CREWSDAY TUESDAY: GET TO KNOW THE GRIP

Our latest edition of Crewsday Tuesday features Bridie Bennett, a grip trainee on This City is Ours season 2! 

As a grip trainee, Bridie ensures that all equipment, such as the camera tracks and dolly equipment are accounted for and properly handled on set. As the job consists of a lot of heavy lifting, it’s important to make sure that the heavy equipment is handled safely, which usually means working as a team and making sure that the whole grip department on a production is supported. Being a grip trainee results in a lot of hand-on experience, and tasks can vary in their safety, for example, handing a handheld camera to the operator vs. laying down camera tracks. 

Bridie originally got her start in the film and TV industry by going onto the LFO crew services/ database to contact crew, sent out emails asking for shadowing experience, having days to look and familiarise herself with the camera kit. She began her career as part of the camera department but developed an interest in the grip department because of the more physical aspect of it- alongside the more flexible set presence than grip- and the less delicate nature of the Grip department meant less pressure for Bridie. 

While the Grip department is not as well known outside the film and TV industry, Bridie speaks from experience that the department is very diverse, but everyone is treated equally and no one is judged based on their capabilities- the main thing is that equipment is carried correctly and safely. Safety across all departments is crucial, but it is especially in grip because of its physicality, and crew in the grip department are always happy to give a hand, advice and support others in their team.