Grip Technique and Equipment

A grip is a person who works on a movie production who is responsible for moving stuff. They are also known for "Making Shadows," that is they cut or reduce light where Gaffers make light.

Grip Attire consists of manual work type cloths. Closed toe shoes that can be securely fastened to the feet are highly recommended as they will provide the wearer the traction and protection needed when lifting, pushing, or otherwise maneuvering heavy equipment. Gloves, provide the same type of assurance but for the hands. Often unfinished wood may be handles and gloves can protect from splinters, or rope burns when rigging is required. Durable clothes that are well fit that allow for a full range of bodily movement are very important. Grips must be able to move quickly with their attire getting in the way or restricting their movement. To put it another way, the person who has to frequently stop to pull up his pants and who trips during a critical dolly shot because his flip-flop sandals fly off , and whose unbuttoned shirt falls in the path of the key light during another critical shot is not helping the production very much.

The follwing is a partial list of equipment that a grip should be able to, and would be likely to, use on a production:

Cloth pins

Butterflies

Flags

Cutters

Shiney Board

Reflectors

Silks

Poly Silks

Griffs

Furni-pads

Diffusion

Mirror Boards

Floppies

Baby Spud

Junior Spud

Lolly Pop

Rope

Tie downs

Quick Grips

Apple Boxes

C-Stands

Combo-Stand

Gaff Tape

Foil

Crescent Wrench

Hammer

Screw Drivers

Pliers

More details to follow....