Harry C. Box’s Set Lighting Technician’s Handbook is by far the most important book a Lighting Technician can own. This book is considered required reading for Lighting Technicians, Grips and Cinematographers. Buy the Set Lighting Technician’s Handbook on Amazon here. I have carried this book on 90% of the film sets that I have worked on […]
The 5 Major Mistakes Inexperienced Gaffers Make on Set
Working as a gaffer can be a very difficult and stressful job. It can be very easy to make simple mistakes or let the stress get to you. There are definitely some things you can keep in mind that will make your day easier, more efficient, ease communication, increase the possibility of a call back […]
Working as a Grip or Electric
This is an in-depth blog breaking down Working as a low level grip or electric in film and television. Please comment below. As a reader it is your responsibility to help us make this post better! What is it missing? Have any questions? This post began as two separate posts, but were merged due to […]
The 16 Sexiest Roles on a Film Set, Ranked by Sex Appeal
This is a Guest Post by Christopher Redmond of Dear Cast & Crew. DC&C is a series of open letters to the people behind some of the best and worst films of all time. Chris and the rest of the team at Dear Cast & Crew are really bringing something new and interesting to film […]
‘Grip It Good’, Mark Vargo Shares the Importance of Grips in this Short Doc
We started HowToFilmSchool in early 2012 with the intention of helping new filmmakers learn more about all the important jobs below the line on a film set. It has been a tough road, but we are very proud of what we have accomplished thus far. One of the often neglected departments in the film industry […]
William F Whites Releases “Tool Belt”, an Online and Mobile Educational Resource
This morning, rental house William F Whites released a fantastic new educational phone app! Looks like gaffers, grips, DOPs and all lighting technicians everywhere have a new educational resource to check out with William F Whites release of Tool Belt an Online and Mobile Education Resource. What’s in William F Whites Tool Belt App? With […]
25 Grip & Lighting Terms that Sound Sexual & What They Actually Mean
A couple of weeks ago Evan Luzi of the Black and Blue wrote a fantastic post entitled 25 Filmmaking Terms that Sound Like Sex Acts (and What They Actually Mean), I thoroughly enjoyed the post and even added “ubangi” to the comments section of his site. Definitely give it a read, and check out some […]
Knots for Grips!
One of the most important things a grip can learn is tying proper knots. There are dozens of situations where the right knot can save you a lot of time and maybe even save someone’s life! Knots are something all grips should take very seriously! If you are ever unsure of your knot tying, step […]
Working as a Best Boy Grip or Electric
This post began as two separate posts, but were merged due to the similarities in the jobs This is an in-depth blog breaking down Working as a Best Boy Grip or Electric in film and television. Please comment below. As a reader is is your responsibility to help us make this post better! What is […]
Cinematographer David Mullen on Lighting & Some Product Demos From Arri, Hive & More
I have been following David Mullen’s career for several years now and I have always loved how willing he is to share his wealth of knowledge with anyone that is interested. He is one of the best contributors on the Cinematography.com forums and an extremely talented cinematographer. Check out the “In Production” section of cinematography.com […]
105 Tips for Grips and Electrics to Live by
Working as a grip and electric can be damn hard, there is a ton of gear to learn, the days are long and the work itself can be very physically demanding. That’s why we want to share these grip and electric tips with our readers! We have compiled a list of 101 Grip and Electric Tips […]
Grip Tips: How to Roll Up Sound Blankets
How to roll up sound blankets was one of the first things I learned on my first day on set as a grip. We had dozens of sound blankets in the truck that came from the rental house folded up and the Key Grip insisted they be stored rolled up as a jelly roll. In the […]