The Filmmakers

Film 101: What's a boom operator — and how do you mic a sex scene?

Boom! Film 101 is your crash course on the people behind the scenes. Find a new lesson on every episode of The Filmmakers.

Turn up the volume! Amanda Parris hosts this week's movie-making lesson

Film 101: What's a boom operator?

7 years ago
Duration 1:06
Boom! Film 101 is your crash course on the people behind the scenes. Find a new lesson on every episode of The Filmmakers.

Boom in the shot! Hell, the boom operator is front and centre in this week's movie-making lesson.

"Film 101" is the name of a new weekly segment on The Filmmakers. In every video, we'll introduce you to a new key player behind the scenes — and by the end of the summer, you might actually start paying attention to movie credits. For instance, did you know that David Horton was the boom operator on this Saturday's feature presentation The Sweet Hereafter? We suspect not. And you probably also didn't know that he's the same man responsible for operating said boom in the likes of the Oscar-winning film Room and a whopping 136 episodes of CBC's own Murdoch Mysteries.

Mr. Horton and his fellow boom operators are essential members of any film or television crew, but what's the job all about, you ask? Turn up the volume and let Amanda Parris explain it all.

Tune in to the premiere of The Filmmakers this Saturday, July 22 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC Television or stream it online at cbc.ca/watch. This week's featured movie is Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter. After the episode airs, stick around to watch the film.