What do you always want in a grip truck?

A

AFJJ

Active member
Hi,

I'm just wondering if anybody has some items that they always request in a grip truck and why. :banned:

Best regards, -AJ
 
It depends on what I'm shooting...interiors, exteriors, night, day, etc. A good mix of size stands, reflectors, clamps, hardware, etc. I also always make sure not to underestimate the number of sandbags and appleboxes I carry.
 
Here's a typical 3 ton set up

Stands
2 Hi-Hi Stands
6 Combo Stands
4 Beefy Baby Stands
4 Baby Roller Stands
1 Low Combo Stands
12 40" C-Stands
Hardware
2 18" Bar Clamps
4 4" C-Clamps
4 6" C-Clamps w/ Stud
2 8" C-Clamps w/ Junior
4 Baby Pipe Hangers
2 Junior Pipe Hangers
2 4 1/2" Grip Heads
2 2 1/2" Grip Heads
1 Baby Offset Arms
1 Junior Riser
4 Step Blocks
1 Turtle Stand
1 Junior Offset Arms
2 Short Arms
4 3" Baby Plates
2 Right Angle Baby Plate
2 Junior Plates
2 Junior Stand Adapters
2 Tubing Hangers
4 Mafer Clamps
4 Gaffer Grips
4 Ceiling Studs
2 Chain Vice Grips
8 1" Spring Clamps
10 2" Spring Clamps
1 2x4 Wall Spreader
Flags
4 18x24 Flags
2 18x24 Singles
2 18x24 Doubles
2 18x24 Silks
2 18x24 Frames
4 24x36 Flags
2 24x36 Singles
2 24x36 Doubles
2 24x36 Silks
2 24x36 Frames
2 48x48 Floppies
1 48x48 Singles
1 48x48 Doubles
1 48x48 Silks
2 48x48 Frames
1 Flag Box
Overheads
1 6x6 Solid
1 6x6 Single
1 6x6 Double
1 6x6 B/W Griff
1 6x6 Silk
1 6x6 Frame
1 12x12 Solid
1 12x12 Single
1 12x12 Double
1 12x12 B/W Griff
1 12x12 Silk
1 12x12 Frame
Reflectors
4 42x42 Reflectors
Apple Boxes &Wedges
6 Full Apple Boxes
4 1/2 Apple Boxes
4 1/4 Apple Boxes
4 1/8 Apple Boxes
1 Box of Wedges

Sandbags
12 #15 Sandbags
4 #35 Sandbags
Miscellaneous Equipment
4 8' x11' Tarps
1 Skill Saw
1 36" Carpenters Level
1 15 lb. Sledgehammer
1 4' Step Ladder
1 6' Step Ladder
1 Broom
1 Shovel
1 Rake
1 Bullhorn
4 Furniture Pads
2 Tall Make-Up Chairs
2 Director Chairs
4 Traffic Cones
1 Ice Chest
1 Water Cooler

This pretty much covers it for me. I like to rig lights in strange places, so lots of rigging clamps etc. for me is a must. I also love cookies (cukaloris) plenty of those are good too.
 
On top of a standard 3 ton --like mentioned above.I always request HMI's, (1200's and joker bugs) a Fisher 11 dolly, straight and curved track,Kino's, a Menace arm- with 10,12 or 14ft of speed rail-depending on my shot, a pancake lantern and reflective fabric for either an 8x8ft or 12x12 ft overhead, like GRIFF, if it's not included in the standard package. If outdoors, I must have shiney boards...
 
A little off-topic but, but speaking of menace arms, has anyone used Matthew's mini max stand? I'm tempted to get one... I'm always having to arm out kino's and what not... it normally ends up being a jury rigged grip-arm thing or speedpipe.
 
Who decides what equipment goes in the grip and lighting trucks? the DP or would it be the gaffer or best boy..?
 
crazycatz said:
Who decides what equipment goes in the grip and lighting trucks? the DP or would it be the gaffer or best boy..?
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There are no rules in film... Sometimes its all three, or sometimes just the gaffer and grip, all depends. Some DP's work differently than others. Having worked for years in all three positions at the same time on many shoots, I tend to decide whats needed because I've had to make those choices so much. Other DP's just give them details on how they want to shoot ie: "I want it to look like bright sunny shafts of light are flowing into the room and I want to shoot at f/4.0 and have the contrast be at about 6 stops, Go do it!"
 
Most grip trucks are packed with a pre-determined package and you add whatever additional stuff you need that's not already given to you. Some packages are pay by play and others you pay a flat rate for the entire truck.
 
Yo Barry, I have not personally used the mini max set up, and it does look great for carrying a heavy load. A few times , when in a hurry or for a quick set up, I have used the Avenger D-600 mini boom arm to rig a Kino, or hair light, when I had a less than perfect location to work in.
 
Supreme Flix said:
Iam gettiing second thoughts about this video/flim addiction that i have. lol
Click to expand...

So is my accountant.
I'm adding 2 - 400/800 K5600 joker kits
2 medium chimera softbanks-w/ eggcrates
1 medium chimera pancake lantern w/ skirt
K5600 softtube for a 400 joker
a one ton grip package
a 12ft - 7' tall, V-nosed, cargo trailer
Honda EU 6500 genny
Now I have to buy all the "Gack" shelves,brackets, hardware to make a place for everything.....
OUCH $$$$
 
I'm in the midwest, so prices may be different where you are...
First, there is the insurance, and again this differs from one rental house to another..The truck itself requires insurance and the contents require EQUIPMENT RENTAL INSURANCE. So you need, in place, aprox $ 100,000 dollars worth of rental equipment insurance, plus the truck.
Some places have just a flat fee and insurance waivers, not unlike HERTZ, or AVIS.
3 ton package-usually tungsten-unless you swap those out for Daylight- or it comes all tungsten, and you simply add HMI's(ala cart)
Can go from $ 300.00 day to $ 800.00 a day. You usually can get them to give you the truck for a week(and depending on where you live) for either a 3 day or 4 day rental..So basically, a whole week for 3 or 4 days.
Many people rent a truck on a Friday, and can get the whole weekend for one days rate.
 
filmat11 said:
So is my accountant.
I'm adding 2 - 400/800 K5600 joker kits
2 medium chimera softbanks-w/ eggcrates
1 medium chimera pancake lantern w/ skirt
K5600 softtube for a 400 joker
a one ton grip package
a 12ft - 7' tall, V-nosed, cargo trailer
Honda EU 6500 genny
Now I have to buy all the "Gack" shelves,brackets, hardware to make a place for everything.....
OUCH $$$$
Click to expand...

I already own the Chimera 20" and 30" lanterns and think they're way cool. How would you compare it to a medium pancake and why'd you go with the pancake?
 
So what's the usefullness of a right angle baby plate? I guess you could nail it into a wall, but I'm never in a situation where I can sink nails into a wall.
 
shawneous said:
I already own the Chimera 20" and 30" lanterns and think they're way cool. How would you compare it to a medium pancake and why'd you go with the pancake?
Click to expand...

I just bought a pancake and love it. I like the pancake a little more because of the shallow depth. Often I have to rig above tables with lower ceilings and you need every inch you can get.
 
I fill echo what BCHEONG says, and add that I chose it because of the additional control of the skirt and I can tighten it up closer to a ceiling than with a lantern.. I ordered a medium because size matters..lol, and the small just wasn't giving me the spread of light I wanted...Hope that helps...Sorry I did not respond sooner.
 
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