ABSTRACT
A dollar bill is 6 in. long. (NICE TO KNOW) A good safety practice when letting a camera operator off a riding crane is to
lock the brakes, put an arm on the chains, step on the arm, have another grip take the place of the camera operator, then reduce the lead or mercury for counterbalance. (NICE TO KNOW)
A junior riser can sometimes be used in a high roller or mambo combo stand if the stand has a junior receiver on it. This means that you can make the stand taller. Make sure you bag it heavily. Also ensure you do not bend the risers. (NICE TO KNOW)
A lot of grips carry an aluminum rod or steel that is 5/8 in. in diameter and about 1 ft. long. (Commonly referred to as “NORM” pins.) Some grips have even drilled 1/8 in. diameter holes through the rod about 1/2 in. from the end for safety pins or bailing wire. These rods are great for hanging lights from a C-stand or gobo head. (NICE TO KNOW)
A quick safety tie-off is to tie a half hitch in a #8 sash cord, then put a drywall screw with a large area washer on it through the center of the knot. Now screw the screw into the set’s 1" × 3" lumber for a good bite, then tie off the lamp. (NICE TO KNOW)
A roll of gel is usually about 25 ft. long and about 4 ft. wide. This gives you enough gel to cover six 4 × 4 frames. (NICE TO KNOW)
A stand extension pin can work in place of a short rod (norms pin). (NICE TO KNOW)
A word of caution, an overhead kit, such as a 20 ft. × 20 ft., presents 400 square feet of surface area to the wind. This much sail can move a boat 15 knots or better, so don’t underestimate the forces that are at play here. Grips have a joke: “Seems like every time you set up a 20 ft. × 20 ft. overhead kit, the wind will come up.” So every time you set one up, make sure you have ropes on all four corners; usually 1/4 in. hemp is suffi cient. You must tie down a 20 ft. × 20 ft. or a 12 ft. × 12 ft. when you fl y it. Otherwise, you may be fl ying to the next county to pick it up. (SAFETY)
All direction references are made from the perspective of what the camera sees. (NICE TO KNOW)
All scrims, silks, griffl ons, and muslins are usually made smaller than the frame. For example, for a 12 ft. × 12 ft. frame, the rag (silk, scrim, etc.) will measure approximately 11 ft. 6 in. × 11 ft. 6 in. This undersize allows for tightening the scrim or silk tightly into place by their draw strings (also known as mason lines). (NICE TO KNOW)
Almost every ladder built today has a level or height that should not be exceeded. For example, a six-step or 6-ft. ladder has fi ve steps and a top platform, but this top platform is NOT A STEP. Nevertheless, people get careless and use it. Don’t use the top step; get a taller ladder instead. (SAFETY)
Always carry earplugs in your personal bag. (NICE TO KNOW) Always keep your eye on the key grip and the director of photography. Learn
to listen for their voices in the middle of a crowd. Try to remember what style of lighting they do and anticipate if a fl ag or scrim is needed. (NICE TO KNOW)
Always mark damaged equipment with white tape. This is standard through-out the industry. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always put a minimum of four (4) ropes on a 12 ft. × 12 ft. butterfl y or larger frame. One rope on each corner, to tie off the frame when it’s positioned overhead (Horizontal) in place. Two ropes are used on the top corners when in the vertical position. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always try to place the bag on the leg opposite the weight. But if the weight is down the center, such as a light sitting on the middle of a stand, any leg will do. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always try to use birch or use A/C plywood or A/D plywood for dolly track. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always unlock your high roller wheels before you fold the base up. This will allow the roller to fold correctly. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always use a tab of tape to staple through the gel; otherwise, it will tear very easily. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always use paper tape on a painted wall or a surface where the paint or fi nish might pull off with a stronger tape such as gaffer/grip tape. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
Always wear your safety goggles when drilling. (SAFETY PRACTICES) An average credit card is 3 3/8 in. long and 2 1/4 in. wide. You now have a
second measuring device in your pocket. (NICE TO KNOW) Answer all requests made over the radio by repeating what is needed. For
example, suppose the key grip calls out, “Give me a baby plate, a C-stand arm, and a postage stamp single.” You should then reply, “One baby plate, a C-stand arm and head, and a 10 × 12 open-ended single. Roger. Flying in.” BUT, don’t become annoying. After a short time, a simply copy is ok. You have to judge when the time is correct. (NICE TO KNOW)
This example illustrates that both parties involved know what is needed. The key grip knows that the call was transmitted, and your acknowledgment confi rms that it was received. Communication is a major player in the movie industry. I do not want to be redundant, but I do want to drive home key points that will aid you and make you look a little better than the next person who wants the job or during
the next callback if they shrink the crew. The grip department is a team. I am not advocating upstaging your peers, but I am saying that you must give it your all. (STANDARD PRACTICES)
ATG tape is sometimes called snot tape. (NICE TO KNOW) Bead board can be used to insulate a wall or door if you are having a sound
recording problem. (NICE TO KNOW) Before removing any set wall, check to see if the “seams have been cut,” or
if there are any lights or braces on it. (STANDARD PRACTICES) Before setting a fl ag, fi rst use your hand at the proper angle to make a shadow.
