The grip department may include only a key grip, a best boy, and a few grips. They are assistants to their department heads, the gaffer in charge of electricals and the key grip lighting and rigging, respectively. Apr 20, 2016 in the case of the best boy electric this will be the gaffer who is the chief lighting electrician, whilst best boy grips answers to the key grip. On shooting days, grips get to set early to set up the equipment. During shooting, the best boy may also cover for the key grip or gaffer when he or she is on break or otherwise away from the set. Film sets dont necessarily have the same acoustic properties as the reallife. Film slate, clapboard, slate, clapperboard, slapperboard, time slate, board a clapper is a board used for syncing and identifying a shot in post. It also has a stud or studs for the attachment of light sources, grip equipment, etc.
In simpler words, a key grip is a person who is incharge of a number of different onset activities, such as lighting and camera movement. Final position of the lead hand top hand in the proper golf grip. Mar 11, 2008 heres a look at the most essential grip items. On films with very small crews, the electric lighting department often consists of only a gaffer, a best boy, and a few electricians. On set as a key grip on day one of a job try to arrive on set at least 2030 minutes before call time, introduce yourself around, have breakfast and get ready for what will usually be a very tough and stressful day. To grip is defined as to take or hold something firmly. This department supports all nonelectrical components on set.
The muscle on the set, the grip must also be able to do a bit of carpentry. Oct 18, 2016 in the film industry, the key grip refers to a person who works with the gaffer and the cinematographer in order to supervise all the grip crews, including lighting and rigging, to report the progress of the on set gearing up to the director of photography, commonly known as the dop. Key rigging grip salary and career advice chegg careermatch. Heres what the key grip, best boy, and gaffer actually do, plus the origins of those. When the virus is inhaled, it attacks cells in the upper respiratory tract, causing typical flu symptoms such as fatigue, fever and chills, a hacking cough, and body aches. Grip definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Dolly grip is another one of those movie job titles that tends to elicit titters from the few people who watch the credits until the bitter end. Key grip jobs how to become a movie grip, pay, requirements. Changes in the film and television worlds have created lasting change in crew responsibilities. Doing everything from setting up dollies and tripods, to helping the cinematographer shape the light with flags and silks, the grips are there to. The term gaffer originally related to the moving of overhead equipment to control lighting levels using a gaff.
Scouts locations and obtains the necessary permits for filming in those. The gaffer will usually have an assistant called a best boy and, depending on the size of the job, crew members who are called set lighting technicians or electricians, although not all of them are trained as electricians in the usual sense of the term. A key grip works with the director of photography to determine the camera setups and lighting equipment that are required to bring the film to life. Whats so great about the best boy on a film set anyway. Shaping the light with flags, silks and cukes film grip 101. In england grips are exclusively part of the camera department and are not responsible for shaping light or supporting the electric department. Jun 11, 2017 additionally, the key grip is frequently asked to be the safety monitor of the film set. The best boy grip acts as the righthand man to the key grip, handling logistics and orchestrating the other grips on a large set, or handling the bulk of the equipment on a small job.
They set up any gear for the camera, like tripods or cranes. Headon shot when films action moves directly at the camera. A film set can be a confusing place for an outsider, replete as it is with insider acronyms and strange vocabulary. The following are the basic tools you must have as a grip, and recommendations for additional items you might want to add to your tool set as you work toward. The gaffer is the head of electricity on set and the key grip is in charge of building, moving and maintaining all the equipment that carries the cameras. They constitute their own department on a film set and are directed by a key grip. Influenza definition usually referred to as the flu or grippe, influenza is a highly infectious respiratory disease. The disease is caused by certain strains of the influenza virus. Key grip robert adams on set of wild safari via fernbank museum of natural history the key grip, also called a key for short, is the chief of the grip department. Gripping definition of gripping by the free dictionary. Hand signalsthese can help to reduce the noise on a set, which is a good thing, since the last thing you as a crew member want is.
