2. Grip and Lighting Training
What is a grip?
“an expert handyman”
“grips solve other people’s problems”

3. Grip and Lighting Training
Types of Grips
Key Grip
Best boy or girl Grip
Dolly Grip
Rigging Grip
Electric Grip
Camera Crane Grip
Etc…

4. Grip and Lighting Training
The Key Grip
Gathers Crew
Attends pre-production meetings
Attends location scouts
Determines support equipment needs
Interfaces with Gaffer and DP to determine plan
of action.
Unofficial safety captain on set.

5. Grip and Lighting Training
Best (girl or boy) Grip
Directs the grip crew based on instructions from
the key grip.
In charge of grip equipment and expendables
In charge of inventory on grip truck

6. Grip and Lighting Training
Grips
Rigging for lighting support.
Rigging for camera support.
Work with other departments on set.

7. Grip and Lighting Training
Gaffer
Person in charge of lighting, sometime called the
lighting director.
Works with DP to determine lighting needs to set
mood or other characteristics required by director.
Works with electrical department to setup the
lighting equipment where needed.

8. Grip and Lighting Training
Electricians (electrical department)
Responsible for supplying electricity where
needed.
Take direction from gaffer to set and focus
lighting equipment.

9. Grip and Lighting Training
Tools of the (grip) Trade
Multi-tool
Small flashlight
Torpedo level
Screwdrivers (both types)
Various type of tape
Small wrench or vise-grips
Clothes pins
Gloves
Tape measure

10. Grip and Lighting Training
Stands and Lighting Support
C-Stands
Rolling Stands
Baby and Junior pins
Many types of clamps

11. Grip and Lighting Training
Lighting Modifiers
Flags, cutters, and scrims
Butterflies or overheads
Cucoloris or “cookie”
Dots and fingers
Gels
Barn doors

12. Grip and Lighting Training
General Lighting Styles
Hard Light - powerful, harsh, easy to control
Soft Light - wraps, quick fall off, flattering
Key Light - main source of illumination
Fill Light - opposite of fill light, fill in shadows
Back Light - provides separation from background

13. Grip and Lighting Training
Types of Lighting Instruments
Fresnel
Ellipsodal
Open-Face
PAR
LED
Soft Boxes
Lantern

14. Grip and Lighting Training
Lighting Fundamentals
Lights generically nicknamed for their wattage
e.g. 1k, 2k, 5k, 150, 300, etc…
Lights measured in degrees kelvin
tungsten 3200k
HMI/daylight 5600k
LED variable
sunrise/sunset 2000k
fluorescent – 3200 or 5600k

15. Grip and Lighting Training
Lighting Color Correction
Gels are used to change one color temperature to
another.
CTO - Color Temperature Orange changes
daylight to tungsten
CTB - Color Temperature Blue changes tungsten
to daylight

16. Grip and Lighting Training
Camera Support
Tripods
Dollies
Camera Cranes
Steadicams
Stepladder
Camera Cars

17. Grip and Lighting Training
Grip Equipment Information
Matthews Studio Equipment and Grip
Avenger Grip Equipment
Manfrotto

18. Grip and Lighting Training
Lighting Equipment Information
Arri Lighting
Mole Richardson
Kino-Flo
Chimera Lighting

19. Grip and Lighting Training
Grip Truck Information
Brauer Productions
Detroit Power & Light
Lowing Lighting and Grip
The Movie Makers

20. Grip and Lighting Training
Definitions
Baby watt lamp
Base Camp Mobile headquarters for vehicles/equipment
Beach Slang for sand or weight bag
Bottomer Flag or cutter on the bottom of a light
Bull Pen Slang for grip equipment staging area
Butterfly Overhead lighting control
Courtesy Flag Shade for directory or talent
Ear Flag or cutter set on side of light
Eye Light Small light to give eyes a twinkle
Float a Flag Hand hold a flag to find location
Hand Shoes Leather gloves

21. Grip and Lighting Training
Definitions
Hot Set Don’t move anything, still shooting
Idiot Check Last minute survey of area for equipment
Juicer Slang for electrician, also called sparky
Junior Slang for 2000w light
Lunch Box Large AC power distribution
Negative Fill Using a solid black to bounce vs. white
Practical Actual working light on the set
Rope Wrench A knife for cutting rope
Scrims Wire mesh for dropping in front of light
Sider Flag or cutter used on side of light
Snack Book Small AC power distribution
Stinger AC electrical cable
Tweenie A 650w light