The Boom Operator Finding Struggle - George (My Saviour) Appreciation Post
A sound recordist is nothing without their boom operator and mine was a joy and pleasure to work with.
Finding crew for my departments on both films this year proved to be quite the nightmare. For my boom operator, I left it a little bit later than I should have, beginning the proper search in late January, rather than securing someone before Christmas. I was not in the same position as Katie, in the other department as our DOP who had already secured everyone on the test shoot in November from her 2nd AC to her gaffer, another woman applying excellent organisation to the project so that it could thrive. Shout out to the camera team they were a well-oiled machine and a very iconic combo and without them, the film would not be what it is now. However, this post is actually not about them, I degrees. Back to finding my boom op. Everyone in our year in the sound department was busy, and so was everyone in the year below and the year below that. I even asked Zoe to send out a call to sound design students in all 4 years on the Undergraduate Sound Design course at Napier. One person had even been in touch but then did not get back to me.
At this point it was a couple of days before the shoot and I readily accepted that I would have to boom op for myself. And then I thought of someone who I had not asked yet who would be perfect for the project. George is a family friend whom I have known pretty much all my life, we went to school together (in different years) and we celebrate Christmas together with both of our families and one other family. Our parents are close friends and George is a childhood friend of my older brother. It's safe to say we know each other pretty well. Geroge is now studying Sound for Film at Edinburgh College and has applied to the Napier Masters Programme for next year. Anyway, I had not messaged him because I thought he would be so busy with his own deadlines at this time. But I messaged him on the off chance that he would be available and I was so lucky. The day before we picked up the equipment and set off to Saint Catherines he was a confirmed member of the crew.
Here are some photos of him in his element (I took so many that they couldn't all make it into this post):
George was always so attentive and helpful and always knew what was needed. He was a steady boom op and helped me record sound. I feel we bounced off each other so well and quickly built up a power duo combo. I think we both learned things from each other and we had a great time. It was nice to get to know him more than as a family friend but also as a colleague, companion and now my own friend too. I look forward to working with him again in the future and I can't wait to see all the incredible things that this man will do! Watch that space I'm telling you!