Grips are a department in film production that assist with lighting setups and construction, using a variety of gripping equipment including gloves, clips, and tools. They may also assist with camera equipment and have responsibilities for safety and construction equipment.
Grips are members of a film production team, often associated with the camera and lighting crews, but who actually comprise their own department. Grip equipment helps the Grip team with any task they are assigned, whether it’s helping with lighting setups or putting down trolleys. There are many pieces of gripping equipment that can come in handy for a variety of on-set work.
A take on nearly any film production will have a variety of basic tools, usually tied to itself for easy access. On set, a socket will generally have tape on it, to help secure items such as cables and mark locations. He or she may also have grip clips, heavy metal clips like clothespins that are used for a variety of purposes. Most grippers will keep a basic tool kit handy, including a screwdriver, hammer, and multi-tool for construction jobs.
One of the most important pieces of gripping equipment is a good pair of work gloves. Since the job can involve heavy lifting, touching hot objects, and handling dirty or dusty sets, a pair of gloves can be instrumental in preventing damage to your hands. Work gloves are generally found at home improvement stores and can go a long way in making your day easier.
Grips assist in construction and as such, need to be responsible and knowledgeable about a variety of construction and safety equipment. Grips may be tasked with the construction and maintenance of scaffolding or other types of temporary construction. They typically have responsibility for any building materials such as ladders or on-set rigging equipment.
In a unionized studio production, there are many rules about what jobs a hold can do. Specifically, he or she is authorized to assist with lighting settings, but not to manage lights. This job may involve interacting with a few pieces of lighting-related gripping equipment, such as large adjustable light stands called c-stands, as well as a variety of shields, reflective devices, and flags that help change the effect of light.
When working with the camera department, grips can help with dolly or crane devices. These are mobile camera stands that allow for shots on the go. Related gripping equipment for this job includes dolly rails, which are adjustable rails arranged in the pattern of camera movement, to ensure smooth passing. The grips may also be responsible for moving the dolly itself, as well as a similar rolling device for the sound crew that carries a sound engineer with microphones around the store’s route.
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