I am the best, but there are two of me on every crew. I stand by my leader, second-in-command, to execute his directives. I keep things running on the set each day, including making sure we have the right people and the right number of people and the right equipment and right amount of equipment to get the job(s) done. If I wasn’t there, it would probably be a pretty dark set and the camera wouldn’t get anywhere either.

I am the best boy (grip) and the best boy (electrician).

Photos by: JannieT and Michael_McDonough.

I am the one wearing headphones and frowning. I have the power to pause the action for a plane flying in the distance, or a jackhammer being used by a construction crew three streets over. These are sounds that no one else can hear but me– until they hear them on the soundtrack behind the actors dialogue. That’s when I really get an earful.

I am a film or TV production sound mixer.

Photos by: JannieT and Michael_McDonough.

I run the show, when the show is a movie set. I manage the budget and hire the key creative people and, during the shoot, marshall the forces, make sure the right people and equipment are in the right place at the right time and that director is able to get his days’ shot list done. 

If the director doesn’t get his day done or the star actor won’t come out of his trailer, I am the one who has to call and break the news to the studio. I never want to have to make that call.

They are the line producer.

Photos by: JannieT and Michael_McDonough.