year, it's not really possible for most of us.

So we rely on huge lights. And huge amounts of electricity. And a department of folks who make that happen.

The Gaffer sounds like the boss, and he (they're mainly men) certainly is. A trained electrician, able to tap into the mains ring of a house if needs be so as not to short the fuses, the Gaffer also has a wealth of experience with light and the effect of light. I think that in the USA the Gaffer is much more responsible for the actual lights used, whereas over here in GB the DoP will usually specify which lights where - but that underestimates what the Gaffer brings with them in GB.

Because along with a laid-back air and a workmanlike charm, the Gaffer also guides the DoP through all the huge amount of choices possible in every shot - it's a collaboration, make no mistake, just one without the airs of "I am a creative!"

As one Gaffer said to us on a shoot we were helping out on - "Y'see, the thing about this game, and it is a game, it's that the rules are: they've got the money, and we've got to get it." They are matter-of-fact, get-the-job-done, get-paid-for-the-job, rather than getting all excited about working all the hours god sends for no money because they're expressing themselves. And yet they get to do that too.

The Sparks are the Gaffers' assistants, rather than the mistakes they make when wiring up something up incorrectly. There's a lot of hefting of lights involved with this job. They too are trained electricians.

The Genny Driver operates and drives the Generator. Because generally, when you've got huge HMI lights that are trying to replicate the sun or the moon, the generator is a huge truck, ready to be driven wherever it is needed that day in order to supply all the perfectly regulated power needed.

Charlie Productions believe passionately in doing things and always trying to stop in time for tea.

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