While the gaffer and key grips work closely with the Director of DOP, the best boys take care of everything topside to ensure a seamless production. In Thailand on film set the Best Boy light is the first assistant to the lighting department and fills a number of roles on the film set. The best boy generally keeps the day-to-day operation of the electrical or grip departments running smoothly.

Common best boy in Thailand responsibilities include:

• Managing the local lighting crew and equipment trucks
• Managing grip crew members
• Delegating the workload to other crew members
• Creating work schedules for thai lighting and grip department
• Identifying the needs of the crew in relation to the production
• Communicating with the proper parties to solve problems

What Is a Best Boy

Best boys in Thailand same like on a film set in other countries, knows where all the gear is at all times and what is or is not available for use. Tracking inventory, like the lighting equipment, rigging equipment, and the trucks that transport the equipment. Checking equipment quality and noting if any gear is broken or damaged, and replacing it with working materials. Best boys are the second pair of eyes and hands to Gaffer or Key Light are necessary for any crew.
A best boy is a crewmember who serves as the chief assistant to either a gaffer or key grip. When the best boy works with the gaffer (the head electrician and chief lighting technician), they are the best boy electric. When they’re second to a key grip (head of the grip crew), they are the best boy grip. Best boy is considered a gender-neutral job title—women in the position are usually not called “best girls.”

Best Boy Lighting in Thailand charge to production 3.000 thai baht daily for 12hours + 500baht overtime hourly. In average Best Boy in Thailand makes about $20,000 per year. Early in career, working in lighting department as lighting assistant you may make minimum wage, which is about 1500baht per day for a 12-hour workday in Bangkok. By mid-career, he could earn twice that daily rate. Here are the full Thailand Film Crew Rates, will be userfull for planning a budget for video production in Thailand.

So, if you want to work as a Lighting Best Boy in Thailand, formal education is optional. Although you can benefit from film production or visual media courses, you can learn many of the technical aspects of the job at work on set. Best boys generally start out as company grips or lighting assistants in local rental companies. Its important to fit easily into a best-boy role if you’re organized and eager to work closely with others. As a best boy, you should also know when to manage others and when to follow instructions.

Early in career, Best Boy should be available to accept jobs at a moment’s notice and be prepared to go without work for several months. In addition, you may need to travel for work around all Thailand, depending on the kinds of video productions that hire you as lighting best boy. Client need Best Boy for filming in Bangkok? Or does production filming in Phuket and require local lighting team with Aputure Lighting on set? Or video production in Chiang Mai call freelance best boy for a week shot in studio with one ARRI SkyPanel? When you work as a best boy, you can expect to work long days.