Juicer
Industry slang for a set lighting technician who rigs, places, and strikes lighting fixtures under the best boy electric.
Juicer
noun | Production
A set lighting technician who physically places, rigs, powers, adjusts, and strikes lighting fixtures on a film, television, or commercial production. The juicer works under the best boy electric and the gaffer, executing the electrical department's lighting plan. The term is industry slang, derived from the work with electrical current ("juice"), and is heard on set and among crew far more often than the formal union classification "set lighting technician" or "electrical lighting technician."
Quick Reference
| Also Known As | Set lighting technician, lamp operator, electrical lighting technician, spark (UK) |
| Domain | Production |
| Also Used In | Camera & Optics (executes the DP's lighting plan through the gaffer) |
| Reports To | Best boy electric, who reports to the gaffer (chief lighting technician) |
| Manages | No direct reports; entry-to-mid-level crew role |
| Related Terms | Gaffer, Best Boy, Grip, Key Grip |
| See Also (Tools) | Lighting Power Calculator |
| Difficulty | Foundational |
The Explanation: How & Why
The gaffer designs the lighting plan with the director of photography. The best boy electric manages the crew, the truck, and the equipment orders. The juicer is the person who actually picks up the light, carries it to where it needs to be, sets it on a stand, runs power to it, angles it per the gaffer's instructions, and strikes it when the shoot wraps. Without juicers, the lighting plan exists only on paper.
The work is physical and technical in equal measure. A juicer on a union production routinely lifts fixtures weighing 50 to 125 pounds, runs hundreds of feet of 4/0 feeder cable, climbs condor cranes to heights of 120 feet or more, and works 12 to 14 hour days in conditions that range from soundstage comfort to freezing night exteriors. At the same time, the juicer must understand electrical power distribution: calculating amperage draw, balancing loads across phases, managing distro boxes and banded cable, and troubleshooting when a fixture trips a breaker or a ballast fails mid-take. The role demands both physical stamina and working knowledge of electrical theory, DMX control, and fixture operation across HMI, tungsten, and LED platforms.
The juicer is where most electrical department careers begin. The path up is well defined: lighting trainee or electric PA, then juicer (set lighting technician), then gang boss or special lighting technician, then best boy electric, then gaffer. Each step requires more experience, more union days, and a broader network. Joining IATSE Local 728 in Los Angeles requires 30 "permitted hire" days on signatory productions before a juicer can qualify for full membership and the steady work that comes with it.
Historical Context & Origin
The term "juicer" predates the formal union classification system. In the early decades of Hollywood production, electrical crew were called "juice" workers because their job centered on managing electrical current -- running power, connecting cables, and making sure the lights turned on. The slang stuck even as the role professionalised. The IATSE Local 728, chartered in 1939, formalised the position as "Studio Electrical Lighting Technician" (SELT) in its contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The union classification appears on call sheets and rate cards as "Electrical Lighting Technician" (occupation code 5451), but on set, the crew still says "juicer." The UK equivalent is "spark," used identically to describe a set lighting technician on British productions.
How It's Used in Practice
Scenario 1 -- Pre-Light (Juicer on Rigging Crew): Two days before the camera unit arrives, a rigging crew of 6 juicers installs the power infrastructure for a night exterior in a warehouse. They run 800 feet of 4/0 feeder cable from a 500-amp generator to a distro box, then branch out with 100-amp banded cable to 8 circuit boxes positioned around the set. Each juicer carries a tool belt weighing 12 to 15 pounds, containing a crescent wrench, linesman pliers, a multimeter, cable ties, and a walkie-talkie. The rigging day is 12 hours, mostly on their feet.
Scenario 2 -- Shooting Day (Juicer on Lighting Crew): At crew call, the juicer unloads the electric truck, assembling fixtures on stands per the gaffer's order. When the DP calls for a key light adjustment, the juicer repositions an ARRI M40 HMI 10 feet camera left, adjusts the flood-spot, and confirms the beam angle with the gaffer over walkie. Between setups, the juicer coils cable, labels circuits, and stands ready for the next adjustment. If a ballast trips during a take, the juicer resets it in under 30 seconds.
Scenario 3 -- Condor Work (Juicer in Aerial Lift): A night exterior requires a 12K HMI on a 120-foot condor crane to simulate moonlight. The juicer rides the condor basket to height, sets the fixture, runs the head cable to the ballast on the ground, and aims the beam per the gaffer's instructions via walkie. The juicer remains in the basket for up to 6 hours, making adjustments between setups. Condor work requires certification and a harness; falls from condors are one of the most serious hazards in set lighting.
Usage Examples in Sentences
"We need two more juicers tomorrow for the night exterior -- the rig is heavy."
"The juicer on the condor says the 12K ballast tripped. Get a replacement up there."
"I started as a juicer on non-union commercials, got my 30 days, and joined 728."
"Tell the juicers to strike the HMI and coil the feeder before lunch."
Common Confusions & Misuse
Juicer vs. Gaffer: The gaffer is the head of the electrical department who designs the lighting plan with the DP. The juicer is the technician who executes that plan physically. The gaffer makes creative decisions; the juicer implements them. On small non-union productions, one person may do both, but on any union show, the roles are distinct.
Juicer vs. Grip: A juicer works in the electrical department, handling lighting fixtures, cable, power, and generators. A grip works in the grip department, handling camera support (dollies, cranes, tracks), light-shaping tools (flags, nets, diffusion frames), and rigging hardware. Both departments work on set, but their equipment, skills, and union locals are separate. Juicers join IATSE Local 728; grips join IATSE Local 80 in Los Angeles.
