Film crew hire/Oxford/Gaffer
Hire a gaffer in Oxford. A gaffer plans the lighting with the DOP and runs the crew that rigs it.
People book a gaffer in Oxford for college halls, labs at the Science Park and Harwell, and shoots on the street. The gaffer turns the DOP’s lighting plan into lamps, stands, cable and power, gets the van to the door, and runs the sparks who rig it. Our gaffer day rate is £550, and the gaffer gets all of it. The van and kit go on the quote as their own line.
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Photos: Here Now Films, Jametlene Reskp, Eli Cooper, Jonah De Oliveira and Tim Wildsmith
The role
What a gaffer does on your shoot
The gaffer is the head of the lighting department. They work out with the DOP how each set-up will be lit, choose the lamps, plan the power, and run the sparks who rig and focus the lights. On a location they find the power, or bring a generator, and make sure nothing trips, overheats or falls over.
We book a gaffer who lives in or near Oxford first. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. In practice, lighting crew for Oxford shoots usually come from London, with the van. Many gaffers own a van of LEDs, stands, flags and cable, so one booking covers the person and the kit.
- The gaffer lights the plan. The DOP describes the look, and the gaffer chooses and places the lamps that make it.
- The gaffer plans the power. At the recce they work out whether the shoot runs on house power, distribution, batteries or a generator.
- The next set-up is ready quickly. The crew pre-rig it while the current one shoots.
- Every rig is safe. Stands are weighted, cables are run and taped, lamps above people are secured, and the PAT certificates are to hand.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
In the day rate
- An 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch
- Planning the lighting with the DOP
- Rigging, focusing and adjusting every lamp
- Finding the power, distributing it and keeping it safe
- Running the sparks, if you book them
- Striking the lights and leaving the location as found
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- The van and kit, at a day rate, on its own line
- Batteries, a generator, a cherry picker or extra power, if the location needs them
- Travel from London or outside Oxford, mileage, parking and any Zero Emission Zone charge for the van, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Oxford.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book a gaffer for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example day with a gaffer
Interviews and B-roll in a lab office at the Oxford Science Park, with windows on two sides and the van parked outside. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- 07:00 Van in The gaffer’s van has come from London. The Science Park is outside the city centre, so the van doesn’t drive into the Zero Emission Zone and there’s no daily charge. The kit goes up in the lift.
- 07:30 Power The gaffer checks the floor’s circuits with the building manager and plans the cable runs so nothing crosses a fire door.
- 08:00 The plan The gaffer walks the room with the DOP. The window becomes the key light, with a soft fill and ND on the glass so the view outside holds.
- 09:00 Rigged and focused The lamps are up, the flags are set, and reflections in the glass are flagged off.
- 13:00 Lunch The crew pre-rig the afternoon set-up in the boardroom next door.
- 15:30 The light changes The sun drops behind the building opposite, so the gaffer brings the key up to hold the look.
- 18:30 Wrap Everything is struck and goes down in the lift, and the floor is left as it was.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
Types
Types of lighting crew we book
How big the lighting team gets depends on the look, the space and how fast the day moves. In Oxford it also depends on the power. The gaffer checks it at the recce, and out of town there may be no mains power at all.
Gaffer with a van One person, a full LED kit £550 + van
A gaffer brings their own van of LEDs, stands, flags and cable, and the van goes on the quote as its own line. That’s often all an interview or a small brand film needs.
Good for interviews, corporate films and days in one location.
Gaffer and spark Two people, faster turnarounds Per person
The gaffer runs the plan, and the spark rigs, runs cable and pre-rigs the next set-up. A spark earns their day when the shoot moves, such as an office in the morning and a street in the afternoon. See sparks in Oxford.
Good for days with several set-ups, company moves and bigger lamps.
Full lighting crew Gaffer, best boy and sparks Quoted on the brief
A best boy runs the crew and the kit, with as many sparks as the plan needs. The bigger lamps usually come from London kit houses.
Good for adverts, drama, night exteriors and studio days.
Lighting desk Programmable lights and effects Quoted on the brief
A desk operator runs colour-changing LEDs, practical effects and lighting cues, in a studio or on a music video.
Good for music videos, events and studio shoots with effects.
Batteries or a generator Power where there is none Quoted on the brief
In a field or a park there’s no mains power, so the gaffer plans the lighting around batteries. For bigger lamps on location, we add a silent generator and an operator to the quote.
Good for shoots out of town, night exteriors and big lamps on location.
What it’s for
What people book a gaffer for in Oxford
Founder films for spin-outs and biotech
Founders are filmed in labs and offices at the Oxford Science Park, Begbroke and Harwell Campus. The gaffer lights the room so the faces hold their own against the windows.
Conferences and events at college venues
The gaffer lights the interview corners and any stage set the client brings, so crews can film interviews between the sessions. Keble is one of the colleges that takes location filming.
