The Grip Book

by Michael G. Uva

This friendly, practical, on-the-job manual details the equipment, processes, and tricks of the trade that you will need to know in order to be a successful grip. This new edition contains the latest information on the newest equipment available and has been updated to reflect changes in the industry. This valuable professional reference, known as "the bible" for grips, contains more information than ever on how to become a professional grip and have a successful career, and will be an indispensable learning tool and reference for all experience levels. The Companion DVD includes visual demonstrations of techniques and equipment as well as the popular "grip rap" theme song.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 1997

Reviews

[Julie Gayler]

FULL of practical, need to know information to get you started with many things on set as a grip.

Last year, I worked on a film set for the first time, and I wished I had finished this first! Picked up a few helpful tips and tricks after reading this, but this is definitely best suited for someone who needs an academic introduction before getting started.

[Duncan]

If you like lifting things all day, hour after hour, and don't like the tedium of actually thinking a whole lot, you might want to give this book a quick glance. It's the best book for learning the jargon of the grip and how some grip equipment is used. It's quite good, in fact.

If you have questions about film and video stage equipment, this is the second best reference; the first would be the catalogs. It's well organized and readable with good illustrations. I wish I'd read it about ten years earlier.

I don't actually think grips don't like thinking. I'm just bitter about the time I've spent sort of being a grip.

[Kevin Connery]

This edition seems to have added a lot of large equipment info, but removed some of the small-gear notes. (Or my memory is fading, which is also possible.)

[Alastair Sinclair]

These notes are based on the 4th edition. (Changes may have been made already in newest edition).

Lots of great advice and good start for anyone looking to get into gripping or film industry in general.

The sections on cranes and other equipment specs seemed unnecessary. Most of this info can be found either online or in higher quality from the manufacturer's books.

The photos and illustrations were very nice to have for any gear someone is unfamiliar with. It may help to have the photos in colour in the book, as a lot of the information gets lost in black and white print.

Overall definitely a work while book to read and to have on hand to reference information when needed.

[Jennifer]

Get a grip ;)

[Cole Perrine]

Really great resource. Also silly.