ABSTRACT
Key grips are a department head and work with the gaffer and the electricians to cut and shape light. The grips also manage all camera support such as dollies, sliders, etc. as well as any rigging. There is an informal protocol to cutting light that can only be learned on set. Grips are often boxing in the soft lights to manage the spill light. Scouts are essential for larger shoots to anticipate all the needs and arrive at set with the proper equipment. There are six basic knots to know: bow knot, figure-eight knot, clove hitch, half hitch, trucker’s hitch, and the bow line. Speedrail is aluminum pipe, almost always either 1.25” or 1.5” I.D. Schedule 40, which is used for creating temporary grids, menace arms, car rigs, etc. All the grip manufacturers make speedrail fittings, but Modern Studio Equipment and Hollaender offer the widest variety. Fittings can be as specialized as an I-beam clamp, or as simple as a baby clamshell clamp. Cardellini and Matthellini are two useful clamps on every grip truck.