I wanted to share with you a smattering of what is said, not said, and what it all means. The key grip works with the chief lighting technician, or gaffer. Theres a best boy for the electrical department and a best boy for the grip department. Crew job titles positions descriptions film in colorado. Best boy grip assists the key grip but assumes more responsibility for the hiring and scheduling of the crew. They are secondincommand to the gaffer or the key grip. Working on a film set can be a loud experience, with a variety of terms or jargon bandied about that has developed over the past hundred and twenty years or so.
In the address position, looking down at your grip, you should be able to see the knuckles. They assemble and build the dollies, tracks, cranes, and other equipment needed to film a shot. Film crew positions and why all jobs on a movie set matter. The equipment can be as basic as a tripod standing on a studio floor, to hazardous operations such as mounting a camera on a 100 ft crane, or hanging it from a. The best boy, or assistant grip, on a film crew is the assistant to the chief lighting technician, otherwise known as the gaffer or key grip. Do you ever watch the credits at the end of a movie and wonder why so many people are involved. The key grip is frequently asked to be the safety monitor of the film set. First of all, youve got to understand that a grip is someone whos in charge of camera equipment. At a moments notice they move to set up camera cars, cranes, tracks, dollies, microphones, set walls, lights, tripods, rigging, or scaffolding for the shot. The key grip runs this entire operation, essentially acting as foreman for all of the other grips on a set which in the case of a large movie may be dozens. Head grip in charge of setting up equipment including cranes, dollies and platforms to facilitate the camera crews shot.
Key grips ensure that all the equipment is in the right place. Buy the set lighting technicians handbook on amazon here. Being a key grip is a tough job that requires a lot of technical knowledge, creativity and a sharp eye. It also has a unique grip for added control, supreme ventilation, and an elastic wrist wrap.
Definition of in the grip of in the idioms dictionary. The colorful name harkens back to hollywoods preunion days, when studio department heads would borrow your best boy from. The grip definition of the grip by medical dictionary. In simpler words, a key grip is a person who is incharge of. Typically a clapper will have a place to write the scene, take, and shot with some other information like production title, director, and dp. Gripped definition of gripped by the free dictionary. Glossary of grip and gaffer terms film and video lighting. After the equipment is determined, the key grip develops a list of all necessary equipment, assembles their grip crew, and identifies any parts of filming that will require creative rigging solutions. This equipment, which includes tripods, dollies, tracks, jibs, cranes, and static rigs, is constructed of delicate yet heavy duty parts requiring a high level of experience to operate and move. Highangle shot when the scene is filmed from above. Mar 16, 2020 a grip is a technician on a production crew who is responsible for building and maintaining camera and lighting set ups. Production crew members you should know central casting. You can rent just a few items, or complete packages, even a grip truck to carry it all to the set.
Overseas the work and responsibilities of all of the grips on the set. This book is considered required reading for lighting technicians, grips and cinematographers. Be in the grip of sth meaning in the cambridge english. Key grip robert adams on set of wild safari via fernbank museum of natural history. Get a grip on definition of get a grip on by merriamwebster. In the case of the best boy electric this will be the gaffer who is the chief lighting electrician, whilst best boy grips answers to the key grip.
