On any film set, numerous technicians work behind the scenes. Among these roles is the grip, a specialized technician responsible for camera support and lighting rigging. They are part of the physical production crew, building the foundation that allows the camera and lighting departments to capture the director’s vision. The term “grip” historically comes from stagehands in theater who moved scenery.
The Role of a Grip on a Film Set
A grip’s responsibilities on a film set center on camera support and light modification. Their first main duty is to work with the camera department, assembling and maintaining the equipment that cameras are mounted on, including tripods, dollies, and cranes. This infrastructure enables the fluid camera movements common in modern filmmaking.
This work requires technical skill and creative problem-solving. For instance, if a director wants a camera to follow an actor down a flight of stairs, the grip department is responsible for building a safe and stable rig to make that shot possible. This could involve laying dolly tracks on uneven ground or constructing a custom mount on a vehicle. They ensure every camera setup is securely assembled, ready for the camera operators to execute the shot.
The second function of a grip is to work with the electrical department to shape and control light. Grips manage all the non-electrical equipment used to modify the light’s quality, intensity, and shape. This involves setting up stands to hold flags that block light, silks that diffuse it, or nets that reduce its intensity.
This light-shaping role is important for creating the visual mood of a film. Grips use their equipment to create shadows, soften harsh lighting, or bounce light back onto an actor. This work is done under the direction of the Director of Photography (DoP), who designs the lighting scheme for each shot. The grips are the technicians who physically manipulate the environment to achieve the DoP’s artistic goals.
Common Grip Equipment
C-Stands
The Century Stand, or C-stand, is a versatile metal stand used to hold a wide variety of equipment. Grips use C-stands to position flags, nets, and silks, but they can also be used to mount small lights or microphones. Their staggered leg design allows them to be placed close together and securely weighted down with sandbags.
Apple Boxes
An apple box is a wooden box used for a multitude of purposes. They come in standardized sizes—full, half, quarter, and pancake—and are used to prop up or level camera dollies, furniture, and light stands. They are also used to give a height boost to an actor to perfect the framing of a shot.
Flags, Silks, and Nets
Flags are opaque fabric panels in a metal frame used to block light and create shadows. Silks are panels of diffusion material that soften light, creating a less harsh look. Nets are made of a mesh material that reduces the intensity of light without diffusing it. Grips use these tools to control and shape the light in a scene.
Dollies and Cranes
A camera dolly is a wheeled platform that the camera and its operator ride on to create smooth horizontal movements. Grips are responsible for assembling the dolly and laying the track it runs on, ensuring the path is level and smooth for a seamless shot. Cranes and jibs are devices that allow for vertical camera movements. Grips are tasked with the complex and physically demanding job of building, balancing, and safely operating these large pieces of equipment.
Types of Grips
Within the grip department, there is a clear hierarchy, with each role having distinct responsibilities. The head of the department is the Key Grip. The Key Grip works directly with the Director of Photography and the Gaffer to plan the technical execution of shots and manage the entire team of grips. They are responsible for overseeing the setup of all rigging and ensuring safety on set.
The second-in-command is the Best Boy Grip. The Best Boy handles the administrative and logistical side of the department, including hiring other grips, managing equipment inventory, and coordinating schedules. While the Key Grip is focused on set, the Best Boy ensures the department runs smoothly behind the scenes.
A Dolly Grip is a specialist role focused entirely on operating the camera dolly. This position requires a high level of skill and precision, as the Dolly Grip is responsible for the smooth and controlled movement of the camera during a take. They work in close collaboration with the camera operator to execute complex tracking shots that follow actors or action through a scene.
Grip vs Gaffer The Key Difference
A common point of confusion is the distinction between a grip and a gaffer. The difference is straightforward: gaffers and the electrical department deal with anything that requires electricity, while grips handle the non-electrical support and shaping equipment. The gaffer is the head electrician responsible for designing and executing the lighting plan.
The electricians, under the gaffer’s direction, run power cables and set up the lighting instruments. Once the lights are powered on, the grips step in to manipulate that light with their tools. A useful way to think about it is that the gaffer provides the lamp and turns it on, while the grip positions the lampshade to control how the light falls.
How to Become a Grip
Becoming a grip does not require a formal film school degree, as the career is built on practical, hands-on experience. Aspiring grips need physical strength and stamina, as the job involves long hours of lifting heavy equipment. A strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving abilities are also necessary for building complex rigs and adapting to challenges.
The most common entry point is working as a Production Assistant (PA). This position provides an opportunity to be on a film set, observe how different departments work, and make connections. By showing a strong work ethic and an interest in the grip department, a PA can network their way into a position as a grip trainee.
From there, a person can work their way up the ladder within the department. Starting as a basic grip, one can specialize as a Dolly Grip or, with enough experience, advance to the roles of Best Boy and Key Grip. It is a physically demanding career path that offers a hands-on role in the filmmaking process.