BRANCH NEWS
SKILLSET PASSPORT
STAGE AND SCREEN ARTICLE JUNE 2010
The Photocopy below shows the 'Grips "Advanced" Level 3 Passport', a photo I.D. Laminate card issued by Skillset confirming that the individual has achieved their NVQ qualification to the highest level of competence in their craft grade. There is also a "Grips Level 2" I.D. card which gives an individual competence to work under the guidance of the more advanced qualified grip, and also to undertake and carry out tasks & duties alone in the units achieved within the Level 2 Grips qualification. There is also a Crane Technicians Level 2 NVQ qualification which has been tailored to this grades specialist skills. Skillset issues these passports once an individual has produced their certificate from the awarding body to prove they have achieved their respective qualification.Bectu along with the Grips/Crane Techs Branch would now urge all qualified Grips & Crane Techs to carry their Photo I.D. Laminate Passport at all times and show their card on arrival to the Producer or Production Manager before the shoot commences to confirm their competence to work on-set in any given situation and with the equipment being used and operated. It would also be advisable to state to a Producer when in line to be engaged on a Film or TV Drama before shooting commences that an individual is qualified to a particular level and carries the passport. The Passport ensures a Production Company that each individual has the skills, abilities and respective levels of competence to carry out their duties to the highest standards and also gives them confidence when approaching their insurers with details of crew members engaged for any assignment.
In the "Stage & Screen" issue, October 2008 we published a two page article entitled "Laying down the future" in which it was explained in detail the history to the above qualifications. It is worth mentioning two points from this previous article. (1. That it was the aim of the Grips/Crane Techs Branch to ensure all its members were either qualified or working towards completion of their qualification. Branch can confirm that almost 90% of the membership are now qualified to their respective levels, with the remaining percentage signed up and undertaking assessment to gain competence within the next two years. (2. That the U.K. is the only country within the European Union & around the world offering the above guarantee when engaging qualified grips. This is still the current situation !
Details for the Grips & Crane Technicians NVQ qualifications can be found on the Grips Website, www.gripsbranch.org.uk or enquiries directly to "Ealing Institute Of Media" Tel No; 020-8231-6090.
DENNIS FRASER RECEIVES LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
On Saturday 6th February 2010 the "Grips & Crane Technicians Branch" celebrated its 25th anniversary in Panavision's Preview Theatre, Greenford, Middx, barely a stones throw away from its very first fledgling meeting held at Grip House in 1985. This landmark meeting of the Branch was not only an achievement for the Grips themselves but an opportunity for them to honour one of their founding members, Dennis Fraser MBE who along with several other motion picture grips formed the first "Grips Branch" committee to represent the grips & promote the grade as a professional body of highly trained technicians. Over the last quarter century the Branch has grown from around 35 members who worked exclusively in Film & TV Commercial production as freelance grips to a current membership of over 150 Grips & Crane Technicians working in all sectors of the industry predominantly in London & the South East.
What is unique about this group of individuals is that the majority of them now hold a Grips or Crane Techs qualification and carry a Skills Passport in the form of a photo I.D. Laminate card issued by Skillset. Achieving the Grips/Crane Techs NVQ is the aim of all branch members. The branch wants to ensure that all its members are working to the highest professional standards and have competence in either their Level 2 Grips qualification, or for the most experienced Grips an "Advanced" Level 3. There is also a "Crane Techs" Level 2 which has been specifically tailored to the professional abilities needed to do that job. Each individual is assessed by a City & Guilds qualified assessor who is also a professional working Grip and holds the "Advanced" Level 3 Grips qualification. What the grips have achieved over the last decade with this qualification is now being adopted by other departments who want to promote their particular job with a dedicated NVQ which reflects the specialist skills associated with each grade and raises the standards across the industry.
Dennis Fraser MBE has been the standard bearer of the Grips qualification and through his belief in this route to excellence and his tireless hard work and dedication in promoting the Grips over the last two decades and what their unique talents bring to film making, has achieved almost single handed across the industry recognition for a craft grade that had previously only existed within the confines of the camera department. Now that department has decided that it too must have it own dedicated qualification, and both the Focus Pullers ( 1st AC ) & Loaders ( 2nd AC ) have written a set of standards that reflect their respective skills and specialist knowledge that encompass all aspects of their job. Dennis has also promoted the skills of UK Technicians overseas and our friends & colleagues across the pond are aware of what the UK Grips have achieved over the last several years. They too are beginning to realise that this is indeed the route forward to ensure the highest standards. British Grips are the only craft grade worldwide within the motion picture industry who have their own dedicated qualification and carry a skills passport. This ensures that when crewing up for a production the Producer knows they are getting the right person for the job, and that that individual is trained to the highest standards. You can be sure of a persons skills if that individual holds the necessary qualification and is an expert in their field.
