Course Description
Introduces students to the latest equipment and techniques for on-set grip positions. Students learn proper rigging techniques, from clamps and stands to setting up tracks for camera movements and dolly shots. Studio policies, crew communication, equipment storage and care, labor rules, safety, and etiquette are also covered.
Athena Title
Grip and Rigging
Prerequisite
FILM 2000
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course equips students with the knowledge of camera and lighting equipment, its installation, and professional techniques. Upon completion of this course, students will have mastered and demonstrated professional skill sets and be ready to work in the film industry as entry-level grips, assisting with camera and lighting set-ups. The course is offered in collaboration with the Georgia Film Consortium. It may count as a general elective.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to the Grip and Rigging course. • The structure of the course and the overall program, the purpose of the Georgia Film Consortium, student and instructor goals, expectations and responsibilities, including studio expectations, behavior, and professional procedures and etiquette. • The Grip Department: Set versus Rigging; Key, Best, Company, and Dolly. • Interdepartmental relationships: fulfilling electric’s and camera’s wish list. • Learn the paperwork required in the department: start paperwork, deal memo, call sheets, etc. • Understand the role of the Unions and discuss the pros and cons of union membership. Union staffing requirements. • Communications and walkie-talkie techniques. 2. Lighting Modification Exercises. • C-Stands, Combo Stands, and being safe with stands. • Modifying lighting via flags, nets, and silks. • Working with electricians and hanging lights. • Exercise: Setting C-Stands and Flags, drawing up a lighting plot, and proper placement of lighting units for actors and backgrounds. 3. Lighting Modification, Advanced. • Overhead Safety. • Setting up and using equipment: Rollers and Mombo Combos. • Floppies: Modifying large lights on a stage. • Skinning frames and group exercise building 8x8 and 12x12 overheads. 4. Introduction to Rigging. • Introduction to light rigging and safety concerns. • Lightweight indoor rigging: Scissor clips and C-Clamps. • Medium Weight Indoor rigging: 2X4 wall spreader. • Roadrunner/Crank stands. • Exercises in rigging Scissor Clips and C-Clamps, plus 2x4 Wall Spreaders. 5. Speedrail Rigging. • Introduction to rails, Cheeseboros, and Grid Clamps, including safe practices. • Rigging menace Arms, T-Bones, and Goal Posts. • Exercises in building T-Bones and Menace Arms. 6. Condors and Unusual Rigs. • Condor crane equipment, techniques, and safety. • Condor brackets and candlesticks vs. scissor lifts. • Exercises in rigging candlesticks and condors. 7. Midterm assessment exam and exercises. • Midterm assessment of all course material so far this semester. • Written and hands-on exercises. 8. Working with dollies. • Introduction to working with dollies. • Laying dolly track on even and uneven terrain. • Basic dolly moves, including track-in, track-out, and side tracking. • Basic boom operations for sitting and standing actors. 9. How to use a dolly without track. • Various steering modes (rear, crab, round). • Open floor dolly work (learning to “dance” with the actors). • Dolly as "rolling sticks" and when to use a doorway. • Exercise: Open floor follow and open floor lead. 10. Open floor compound moves. • This is as complex as dolly work can get and as beautiful as it can get. • Adding boom operations to open floor dolly moves. • Visit a professional equipment rental house. 11. Camera rigging, one. • Camera mounting options: ball versus Mitchell. • Building cranes and jibs, including safety guidelines. • Building and working with a jib arm. 12. Camera rigging, two. • Car mounts (hostess versus hood). • Safety in and around vehicles (including hearing protection). • Exercise: Install hood mounts and hostess trays. 13. Additional varieties of camera rigs. • Smaller format options: GoPro and other mobile cameras. • Mounting cameras to props. • Exercise: Solving camera rigging challenges based on elaborate or demanding script descriptions. 14. Final class production. • In-class production, including all camera and lighting options. 15. Final wrap of the studio and final exam.