Over Spring Break I spent a few days working as a gaffer on a student film. We shot on location in the Valley and in Malibu. My friend, Andy, was the DP, so on this production I was able to help him with the lighting and learn while watching him work. As you can see from the pictures, the film was shot on a RED camera, which was another reason I wanted to crew for this film.
Some of us loaded up the grip truck the night before the shoot, so we could get an early (6:45 AM) start the next day. During some downtime on location, we passed time with a game using the C-47s (what film crews called clothespins), where we’d try to clip them on someone without them noticing and then see how long it would take for that person to realize they’d been clipped.
Take a look at the pictures I took and you’ll see what goes on — and just how much people-power, materials and cooperation it takes to make even a student film — behind the scenes.
Nighttime loading the truck
Loading the truck
Loading the truck
Arriving on location in the AM
Unloading on location
Unpacking the equipment
Andy (DP) and Sean
Closeup of the RED camera
Andy & John setting up the RED camera
Kino4 Bank light
The proverbial “blank slate”
Readying the slate for “Seeing the Difference”
Lighting the first shot
First Scene
DP Andy
Adjusting the light
Blocking Scene 1
Checking the camera
Setting up the shot
Austin (director) … Directing
Ready to roll
1800watt HMI
RED LCD (live viewfinder)
Blocking Scene 2
Setting up the second shot
Preparing for Scene 2
Prepping crew for Scene 2
Business end of RED camera
My co-gaffer, Sean
Second location in Malibu
David with the boom
Boom Operator David
Shooting outside in Malibu
DP Andy with RED
Sony sound equipment
Andy with RED, sunny day
Andy shooting in Malibu
Ready to shoot
That’s one heavy camera!
Sound crew
Sound crew
Sound crew
Checking the light in Malibu
RED camera
Rushing to finish before we lose the light
Last shooting of the day
Almost done
Shooting the final scene
The last shot
Sundown = The End (today, anyway)
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