What does Best Boy Electric (BBE) mean?
Best Boy Electric (BBE) is the second-in-command of the electrical department on a film or television production, working directly under the Gaffer. The Best Boy Electric manages the day-to-day logistics of the electrical crew — scheduling crew members, tracking equipment, managing the department’s budget, and ensuring that the right lighting gear is available on set when needed. While the Gaffer focuses on the creative and technical lighting design, the Best Boy Electric handles the organizational and administrative side of the department.
Example:As the production moved to a new location, the Best Boy Electric coordinated the electrical crew’s schedule and ensured all lighting equipment was loaded, transported, and ready to rig before the camera crew arrived.
Example: The Gaffer worked with the Director of Photography to design the lighting for the hospital scene, while the Best Boy Electric tracked which equipment was rented versus owned and made sure everything was accounted for in the department’s daily log.
Did you know?
Despite the word ‘boy’ in the title, the role has no gender requirement and is held by people of all genders. The term ‘best boy’ dates back to early Hollywood, when department heads would request their ‘best boy’ — meaning their most skilled assistant — to come work on a production.
You can also find “Best Boy Electric (BBE)” and related terms in this category: Roles and Titles.
