How to be a Key Grip

by Joey on June 30, 2007

Pancakes are for sitting

  1. Before production, oversee checkout and make sure everything is loaded on the truck properly. You’re responsible for its safekeeping.
  2. Pickup truck from the Film School during production. The Key Grip is the driver. Make sure you get to set before call time, because nothing can happen until the truck arrives.
  3. Unload all equipment from the aisle and get the dolly ready.
  4. Attend the New Deal. Find out what is needed for the setup.
  5. If it doesn’t involve electricity or the camera then you’re in charge of it. C-Stands, flags, sandbags, apple boxes, dolly, dolly track, etc.
  6. Hang by the truck to get equipment as needed. Or craft services.
  7. Wrap equipment when it’s finished.
  8. Pack up the truck.
  9. Drive back to the Film School.

Posted in Grip & Electric on Saturday, 30 June 2007 at 11:52 pm

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Bill Witthans October 31, 2008 at 3:50 pm

lol….. poor definition of a Key Grip but I guess its “film School” attend the “new Deal”? …lol.. most people dont know what that is, EVEN in the “Biz” The original new deal was a NEW scene called out by the First AD, and the “cards” delt were the shots you di for that DEAL. Once you shot all the shots you need for that scene you heard the Call “New Deal” lately people have misused the term for every “next shot” when they were usally called by the shot set up, IE, “over” two shot” crane shot” thus giving a general discription of what we were moving onto…

C47 October 31, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Yeah, it’s not going to make it into Webster’s anytime soon.

New deal varies a lot from set to set, but doing it every shot is too much.

Bill Witthans October 31, 2008 at 7:05 pm

If you want to see some shot from the life of a Hollywood Key grip taken over 25 years check this http://www.historicalhobbies.com/grip/grip.htm I have been putting up pics from by box in the garage….lol

joe timko May 13, 2009 at 8:15 pm

a seriously poor definition of a key grip

joe timko May 13, 2009 at 8:16 pm

key grip is the driver???? dont tell that to a teamster, LOL!

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