How to Become a Movie Set Grip

A movie set grip works behind the scenes on productions, securing and removing cameras, scenery and sets. While not as glamorous as many other film jobs, the movie grip ensures that cameras, cranes, dollies and other necessary items work properly to get the best shots and give the film the ambiance the director demands.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Move to Los Angeles, New York or Chicago. If you live in a small town, grip work will be few and far between. You need to live in a show biz center, if you want to learn about the industry and become a movie grip. These cities constantly offer jobs for grips.

2. Develop keen visual skills to flesh out the director's vision. You'll need to have good interpersonal skills to deal with set designers, actors and other creative people. Conversely, you need to keep fit, as the job demands physical stamina since you'll operate large cameras and/or handle other heavy equipment.

3. Familiarize yourself with various types of movie set grips. A key grip determines how and where to erect scaffolding, move lights, cameras and scenery. A dolly grip moves the dollies and cranes attached to large overhead or moving cameras. The best boy grip is a go-pher who brings extra equipment to the set and follows orders from the key grip.

4. Move different types of film equipment. Learn placement of boom microphones, microphone stands, sandbags, LED lighting, tripods and mounted cameras. Know how to use apple boxes, half-wedges and other equipment that positions lights and cameras.

5. Network with other behind the scenes film workers. This includes electricians, set builders and pre-production assistants. They'll point you to the latest openings for film grips. Since most grip work operates on a contract basis, it's who you know and not your resume that will help you become an in-demand grip.

6. Study OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) rules. This takes on added importance for a key grip, but even best boys need to know health and safety rules to avoid accidents, injury and costly litigation.