A Grip on a Film Set Moves the Equipment
A grip is a firm hold. On a film crew the word names a specific and essential job.
A grip is a firm hold, or the part of a tool you hold. On a film set a *grip* is a technician responsible for rigging and moving camera support equipment — dollies, cranes and the gear that shapes light — and the *key grip* heads the department. The name comes from the older theatre sense of a stagehand who gripped and shifted scenery. *Get to grips with* is a wrestling metaphor, and *lose your grip* means losing control.
- A firm hold. *A tight grip.*
- A handle. *The grip of a racquet.*
- A film technician. *The key grip.*
- Get to grips with — tackle. *Get to grips with it.*
- Old English — *gripe*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | grip | A grip. |
| Plural | grips | Grips. |
| Verb | grip | Gripping. |
| Adjective | gripping | Gripping. |
| Compound | key grip | The key grip. |
- Keep a firm grip on the rail.Holding.
- The key grip rigged the dolly.Film.
- A gripping story.Figurative.
Film crew names that sound odd
- Grip — rigs and moves camera support equipment
- Gaffer — the chief electrician
- Best boy — the deputy to the gaffer or key grip
- Foley artist — creates everyday sound effects, named after Jack Foley
- Clapper loader — operates the slate and loads film
Old English *gripe*, a grasp, from *gripan*, to seize, of Germanic origin.
What does a grip do on a film set?
Rigs and moves camera support equipment such as dollies and cranes, and the gear that shapes lighting. The key grip leads the department.
Where does get to grips with come from?
From wrestling, where getting a grip on an opponent was the first step towards controlling them.