The key grip, also called a key for short, is the chief of the. The person on the set in charge of the other grips, or the crew. Any union production crews working under the hollywood umbrella are required to take occupational safety and health administration style certified courses in safety. A clapper is most notably the most iconic accessory on any movie set. A grip is a technician on a production crew who is responsible for building and maintaining camera and lighting setups. Information and translations of grip in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
They are also responsible for organizing the grip truck. They managed to strengthen their grip on the southern part of the country. Its kind of a silly name and just in case you think theres a group of grown men who get paid to wander movie sets while clutching dolls, let us set you straight. Jul 02, 2019 a key grip works with the director of photography to determine the camera set ups and lighting equipment that are required to bring the film to life. A woman who performs the duties of a best boy may be called best girl. However, changes in the film and television worlds have created lasting change in crew responsibilities. In addition to directing and cowriting garth marenghis darkplace, he has adapted and directed joe dunthornes novel submarine for the screen, and is the cowriter with avi korine and director of the film, the double. The key grip works with the director of photography to help set up the set and to achieve correct lighting and blocking. Grips responsibility is to build and maintain all the equipment that supports cameras. Get a grip on definition is to gain a good understanding of. As an actor he is best known for his roles as dean learner in garth marenghis darkplace and maurice moss in the emmy awardwinning the. The gaffer and key grip handle the physical and technical labor that make the dps vision into reality the gaffer and his or her crew are in charge of lighting, and the key grips crew work with the cameras. Dolly grip operates the camera dollies or camera cranes.
Grips work primarily on the complex equipment which supports the cameras and on. If you grip something, you take hold of it with your hand and continue to hold it firmly. The pistol grip is ergonomically shaped, well designed, and quite comfortable. The key grip is the chief grip on a set, and is the head of the set operations department. In the film and video industries, a cshaped device that can be affixed securely to a pipe and locks with the aid of a bolt, which when tightened, presses the clamp like a vise onto the pipe. A domeshaped metal boss was set in the middle of each shield with a grip running across the underside and attached both to the boss and to the wood. A grip is part of the production team that develops and builds the set for a movie, commercial, or television show. Best boy grip the best boy grip is chief assistant to the key grip. Grip film and tv jobs in the entertainment industry media. Like many aspiring film workers, grips often get their start by applying for entrylevel jobs as grip assistants, production assistants or other lowlevel jobs on a film set. Ive kept grip gear far longer than any camera gear. An example of to grip is to have a solid idea of right and wrong.
The prime minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party. In the film industry, the key grip refers to a person who works with the gaffer and the cinematographer in order to supervise all the grip crews, including lighting and rigging, to report the progress of the onset gearing up to the director of photography, commonly known as the dop. They work with the director of photography to achieve the correct. While electricians set up the lights and cabling, grips provide everything else that is built around the lights to create the quality of light that the gaffer desires. They also provide a variety of special rigging, securing and safety measures on set. There are many departments on set, and within each, there is a unique film crew hierarchy. Grip person responsible for the setup, adjustment and maintenance of production equipment on the set. In short, the best boy acts as the foreman for his department. In film and television crews, the gaffer or chief lighting technician is the head electrician, responsible for the execution and sometimes the design of the lighting plan for a production. Key grip the key grip is the lead grip on a film set and in charge of all the other grips. These are all available to rent for very reasonable rates at film lighting rental companies. Grip film and tv jobs in the entertainment industry mediamatch. Besides the occasional comedic outtakes or behindthescenes videos, the endless list of names and roles that makes up the credits are typically pretty boring. I have carried this book on 90% of the film sets that i have worked on.
Additionally, the key grip is frequently asked to be the safety monitor of the film set. A grips work is vital to the flow of a production, which is why its so important for you to have a full set of tools that can keep you working smoothly, efficiently and safely. Boxs set lighting technicians handbook is by far the most important book a lighting technician can own. If a person, group, or place is in the grip of something, they are being severely. If you study film in school, taking part in student productions will help you network and gain experience. The term best boy is actually older than the film industry and hails from the days of the old british apprentice system. With the club at an angle and in the fingers, place your left thumb for righthanded players toward the back side of the shaft. Riggers, or rigging grips, are a type of grip a unionized worker who sets up, moves, and dismantles movie cameras, equipment, and scenery. When a key grip shows up on a new set he checks in with the cinematographer and the directory of photography. Gripping definition, holding the attention or interest intensely. They may need to get a camera to move along a track to film a marathon, build scaffolding to put a. The dp, gaffer and key grip are always in close communication during a shoot.