Brand films and adverts on the street
Brands shoot adverts on Broad Street, the High and Turl Street. Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements, so lamps on the pavement go in the application.
University and research films
The gaffer lights labs and lecture theatres so they look like the real rooms on a good day. Start with the University’s filming coordinator or the college.
Heritage locations out of town
Crews film at Blenheim Palace at Woodstock and on the edge of the Cotswolds, with the owner’s permission. Out of town the gaffer brings batteries or a generator, and reflectors for the daylight.
Recent work
Lighting on our jobs, in London and Oxford
Crew hire · Woolwich, London · January 2025
A gaffer, a van and a company move
A Los Angeles production company booked us to crew a day-in-the-life film for a sportswear brand. It was an interview in the talent’s own third-floor studio in Woolwich, then B-roll on Woolwich Church Street after a 15:30 move. The gaffer walked both locations at the recce, without kit, and brought their own van and lights on the day, priced as one line. With the move in the schedule, they asked for a spark, and we booked one.
Crew hire · Portsmouth, London and Oxford · Nov to Dec 2023
A gaffer for three days of interviews
Swanson Studios booked us for three days of interviews for a medical robotics company in Portsmouth, London and Oxford. We supplied the PA, gaffer, hair and make-up artist, DIT and sound recordist.
Before you book
Things to know
The day
- The day is 11 hours, including an hour for lunch.
- Overtime is paid at card rates, and we agree it with you before it happens.
The van and the city
- Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone covers the city centre from 7am to 7pm, every day. A Euro 6 diesel van pays £4 a day, an older diesel £10 and an electric van nothing. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
- Tell us the address when you book. The gaffer checks the loading bay, the goods lift and the parking first.
- Lamps on streets and pavements go in the application to Oxfordshire County Council. A small crew needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on listed streets in the centre. Colleges and other private places set their own rules for lamps and power. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the gaffer.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the gaffer we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
- Venues usually ask to see it. Oxfordshire County Council, for example, asks for at least £10m public liability for filming on streets and pavements. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
£550 a day
APA/Bectu card: Up to £585 a day for a gaffer.
| Day rate, 11 hours | £550 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £55 |
| Insurance, 2% | £11 |
| One day, before the van and travel | £616 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the gaffer we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the gaffer.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book a gaffer in Oxford.
Tell us the date, the address, the look, and where the van can stop. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Oxford
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Oxford, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Oxford, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Oxford.
Production support
Everything around the crew
A gaffer needs power, a place for the van and, out of town, batteries. The pages below cover kit hire, permits and parking for the rest of an Oxford shoot.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for an Oxford shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The county council for streets, the colleges and the University, the Bodleian and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios at Didcot and south of Reading for set builds, and college rooms hired by the day for interviews.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring a gaffer in Oxford
How much does a gaffer cost in Oxford?
Our gaffers are paid £550 for an 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch, and the gaffer gets all of it. The APA/Bectu card for commercials puts a gaffer at Up to £585. We add our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, so the gaffer’s day comes to £616 + VAT. The van and lighting kit go on the quote as their own line, with the same fee and insurance. Travel from London is extra.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
Are your gaffers from Oxford?
We book gaffers who live in or near Oxford first. Lighting crew for Oxford shoots usually come from London, with the van. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our own base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.
Do your gaffers bring their own van?
Many do, with LED panels, stands, flags and cable, and the van goes on the quote as its own line. If the plan needs bigger lamps, we hire them from London kit houses with the same 10% + 2%.
Does the lighting van pay Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone charge?
Only if it’s driven in the zone, which covers the city centre from 7am to 7pm, every day. A Euro 6 diesel van pays £4 a day, an older diesel £10 and an electric van nothing. There’s no charge for a van that stays parked in the zone and doesn’t move. Parking goes on the quote at cost. The penalty is £60, or £30 if it’s paid within 14 days. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
What if the location doesn’t have enough power?
The gaffer checks at the recce. If the house power won’t do, we add batteries, or a silent generator and an operator, to the quote. Out of town there may be no mains power at all, so the gaffer plans the lighting around batteries. Colleges and other private venues may set their own rules for lamps and power.
Can we light a street in Oxford?
Yes, with permission. Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements in Oxford, and the lamps go in the application. A small crew needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on listed streets in the centre. The daily fee is £150 plus VAT for 1 to 4 crew and £200 plus VAT for 5 to 10, and the county asks for £10m public liability. Private places, such as a college, need the owner’s permission. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
How far ahead should I book a gaffer in Oxford?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. The notice that sets the date is usually the location’s. The county council needs at least 15 working days’ notice for a small crew on the street, or 30 on listed streets in the centre, and a road closure needs at least 12 weeks. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Have you booked a gaffer for a shoot in Oxford?
Yes. Swanson Studios booked us for three days of interviews for a medical robotics company in Portsmouth, London and Oxford. We supplied the PA, gaffer, hair and make-up artist, DIT and sound recordist. There’s more in the Swanson Studios case study.