Beginning Grip
Workshop
For new Creative Filmmakers
Essential First Step to Becoming a Film & TV Grip
Why This Workshop
Whether you’re a Production Assistant, a film student, or someone with limited on-set exposure, this hands-on workshop is designed to accelerate your entry into the Film & TV industry.
You will learn the practical knowledge that producers, gaffers, key grips, and DPs expect from day-one crew members — the knowledge that leads to reliable work and long-term career opportunities.
What You’ll Learn
This workshop introduces you to the tools, techniques, and terminology used every day on professional sets. You’ll get hands-on experience with:
- Grip truck layout and organization
- Light stands, apple boxes, flags, cutters, reflectors
- Lighting instruments and safe handling
- Rigging hardware and basic rigging strategy
- Power cables, distribution, and set safety
- Proper wrapping, staging, lifting, and workflow
- How grips anticipate what is needed before it’s asked
By the end of the workshop, you’ll know what the gear is called, how to safely set it up, how to wrap and break it down, and how to think like a working grip.
“Very Hands-on and worth it.”
If you’d like to read this article about what grips do in the Film & TV industry, Backstage.com has a solid overview that pairs nicely with this workshop.
Who Should Attend
Ideal for anyone seeking a strong foundation in filmmaking tools and on-set operations, including:
- Production Assistants
- Students and emerging filmmakers
- Small-crew content creators
- Aspiring grips, electrics, and camera-support crew
- Anyone exploring a long-term production career
Understanding grip and electric gear dramatically increases your value on set. Producers, DPs, gaffers, and key grips remember the people who show up prepared and work safely.
This workshop is a meaningful step toward becoming part of someone’s trusted A-team for future shoots.
Benefits
Practical Working Knowledge
Learn the tools, terminology, and workflow of grip & electric departments, and understand how each piece of gear is used in real contexts.
More Job Opportunities
Competent, safe, proactive crew members are the ones department heads “HOD’ call back for future work.
Cross-Department Understanding
Knowing grip and lighting practices strengthens your work across camera, electric, and production roles.
Path to Paid Work
The film world rewards reliability and skill. Once you gain experience and build trust, the opportunities — and pay — increase significantly.
What to Expect in this One-Day Experience
We begin by unloading a fully stocked grip truck — the only way to truly learn this craft.
You will:
- Pick up and identify every piece of gear
- Learn proper names and common slang
- Practice safe lifting, carrying, staging, and wrapping
- Explore a range of lighting instruments, old and new
- Learn how grips anticipate needs (“If they ask for this, bring these too…”)
- See tools in action through real-world examples and demonstrations
This is a hands-on outdoor workshop lasting approximately 8 hours with a lunch break.
Coffee, water, and lunch are included.
Please bring: sunscreen, gloves, hat, kneepads (optional), and a notepad.
Who is Teaching this Workshop
Wes Dorman — Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Gaffer, and owner of CineKits.com — brings more than 40 years of industry experience.
Based in the San Fernando Valley, shooting local and internationally, Wes specializes in documentary and network television. His career spans major networks, international locations, large-scale recreations, and multi-camera productions.
Recent credits include:
- National Geographic — The Story of God / The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman
- Netflix — Unsolved Mysteries
- ID Channel — A Body in the Snow (Karen Read Trial series)
Wes’s teaching style is known for being direct, practical, and grounded in real production experience.
Be warned: Wes does most of the talking — participants do most of the work.
Hosted in Los Angeles
- Limited to 6 participants for maximum hands-on training.
- Tuition: $250 for the full one-day experience.