Dennis also pioneered the first official Grips Apprenticeship scheme and both he and the branch are hoping that later this year a second scheme will be launched through the Skillset Screen Academy @ E.I.M. The apprenticeship will be limited to four places, it will last for two years and be structured around attending the college, specialist workshops & Masterclasses, and include placements at facility houses as well as on films & TV drama's under the wing of an "Advanced Level 3" Grip. It was for all these achievements and his unwavering belief in being able to bring all these elements together that Dennis was honoured by his piers on the 6th February this year at the 25th anniversary of the Branch. This recognition was given in the form of a gold plaque presented to Dennis by the first branch Chairman Jimmy Dawes who Dennis worked with at MGM Studios in Borhamwood from the early fifties until its closure in the 1970's. The plaque was carved with a figure of a grip pushing a Chapman Pee Wee Dolly,and inscribed with the words " In recognition of your achievements in the Motion Picture Industry. From all your friends & colleagues in the Grip Branch & your dear friend Lenny Chapman". Lenny and Dennis have been close friends for many years and Dennis is MD of Chapman Studio Equipment UK. It was the wish of every Branch member that Lenny's name appeared on the plaque because of the unique part he too has played in championing our profession, Chapman Cranes & Dollies have been an integral part of the Grips kit almost every day any Grip goes to work on a film set.
The Branch's aims and ideals run parallel with Dennis's in that it can continue to promote its members skills and that each of them will contribute towards raising the standards of excellence and safety within their department and across the motion picture industry as a whole.
LOUMA 2
coordination between the telescopic arm and the Louma 2 remote head which, in turn, aids the
rehearsing and achieving of crane shots - saving valuable production time.
TO READ MORE CLICK HERE
CAMERA REVOLUTION 3D RIG FOR LIBRA & MEGA
TO SEE FULL SPECS CLICK HERE
NEW HSE DOWNLOADS
Newly added pdf for download from the HSE:
* 5 STEPS TO RISK ASSESSMENTS
* SELECTION OF FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT
* INSPECTION OF FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT
All pdf are available for download from the download page plus many more.
APA
NEW APA AGREEMNET FOR 2010
Since 2004 the Grips Association have negotiated the terms and conditions
under which grips are employed with the APA. Throughout this time we have
had a wide-ranging, continuous, productive and ongoing discussion with the
APA regarding pay, terms and conditions, our qualifications, insurance, health
and safety and the current economic conditions we all find ourselves in.
Throughout 2009 we negotiated on behalf of grips to create a revised new
agreement effective from 1st January, 2010. These negotiations have been
conducted throughout a period of economic instability and it is to all our
combined credit that our negotiations have always been open, good
humoured and productive.
Our example has contributed to other professional bodies such as the
Assistant Directors Association being formed to emulate our success with
establishing qualifications, training and group negotiations.
During 2010 we hope to continue our negotiations as economic conditions
improve for APA member companies and to further increase awareness of our
successful qualification and training program.
PANTHER NEW GENERATION OF DOLLIES
After over 25 years of experience in designing and manufacturing electromechanic Dollies, Panther is introducing a new generation of cameradollies.
The new Tristar dolly is standing out, due to no time being wasted, while mounting accessories to perform a low shot at the set.
Panther has designed the Tristar, according to the wishes of many DOPs.
The realisation of this low starting position has been done through an additional column section, increasing the number of moving column segments from 2 to 3. For this, our patented, time tested and approved railsystem with special bearings has been used. Camera movements from a sitting to a standing person are possible without any conversion of the dolly. Electronic, drive train and wheel system have been taken over from our reliable Panther Classic. Therefore the reliability of this new generation of dollies is warranted.
Batteries and most of the accessories of other and previous Panther models can be used with the Tristar.
Due to the possibility of the TriStar to realize low shots easily without converting the dolly, a new period of working time efficiency and effectivity with a cameradolly has begun.
For more infomation check out the Panther website by clicking here
INCLOMONITOR
The Inclomonitor is an innovative new device produced by a consortium of three companies jointly having over forty years experience in the film and television industry.
The Inclomonitor is mounted onto a Crane Arm, Jib Arm, Jimmy Jib or Steadicam rig and a LCD monitor attached to the integral bracket. As the Crane Arm is jibbed up and down, the LCD mounting bracket is driven by a servo motor inside the unit. The result is that the viewing angle is kept constant and the operator does not have to move to see the image. The Inclomonitor is a completely stand alone unit and only requires a DC power source of 12 – 30V to operate.
There are controls to adjust the angle that the monitor is driven to at the extreme of the Crane Arm travel; a position control to manually drive the monitor to any desired position; and a reset control to position the monitor in the vertical plane.
Optional extras are clamps and articulated arms to mount the Inclomonitor on to the equipment in use and various lengths of loom to supply power and video signal to the unit and monitor.
For more details or any further information, please use the links below:
adam@louma.co.uk, mark@scubacam.net, mike@griptronix.com
http://www.louma.co.uk/inclomonitor.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhoLJIvfcO8
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