Thanks Mike for taking me on a journey back to the good/not so good old days of non-Union low budget shows. I remember the first time as a young Grip. I was asked to grab a 2 x 4 and go with the juicers because they were tying in, I didn’t know what they were talking about but soon learned. I remember hearing a story, and probably a tall-tale , of a Grip asking to grab something to make sure the electricians didn’t get locked up while they were tying in and of course grabbed a piece of speed rail and was looked at like “are you new”? I was shocked at least three times that I can remember, which only cemented the idea of never becoming a juicer and staying on the dolly as much as possible.
Isn't it amazing what we can convince ourselves to do if we're young enough/hungry enough/fearless enough/unaware enough/trusting enough? Somehow, on a film set , when there's always someone higher than you who says "go ahead "one doesn't like to question too closely. You know someone else is waiting outside to do your job if you give the least amount of friction to the team. So, onward you go ignoring the quiet voice within.
Scary stuff the camera department would rather not know about.
(Except long after the fact, on a Substack post.)
Great stories, though. However scary. :)
Thanks Mike for taking me on a journey back to the good/not so good old days of non-Union low budget shows. I remember the first time as a young Grip. I was asked to grab a 2 x 4 and go with the juicers because they were tying in, I didn’t know what they were talking about but soon learned. I remember hearing a story, and probably a tall-tale , of a Grip asking to grab something to make sure the electricians didn’t get locked up while they were tying in and of course grabbed a piece of speed rail and was looked at like “are you new”? I was shocked at least three times that I can remember, which only cemented the idea of never becoming a juicer and staying on the dolly as much as possible.
Ha — you were the smart one!
Isn't it amazing what we can convince ourselves to do if we're young enough/hungry enough/fearless enough/unaware enough/trusting enough? Somehow, on a film set , when there's always someone higher than you who says "go ahead "one doesn't like to question too closely. You know someone else is waiting outside to do your job if you give the least amount of friction to the team. So, onward you go ignoring the quiet voice within.
So glad you survived to tell the tale!
Well put, Deb!