7th Edition

The Grip Book The Studio Grip’s Essential Guide

By Michael G. Uva Copyright 2023
478 Pages 903 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

478 Pages 903 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

478 Pages 903 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Gain the essential skills of a professional grip to become the jack and master of all trades on any movie or television show set. This new edition has been fully updated and revised and will enable aspiring and professional grips to discover vital insider tips ranging from how to operate cutting-edge rigging and lighting equipment to performing difficult camera mounts on aircraft, boats, trains,... Read more

Contents

A rose by any other name

WHO KNEW!

Contributing Companies, Manufactures, and Suppliers That you Should Know

Author’s Note

Warning

About the Author

Acknowledgements

What Could Happen on Your Way to the Throne!

Introduction

1) Basic Essential Equipment 

Apple Boxes  

Baby Plates  

Bar Clamp Adapter Pin  

Basso Block  

Bazooka  

Bead Board Holder  

Big Ben Clamp  

Branch Holder  

C-Clamp Branch Holder  

Tree Branch Holder  

Cable Crossovers  

C-Clamps  

Camera Wedge  

Cardellini Clamp  

Chain Vise Grips  

Condor Bracket  

Cribbing  

Crowder Hanger  

Cucoloris  

Cup Blocks 

Dots and Fingers  

Drop Ceiling Scissor Clamp/Cable Holder  

Drop-Down, 45-Degree Angle  

Empty Frames  

Flag Box/Scrim Box  

Flags and Cutters  

Cutters  

Flexarms  

Furniture Clamp  

Furniture Pad  

Gaffer Grip  

Grid Clamp  

Grifflon  

Grip Clip  

Grip/Electrical Stage Box  

Grip Helper  

Grounding Rod/Spike  

Hand Truck  

Ladder  

Lamppost System (by Backstage Equipment)  

Mafer Clamp  

Matt Pipe Adapter Baby  

Matt Poles—Polecats  

Meat Ax  

Miniboom  

Muscle Truck (by Backstage Equipment)  

No-Nail Hanger  

Offset Arms  

Parallels  

Pipe Clamp, Baby  

Pipe Clamp, Junior  

Pony Pipe Clamp  

Poultry Bracket (Matthews)  

Putty Knife  

Reflector  

Reflector Slip-Ons (Scrims)  

Sandbags  

Scrims—Grip  

Single Net  

Double Net  

Lavender Net  

Silk  

Scrims, Butterfly Kits  

Silks  

Scrims, Flex  

Side Arms  

Stair Blocks  

Stand Adapter Pin  

Stands  

C-Stand 

C-Stand Operation  

Low-Boy Stand  

Reflector (Combo/Light) Stand  

Overhead (High Roller) Stand  

Overhead Stand Usage  

Stand Extensions (Riser)  

Studio Overhead Grip Arm  

Taco Carts  

T-Bone  

Telescoping Hanger-Stirrup  

Trapeze  

Trombone  

Tube Stretcher  

Tubing Hanger  

Turtle  

Umbrella  

Wall Bracket (Set)  

Wall Plate—Junior  

Wall Sled  

Wall Spreader  

Wedges  

2) Expendables  

Automatic Tape Gun (ATG) Tape  

Baby Powder  

Bead Board  

Black Wrap  

Bobinett  

Butcher Paper  

Clothespins (C-47s)  

Drywall Screws  

Dulling Spray  

Duvatyne  

Foam Core  

Grip Chains  

Laminated Glass  

Layout Board  

Lexan  

Penny Nails (#8 and #16)  

Plywood  

Pushpin  

Sash Cord #8  

Show Card  

Silicone Spray  

Spray Glue  

Spray Oil  

Staples  

Stove Pipe Wire  

Streaks ‘n’ Tips®  

Tapes  

Camera Tape  

Double-Faced Tape  

Gaffer or Grip Tape  

Paper Tape  

Visqueen

Filters & Gels   

3) Knots  

Bowline Knot  

Clove Hitch Knot  

Half Hitch Knot  

Square Knot 

4) Basic Tool Descriptions  

Standard Screwdriver (Common or Blade Type)  

Phillips Screwdriver  

Reed and Prince Screwdriver  

Files  

Hacksaw  

Lineman Pliers  

Torpedo Level  

Crosscut Saw  

Circular Saw and Blades  

Drill Bits  

Mat Knife  

Tape Measure  

Reel Tape Measure  

Claw Hammer  

Personal Tools  

Personal Tool Belt  

Everyday Basic Tools for a Grip’s Personal Toolbox  

Power Tools  

Useful Items to Also Carry  

Recommended Personal Gear

5) Truck Order Form (Basic) 

6) Green and Blue Screens

7) Mounts

8) Cranes

9) Condors and Lifts

10) Walkies

11) T.O.T.S. (Tricks Of The Trade)

12) F.A.C.T.S.

13) Fly Swatter

14) Chain Motors

15) Virtual Sets

16 Fluid Heads

17 Field Operations

18) Grip Tests

19) Terms

20) Glossary

21) Index

 

Biography

Michael G. Uva is a well-respected key grip in Hollywood, with over 32 years of experience in film, TV, movies, and commercials. Credits include films such as Easy A, Kalifornia, and Iron Eagle, and TV shows such as The League, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Bones. He has taught at UCLA’s extension program, the Phoenix, Denver, New Mexico, Cuyahoga College Cleveland, and Bakersfield Film Commissions, as well as for the Hollywood CPR Program at West Los Angeles College. He has also taught at international institutions such as the Kerry ETB Training Centre in Ireland.