Hollywood Pro Hosts Grip Olympics

He’s worked on movies with people like Billy Bob Thornton and on TV shows like “The United States of Tara.” But last Saturday Dan Misner, a professional Grip from Hollywood, was at NNU teaching Mass Communication students the ups and downs of “gripping ” – moving, setting up, adjusting, and tearing down equipment on a film set.

Misner and local Director of Photography Rex Morris donated their time – and use of a three ton “grip truck” – to augment what Mass Comm students already learn in class. Both have worked with Mass Comm professor Arnie Ytreeide on professional projects in the past, and like what they see at NNU. “What they do here is so far beyond what (some other schools) do,” Misner said. “I never got to do a quarter of the things these kids do when I was at (a state university).”

Saturday they translated that admiration into action by spending six hours of their time holding a “grip Olympics” – a seminar where freshmen learned how to set up and properly use equipment with names like c stand, Cartollini, and lollypop. “I learned that even the simplest, lowest job, being a grip, is complicated and takes a lot of experience,” said freshman Susanna McCulloch.

While the freshmen worked outside, advanced students were in the studio getting a crash course in lighting from Morris. “It wasn’t that different than what we learn in class”, sophomore Andy Firestone said, “but it gave us a great new perspective, and a few new tricks of the trade.”

Beyond the use of some very expensive – and often dangerous – equipment, Misner also taught the students proper set etiquette. “There are certain ways you do things in Hollywood,” Misner said, “and certain things you do and don’t do. Mess those up, and you can find yourself out of work in an instant.” Some of the examples he gave of set etiquette were shading the eyes of the Director of Photography from stray light, following a strict chain of command, and properly “staging” equipment not currently in use.“

And if you’re on the set and your cell phone rings, you can say goodbye to your job,” Misner added.“There are no cell phones allowed on set.”

About twenty Mass Comm and Communication students took part in the Grip Olympics. Students received no academic credit for the day, but felt they were sufficiently rewarded just in what they learned. “The Grip Olympics helped me understand how much time and effort actually goes into the setup process,” said freshman Chelsie Collins. “I appreciated the experience and would definitely do it again given the opportunity.”