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A boom operator uses a boom microphone to capture live sound during movies or television sets. They require basic training and strength in the shoulders and arms. They must have experience in acoustics and knowledge of sound recording. Boom operators work with the sound mixer and must be able to judge the acoustics of any recording location. They often hold the boom microphone just above the camera frame and must twist the pole back and forth to skew microphone placement. Starting out as a boom operator requires little training and first jobs can be found easily by contacting film schools.
A boom operator is a sound crew member responsible for capturing live sound during movies or television sets. The title refers to a type of microphone held by the operator called a boom microphone. Working as a boom operator requires some basic training and also strength in the shoulders and arms as the microphone must be held for long periods of time.
One boom operator can serve as the microphone technician for an entire ensemble, responsible not only for the boom mic, but for the area and body mics as well. Because of this type of responsibility, it is important for a boom operator to have good experience in acoustics and knowledge of sound recording. Boom operators, often in conjunction with the sound mixer, must be able to quickly judge the acoustics of any recording location and set up a microphone system that captures as much sound as possible.
The microphones most often associated with a boom operator consist of a long pole with a detachable microphone head. There are several different types of boom microphones that can be used with the baton, but one of the most basic is called a shotgun microphone. These microphones are held outside the camera frame and often serve as the main microphone for capturing dialogue spoken by actors. Often the easiest place to hold a boom microphone is just above the camera frame, meaning the boom operator must hold the boom pole over his head for the entirety of the shot, never allowing the microphone to dip into the frame.
In addition to holding the boom microphone over the head, the operator must also sometimes twist the pole back and forth to skew microphone placement. If two or more actors are speaking in a scene, the operator may be constantly changing microphone placement to pick up each actor’s words. Arm and shoulder strength and endurance are a big part of being a boom operator, and proper posture is necessary to avoid arm, neck or back injuries.
Bar operators must be able to easily communicate with the sound mixer, which is usually nearby whenever sound is being recorded. The mixer usually listens in the headphones for the sound coming out of the microphone and can provide valuable information about the progress of the recording. Occasionally, an operator will also serve as the sound mixer and will be able to hear what the microphone is picking up directly through the headphones.
Starting out as a boom operator requires little training and first jobs can be found easily by contacting film schools. Very few film schools have a sound department; many student productions require outside sound technicians. While these jobs rarely pay, they often provide the necessary equipment, as well as teach valuable entry-level skills and allow professional relationships to form. Once skill improves, many boom operators work freelance, using a network of contacts to find work or applying for solid jobs in independent or low-budget sessions.
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