What Do You Use Gaffer’s Tape For?
Like duct tape there aren’t may applications this ingenuous product can’t handle. Gaffer’s tape has it’s own unique characteristics that make it the tape to use in theater and film productions. It’s a fact that there isn’t a play, film or TV show produced without the need for gaff tape.
In film production one person is responsible for the set lighting. That person is called the gaffer. The gaffer supervises a team who responsible for the lighting on a set. You may see in the credits of the film that it lists the gaffer. The gaffer may also be referred to as the Chief Lighting Technician or Lighting Director.
However, a person might ask where does the term “gaffer” came from? The title of Gaffer is British and is slang for “grandfather”. It’s meant to be a term of respect. In the film industries formative years stevedores were employed to move the extremely heavy lighting equipment. The most experienced and senior one was was called the “grandfather” or “Gaffer”. His most experienced assistant was called the “Best Boy”. Now when you view those movie credits now you will know about the “Gaffer” and his “Best Boy”.
Gaffer tape has quite a few excellent properties. It’s tears easily, but it won’t easily break by twisting and pulling. It adheres to most surfaces and won’t leave a sticky residue when pulled up. These factors make it the near perfect tape to use in stage and screen productions.
The most used color for gaffer tape is matte black for use on sets so that it does not call attention to the application it’s being used on. The tape does come in many colors and is used to color code cables, mark places on the set for the actors and to identify any hazards that may be present on the set.
If there is just one “must have” to be positive that all the pieces of a set come and stay together properly it’s gaffer tape. If it needs to be secured, made safe, marked and identified you must have the perfect tape to keep it that way. Gaffer tape – don’t go to the set without it.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.