The Gaffer - The Complete Series [DVD]

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Indeed, citing one example of where her own personal experience as a dancer came to the fore, Nicole remembers a dilemma ahead of Eilish’s February 2022 concert at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena. “Billie’s toaster had a power issue,” states Nicole. “It’s the mechanism that allows her to pop-up onto the stage at the start of the show, and we all worked hard to try to fix it, but I finally knew it was time to go and tell her. But before I did that, I went out with the carpenter; we looked at putting a set of stairs in place and a bunch of different things so that I had three options for her to make her entrance.

Gaffers work closely with the director of photography (DoP) to bring to life the overall look of a film by creating and controlling light.What impressed me the most was their honesty and sense of humour, which shine through the film. Many managers in professional football are painfully media-trained and like to play cliché bingo, but I purposely wanted to feature gaffers who trusted I was making the documentary for the right reasons and this unfiltered insight is what I'm most proud of. As the production manager for Billie Eilish, Nicole Massey has become one of the most high-profile roadies in the world, thanks in no small part to presenting the young star to an audience of millions at The Grammys this year.

Indeed, despite the North American dates requiring crew to wear full PPE to mitigate against Covid-19, Nicole’s strategy for that leg set the benchmark for the entire tour, with zero dates being lost to the virus. All three series of The Gaffer have been released on DVD by Network, A 3-disc set of the complete series has also been released. With the spectre of Covid requiring the services of EMT (emergency medical technician) Gordon Oldham, trying to keep crew healthy was a fulltime task. “I’m not gonna lie; I don’t think I ever want to do a tour without some kind of medical person on tour, now,” says Nicole. “Gordon did a great job and proved invaluable for all kinds of things outside of the Covid situation.While Nicole admits she has worked on more fraught tours, the production on Happier Than Ever, The World Tour is a complex affair. Fred Moffatt, 'The Gaffer', is the director of a recession-hit, light-engineering company and is always teetering on the edge of disaster. He is a friendly man who is constantly trying to keep his head above water and extracting money from his clients. His efforts to control his workforce are thwarted by his shop steward, Harry, who is well versed in downing tools and asking for pay rises. Whilst his secretary, Betty, is the buffer between the warring factions and wise to all their games.

When the OTR2 tour, with Beyoncé and Jay Z came in, Carmen Rodriguez was already in place as coordinator. However, there was an opening for someone to go in advance to deal with steel crews and make sure production needs were all ready for us coming in hot. Nicole took on this challenge and did an amazing job. As one of the most popular characters on the global tour circuit, it’s somewhat astonishing that Nicole’s work with Billie Eilish marks her debut as a production manager. Indeed, if she had not been vocal about her ambitions to become the boss, it’s conceivable she might still be waiting in the wings. Some of the other rather spiffing shows available now and always if you signup free @ www.TheBox.bz: The primary responsibilities of a gaffer include figuring out the proper light placement; selecting and managing the electrical equipment and lighting instruments for each shot, including colored gels and filters; running cables; setting up generators; overseeing a team of lighting technicians; and maintaining safety. The work doesn’t stop there, either. A gaffer also monitors the lighting conditions during the shoot to ensure the set’s ambiance is up to snuff. Although it is undeniably a sitcom, 'The Gaffer' has a kernel of truth which is worth remembering while you laugh.Determined to keep touring, Nicole would offer artists her dancing prowess while taking on additional roles behind the scenes. “I was a professional dancer until about the age of 28 or 29,” she notes. “But even when I was on tour, I’d take jobs where I was dancing and doing wardrobe.” Unsurprisingly, remaining in the camp for whom she described at The Grammys as “The best 20-year-old boss in the world,” would be top choice for Nicole, who concludes, “When it comes to work, I trust my gut and am hopeful that it means we’ll get to continue working with Billie.” Breaking such news to the artist may be daunting, but Nicole’s bond with Billie is strong. “She’s an amazing artist,” states Nicole. “The thing that makes Billie so special is she doesn’t need the bells and whistles. So as the tour progressed and that muscle memory, night after night, developed, it was so good to just see her so happy and having so much fun out there.” Through revealing interviews and unrivalled access, The Gaffer reveals that there is more that unifies non-league managers than divides them. Hamfast is portrayed by Norman Forsey in The Fellowship of the Ring film, appearing briefly in the Green Dragon inn early in the film.