INDUSTRYINSIDER
Pirate Grip & Electric
By: Joseph D. Becker with the sun we will use bounce boards, frames to bounce and diffuse, and support camera whether they are on tripod, dolly, or jib/crane. The Key Grip is also the safety coordinator and makes sure that everything on set is safe! AZFMM This is a very specialized field. You have to be a builder, electrician, engineer, inventor… You have to conduct yourself with professionalism on sets with big stars. It’s a long journey to get to where you are now. Tell us a bit about the path that led you here. How and when did you get into this business? PG&E I went to SCC film school about 13 years ago and worked on every student set I could; this is a chaotic time because everyone is learning and things take longer than they should. In the end it’s all about who you know. My Dad knew a freelance camera and sound man and I went out with him on jobs as a utility: helping with camera set up, lighting, grip, sound, and production assistant. This was a really great next step for me because I got to get my hands into every department on a small scale and it gave me a broad overview of what it took to accomplish the shot. On a bigger job for us I met a local Key Grip who then got me onto a big commercial set as a Production Assistant. I made a good impression on the Production Manager and Coordinator and started getting hired on commercial jobs as a PA. Greed and lack of available hands plays a big part in opening the door for people to step up – you have to take advantage of that, be ready, and be open to learn (quickly!!!). When the shoots were short on crew PA’s are sent to go help other
AZFMM explain what it is you do.
PG&E As a gaffer I, and the Key
Grip, work with the Director of Photography (the DP or the DoP) to help him or her achieve the look they want. First I work with the AD department to see how close we can get our trucks and equipment to set. Then I figure out if we are going to use house power or generator power. If we use house power then I need to locate the breaker box to see what we have to work with. Sometimes if we are using a bigger light or many small lights than a house plug is rated for we will tie into the box with a tie in set; which allows us to tap into the power that is going into the box and skip breakers. If we are using a generator I will talk to the Aud ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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