screen careers logo and sound assistant

Screen Careers: Sound Assistant

The sound assistant or also knows as the boom operator assist the sound mixer by operating the microphone which is attached to a long pole, in order to capture the best sound quality from the actor’s dialogue performed on set.

Chris Goding

Credits: Doctor Who, Sherlock, Bang

Career Progression

  • 2003 – 2006 University
  • Degree (BA) Bournemouth University (Interactive Media Production)
  • 2006 – 2009 Assistant Director (runner)
  • Office runner (6 months), Floor Runner (3 years), 3rd assistant director (6 months)
  • 2009 – 2020 Sound Department
  • Trainee (1 year), 2nd AS: (3 years), 1st AS: 2015-present
  • Other work
  • During 2010 I was presented with an opportunity to work in S. Africa for 6 months as part of a small 3-man documentary crew on a series called The Lion Man.
  • Between work / university at the early stages of my career I was part of the Cardiff Council site crew working on events run by the council in Cardiff (2000 – 2007)

Career Highlights

  • Working abroad: Italy, Denmark, Spain, Bulgaria, S. Africa
  • Filming Lions and other various animals in S. Africa national parks
  • Meeting lots of different people who become good friends
portrait of chris goding

"Be punctual on your time and time keeping … if you do get an opportunity to be a runner - maybe that is not what you want to do eventually - but take it, because you can learn all sorts of things on set." - Chris Goding