Grip

Grip Career

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Grips are responsible for the heavy lifting around a film set. You put up the rigging, move the camera stands, and construct partitions, stands, frames, or whatever else various departments need to accomplish their artistic goals. You work especially close with the electrical and camera departments as these areas deal a lot with heavy equipment.

The Key Grip is the head of the Grip department, and his assistant is the Best Boy Grip. Other than that, the only other specialized position in the department is the Dolly Grip, which means you operate the camera dolly (the machine that holds and moves the camera).

As a Grip daily tasks could include setting up frames to make a light seem dimmer, rigging up pulleys and cables to swing a camera across the scene, and taping down electrical wires to make sure they are not a safety hazard. You are a mix of a mechanic and a construction worker, an onset handyman who constructs and operates the physical elements needed to shoot a film. Because of the heavy moving nature of the job, you carry around a hefty tool belt.

How do I become a Grip?

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Sign up on a film set. You should be strong and willing to work. No degree is required, and its a good way to start working your way onto a film crew.