What to Expect as a Key Grip in the Film Industry

Life as a key grip is very demanding.  In fact, some people refer to key grips as the backbone of the film industry.  If you are finishing your video editing courses in Maryland and are considering a job as a key grip, check out what exactly that means and what you can expect from such a fulfilling, and important, position.

What is a Key Grip?

In a nutshell, the key grip helps set up and control a film’s lighting and is involved with the movement and rigging of cameras on set.  Requiring a sharp eye, plenty of technical knowledge gained from a reputable video production school, and a creativity to match the needs of the director and producer, becoming a key grip is no easy task.

Key Grip Responsibilities

The key grip is typically the supervisor of a team of grips, all of which build, set up, move, and maintain camera equipment and lighting for a film production.  They are the behind-the-scenes crew that make everything appear natural and beautiful on camera.

Here is a look at some of the main duties a key grip is responsible for on set or in-studio:

• Attend pre-production meetings to determine special equipment needs
• Execute the cinematographer’s vision in terms of camera positioning
• Understand the mechanics of various equipment
• Be knowledgeable in all aspects surrounding light, color, and electricity
• Facilitate camera movement or rigging
• Direct crane, dolly, and camera placement for stationary, moving, or floating object scenes
• Supervise other grips on the production crew
• Work closely with the gaffer on all lighting related matters
• Maintain responsibility for safety on set and is legally liable for accidents

If you are a key grip working on a major film production with a large crew, chances are you will also have direct authority over your assistant, otherwise known as the “best boy grip.”  This second-in-command grip will help you to supervise your team of specialist grips as well as perform minimal administrative tasks, such as ordering rental equipment and hiring personnel. 

It is also likely that your best boy grip will help track inventory, ensure equipment is delivered on time and to the correct locations, and may even take over the duty of firing those on the grip crew that are not up to par.

Key Grip Skills

Since being a key grip is so technically involved, getting an education from Maryland’s leading audio-production school is a must.  In fact, the training you will receive from Sheffield Audio-Video Productions will over-qualify you for any general grip position and will help propel you into a supervisory role as key grip immediately.

Here are some of the special skills you will need to become a successful key grip.  And of course, Sheffield will nurture all of these and more.

• Creativity.  Visualizing a scene before filming begins takes a creative edge that many people do not have.  This is especially true when it comes to incorporating the right equipment and placement of that equipment to bring that vision to life.  A key grip has to have a creative, yet very technical mind. 
• Spontaneity.  In addition to being creative in the pre-production phase of film production, a key grip must be able to come up with solutions on the spot when something goes wrong on set or does not meet the standards of the production crew.  Strong problem solving skills to match your technical knowledge are necessary to maintain an upper hand in the film industry.
• Patience.  This skill may seem unexpected at first, however after learning about how the production process works from start to finish during your video editing courses at Sheffield, you will understand.  Many times on set there are competing ideas and on the spot changes.  You must be able to handle all requests quickly, while also staying patient as things continue to change throughout filming.

What to Expect as a Key Grip

In you are aiming to work in the film industry as a key grip, there are several things to know and understand about this career choice.  While it can be both rewarding and lucrative, many jobs are freelance in nature meaning there is not always a guarantee that work will be available. 

In order to make a decent living as a key grip, you must also possess the following skills:

• Construction experience
• Leadership skills
• Effective and clear communication
• Ability to take orders from above just as well as giving them below
• Organization and planning skills
• Ability to travel and put long hours in
• Comfort in being held liable for injuries
• Adaptability when it comes to sets, studios, and production changes
• Likeability for networking purposes

You can expect to make a great deal of money as a key grip, though it may take long to get there initially.  Networking with industry professionals, building a solid resume of production gigs that were successful, and putting lots of time and effort into your career choice are just some of the things you will need to do to start making big bucks in major studio productions.

If you are looking to make the most of your video production education and dream to work in major studios on blockbuster films, contact The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts today.  To help shape your future career, we have experienced industry professionals instructing students on the basic principles of film production.  In addition, we strive to inspire our students’ creativity by allowing hands-on instruction using the best equipment in the industry today.

For those of you who understand the importance of networking in the film industry, you will appreciate the effort Sheffield puts into helping our students meet new people and gain job opportunities. 

Plus, by taking advantage of Sheffield’s career services program, you will be able to master all aspects of getting started in your career. 

Dedicated to helping you in any way we can, even upon graduation from video editing training, Sheffield will have you well on your way to your dream career as a key grip in no time!