Juicer vs. Best Boy: The best boy electric is the second-in-command who manages the juicers, the truck, and the equipment orders. The juicer reports to the best boy. The best boy supervises; the juicer executes. A juicer may aspire to become best boy after years of experience, but the roles are not interchangeable on any production with more than a few electricians.
"Juicer" as Slang vs. Formal Title: "Juicer" is on-set slang. It does not appear on union contracts, rate cards, or official crew lists. The formal classification is "Electrical Lighting Technician" (IATSE Local 728, occupation code 5451) or "Set Lighting Technician." Using "juicer" in a call sheet or production document marks the writer as unfamiliar with union terminology.
Variations by Context
| Context | How the Term Varies |
|---|---|
| Union (IATSE Local 728) | Formal title is "Electrical Lighting Technician" (code 5451). Minimum rate under the 2024-2027 Basic Agreement is approximately $54.78/hour as of August 2025 (after the 4% increase). Entry-level employees (code 5453) start at approximately $48.18/hour. Overtime is time-and-a-half after 8 hours, double time after 12. |
| Non-Union | The title "juicer" or "set lighting tech" is used informally. Rates are negotiated individually, typically 20 to 30% below union scale. Responsibilities may be broader, blending rigging, lighting, and sometimes grip work on small crews. |
| UK Productions | The equivalent role is called "spark." The UK does not use "juicer." The work is identical: rigging, placing, and striking lighting fixtures under the gaffer and best boy. |
| Commercials / Music Videos | Crew sizes are smaller (2 to 4 juicers vs. 10 to 20 on a feature). The juicer may handle rigging and lighting simultaneously, with less departmental separation. Turnaround between jobs is faster. |
Key People & Films
Gaffer David Sinfield (Wonder Woman, Thor: The Dark World) noted that his juicer crew stayed with him for 4 to 5 years across multiple productions, describing the electrical department as a team the gaffer brings from job to job. On large productions like Oppenheimer (2023), shot by DP Hoyte van Hoytema with gaffer John Le Blay, the electrical department included over 20 juicers and rigging electricians coordinated by the best boy electric. The IATSE Local 728 future member presentation profiles working juicers like Hwei Chen, a studio electrical lighting technician based at Universal Studios who works across features, episodic television, and commercials after training through Hollywood CPR's Entertainment Artists, Crafts, & Technicians Certificate program.
Equipment / Tools Reference
A juicer's daily toolkit includes a tool belt with a crescent wrench (usually 10-inch), linesman pliers, wire strippers, a multimeter for testing voltage and continuity, cable ties, and a walkie-talkie. Fixtures handled daily range from ARRI M40 and M18 HMI heads (80 to 120 pounds with ballast) to Aputure 600c LED panels and Creamsource Vortex 8 units. Power distribution gear includes 4/0 and 2/0 feeder cable, Lex Products distro boxes, banded cable, and 500-amp generators. For control, juicers work with City Theatrical DMX nodes, ETC consoles, and CRMX wireless dimming systems.
Standards & Specifications
The 2024-2027 IATSE Local 728 Basic Agreement sets the minimum wage rates and working conditions for juicers on union productions in Los Angeles. Under Wage Scale #1 (effective August 4, 2024), an Electrical Lighting Technician (code 5451) earns $52.67/hour, with a 4% increase applied August 2025 bringing the rate to approximately $54.78/hour, and a further 3.5% increase scheduled for August 2026 bringing it to approximately $56.70/hour. Entry-level employees (code 5453) start at $46.33/hour, rising to approximately $48.18/hour after the August 2025 increase. Minimum call is 8 hours; overtime is time-and-a-half after 8 hours and double time after 12. The IATSE Local 728 Studio Lighting Technician Job Description documents the physical requirements: lifting fixtures up to 125 pounds, working at heights up to 120 feet in condor cranes, and wearing tool belts weighing 12 to 15 pounds. Electrical safety is governed by the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), which sets the standards for temporary power distribution on set.
Common Questions / FAQ
Q: What does a juicer do on a film set?
A: A juicer physically places, rigs, powers, adjusts, and strikes lighting fixtures under the direction of the best boy electric and gaffer. The work includes running cable, setting up generators, balancing electrical loads, operating fixtures during takes, and wrapping equipment at the end of the day.
Q: How do you become a juicer?
A: The standard path is to start as a lighting trainee or electric PA on non-union productions, accumulate 30 "permitted hire" days on IATSE-signatory projects, and then apply for membership in IATSE Local 728. Training programs like Hollywood CPR's Entertainment Artists, Crafts, & Technicians Certificate provide entry-level education. Electrical knowledge and physical stamina are both required.
Q: What is the difference between a juicer and a spark?
A: Nothing in practice. "Juicer" is the slang term used in North America; "spark" is the equivalent slang in the UK. Both refer to a set lighting technician who works under the gaffer and best boy electric.
Q: How much does a juicer make?
A: Under the 2024-2027 IATSE Local 728 Basic Agreement, an Electrical Lighting Technician earns approximately $54.78/hour as of August 2025, or roughly $3,287/week based on a 60-hour week. Entry-level employees start at approximately $48.18/hour. Non-union rates are typically 20 to 30% lower.
Related Terms
- Gaffer -- The head of the electrical department who designs the lighting plan; the juicer executes it
- Best Boy -- The second-in-command who supervises the juicers and manages the electric truck
- Grip -- The parallel department; grips handle camera support and light shaping while juicers handle lighting fixtures and power
- Key Grip -- The head of the grip department; works alongside the gaffer but in a separate department
See Also / Tools
The Lighting Power Calculator helps juicers and best boys calculate total amperage draw across all fixtures, cable runs, and generator capacity for a given setup. For more on the electrical department and crew roles, see the Film Crew Roles Explained blog post.
