Two actors talk across a kitchen table, and the camera moves between them. Above their heads, just out of the frame, a microphone on a long pole turns towards whoever is speaking. It never dips into the shot and never throws a shadow on a face. The boom operator is the person holding that pole.
What a boom operator does
The boom operator works for the production sound mixer and is the sound department's person on the floor. They mostly work during the shoot. Before each take they read the scene, learn who speaks when, and agree with the camera operator where the edge of the frame is.
During the take they keep the microphone as close to the actors as the frame allows, moving it to each speaker in turn. They also watch for shadows from the lamps, and work with the gaffer to find a position the light does not catch. Often they fit the small radio microphones on the actors too, which takes tact and care.
Responsibilities
- Read the scene and learn the dialogue and the actors' moves
- Position the boom microphone as close as possible without entering the frame
- Avoid shadows and reflections caused by the boom
- Place radio microphones on actors and hide them under costumes
- Tell the mixer about noises on set during the take
- Look after microphones, cables and batteries
- Help set up and wrap the sound kit
How the role touches the budget
Almost not at all. The boom operator is paid a day or weekly rate with overtime on timesheets. On scenes with many speaking actors a second boom operator may be hired for a day, which is a small extra line.
How people get into the role
Many start as sound trainee or sound assistant, sometimes after an audio course or work in theatre, radio or events. Booming is a physical skill and is learnt on set, often on short films first. The usual next step is production sound mixer.
On smaller productions
On many documentaries and small shoots, the sound recordist holds the boom and mixes at the same time, so there is no separate boom operator. On large films there may be a second boom operator and a sound assistant who handles cables and radio microphones.