About the Book
Gain the essential skills of a professional grip to become the jack and master of all trades on any movie or television show set. Discover vital insider tips ranging from how to operate cutting-edge rigging and lighting equipment to performing difficult camera mounts on aircraft, boats, trains, and cars.
In The Grip Book, seasoned Hollywood grip Michael G. Uva teaches you to install, set up, maintain, and ensure the safety of all equipment on a set, such as C-stands, cameras, and any specialty gear needed for a shoot. Guidelines for on-set etiquette and how to succeed as a technical crew member will jumpstart your career and make you a valuable asset on any film or television crew.
This new 6th edition marks the books 30th anniversary and has been fully revised and updated to include expanded coverage of on-set scenarios, such as gripping near water and at heights; a brand-new chapter dedicated to providing insider solutions to various gripping problems that can often appear insurmountable to the uninitiated; and a brand-new companion website featuring a downloadable reference guide on grip equipment, and extensive how-to video demonstrations.
Other features include technical expertise on maintaining the latest and greatest filmmaking equipment; an updated self-test section containing over one hundred questions and answers; a comprehensive appendix containing a robust glossary of insider and equipment terms; and guidelines on what a grip has to be physically able to perform in their day-to-day duties.
Table of Contents:
Contributing Companies, Manufacturers, and Suppliers
Note from the Author
About the Author
Acknowledgments
What Could Happen On Your Way to the Throne!
A Bit of Encouragement
Companion Website (A "How To" Training Film)
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Essential Equipment
Chapter 3 - Expendables
Chapter 4 - Knots
Chapter 5 - Basic Tool Descriptions
Chapter 6 - Filters and Gels
Chapter 7 - The Rental House
Chapter 8 - Techniques for Mounting the Camera
Chapter 9 - Cables, Slings, and Hardware
Chapter 10 - Lifts
Chapter 11 - Cranes, Jibs, Arms, Dollies, and Heads
Chapter 12 - Cranes Mounted on Wheeled Bases
Chapter 13 - Lenny Arms
Chapter 14 - Cablecam
Chapter 15 - Dollies
Chapter 16 - Precision Cadillac Track and Chapman Lencin
Chapter 17 - Fluid and Remote Heads
Chapter 18 - Field Operation
Chapter 19 - A Professional’s Tips on the Trade
Glossary
Canadian Verses USA Grip Equipment Terms (Some…Not All)
Gripping Solutions
Grip Self Test
Index
About the Author :
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.
Review :
"The lessons Michael G. Uva teaches are not only purposed towards the film industry – I have learned the fundamentals and core values one must approach in order to overcome any obstacle in life."
—Sergio Castillo, Key Grip, IATSE Local 80; Director of Photography on two feature films
"Much more than just an equipment list, Michael Uva's The Grip Book is the definitive guide to
the department that is the Swiss Army knife of a film production. Each new chapter has a revised equipment section, along with real-world rigging scenarios, possible problems and workable solutions. Gripping from cover to cover."
—Brian Nolan, Instructor, National Digital Skills Centre, The Dawn Workshops, Kerry, Ireland
"Rarely in life does a person get educated by ‘the guy who wrote the book,’ and I was incredibly fortunate to be one of those people. Simply put, Mike Uva is a professional. For anyone at any age and any level of experience, there is something to be learned from The Grip Book."
—Sean Storer, Grip
"Mike Uva is a brilliant grip who has many professional years working with Chapman/Leonard Equipment on renowned sets in the motion picture and television industries. His book is informative about all grip equipment that is available to a filmmaker, making it easy to quickly learn about some of the most crucial assets for filmmaking."
—Nichole Chapman-Huenergardt, Producer, Chapman/Leonard Marketing Manager
"The Grip Book is the key to gripology – an essential guide written by one of the best key grips in the world, full of a crucial information and terminologies that you would never read about anywhere else. The advice that I always give to the beginners is ‘Read The Grip Book, and you are allowed to bring me an apple box.’"
—Thomas Kyriakos, Key Grip
"Mike Uva is a seasoned grip that has worked with many of the industry’s top directors and cinematographers. He teaches the art of gripping worldwide. He also mentors new filmmakers with The Grip Book, now in its sixth edition. This book covers the nuts and bolts and everything you did not learn in film school. It is a must for those who want to successful in this ever-changing industry."
—Frank Kay, Marketing Director, J.L. Fisher, Inc.
"For the avid professional or the novices, The Grip Book offers a wealth of knowledge to get the job done quickly and correctly!"
—Brian Kellogg, Key Grip
