What Exactly Does a Key grip do on set? To extend the headlines question a little bit: What is the actual impact of a production grip department on the final look and feel captured through the camera? It might surprise you but without the help of grips, we would be watching pretty boring, uninspired stuff all day long. Watch the whole interview with Jake Reeder, a key grip himself, hosted by our very own Graham Sheldon. gaffer and Key grip are actually on the same level and need to work together in order to make the Directors and DPs vision a reality.
The key grip needs to be there (as does the gaffer) in order to check how to place the camera at the desired position, how to deploy a light on top of that rim, and so on. Hanging a giant light rig overhead of a crowd of people is a….