<P> A boom operator is an assistant of the production sound mixer . The principal responsibility of the boom operator is microphone placement, usually using a boom pole (or "fishpole") with a microphone attached to the end (called a boom mic), their aim being to hold the microphone as close to the actors or action as possible without allowing the microphone or boom pole to enter the camera's frame . </P> <P> The first noted use of a boom mic was on the set of Beggars of Life (1928) when director William A. Wellman wanted a tracking shot of two actors walking down a street, and the sound man refused, telling the director that the actors had to be static and the microphone had to be hidden in a flowery vase . Wellman said "that's crazy" and instructed the sound man to put the microphone on a broom - handle and walk along the actors just outside of the frame . According to David O. Selznick, "I was also present on the stage when a microphone was moved for the first time by Wellman, believe it or not . Sound was relatively new and at that time the sound engineer insisted that the microphone be steady . Wellman, who had quite a temper in those days, got very angry, took the microphone himself, hung it on a boom, gave orders to record--and moved it ." </P>

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