SCENE 01 / GRIP EQUIPMENT SERVICES
Grip Services
Professional grip crews and equipment for camera and lighting support across Canada.
Grip equipment services provide the mechanical support hardware and rigging that shapes light and positions cameras on set. In Canada, grip teams work across world-class facilities including Pinewood Toronto Studios and Vancouver Film Studios, using stands, flags, frames, dollies, and specialized rigging for precise camera placements.
We source grip equipment and experienced grip crews who understand the physical demands of professional set work. With packages available from William F. White (Whites) and PS Production Services, our team coordinates equipment with your key grip's specifications, ensuring all hardware meets IATSE and Canadian safety standards.
Capabilities
Grip Department Solutions
From dolly operation to complex rigging, we provide experienced grip professionals and complete equipment packages for productions of any scale.
01
Camera Support
- Dolly and track systems
- Crane and jib operation
- Slider and motion control
- Specialty camera mounts
- Vehicle camera rigs
Camera Movement
02
Lighting Support
- Stands and rigging
- Diffusion and flag work
- Overhead frames
- Silk and bounce control
- Negative fill setups
Light Control
03
Rigging
- Truss and grid systems
- Safety rigging
- Overhead installations
- Set piece mounting
- Specialty rigging solutions
Structural Support
04
Specialty Grip
- Car and vehicle mounts
- Process trailer operation
- Greenscreen support
- Rain and wind effects
- Mechanical effects support
Specialty Solutions
On Location
William F. White grip inventory plus IATSE 891 / 873 / 514 key grips
Here is how the work lines up. Canadian grip departments run on the William F. White (Whites) grip inventory that has supplied Hollywood-North feature production since the 1970s — Lite Grids and Magic Cloth as the soft-light vocabulary, Mole 100mm vinyl flags in every size, double and single nets, silks, butterflies up to 20x20, and the full Modern Studio Equipment C-stand and Matthews Hi-Hi and Combo stand stock that defines a North American set.
Specialty grip lives in the Norms Industrial and Matthews ladder rocker / Crockett platform / Western Dolly stock, with Chapman Hybrid IV, Peewee Plus, and Hustler IV dollies plus Fisher 10 and 11 platforms drawn from Whites and PS Production work. Crane and jib work runs Chapman Hydrascope, Lenny Arm III, Jimmy Jib Triangle, and Technocrane 30/50 with ops trained through IATSE 891 BC, 873 Toronto, and 514 Quebec.
Key grips on the roster have shipped credits across Star Trek Discovery, Murdoch Mysteries, The Last of Us BC blocks, Schitt's Creek, and the Greig Fraser Vancouver Dune Part Two unit; the bench is deep enough to staff multiple major productions in parallel.
Power and rigging packages adapt to terrain. Honda EU2200i and EU7000is silent generators carry interview-density Toronto and Montreal corporate work, Wacker Neuson 50 and 150 kVA tow-behinds cover full-feature blocks, and Volta Solar / battery packages handle off-grid Yukon, Iqaluit Nunavut, NWT, and Banff backcountry shoots where fuel delivery isn't practical. Cold-weather generator block-heaters and oil-pan heaters are standard Dec-Mar for Quebec, Yukon, and Nunavut shoots routinely running -25°C.
Vehicle-mount and process-trailer work draws on the Whites Insurance fleet of Ultimate Arm cars, low-loaders, and process trailers used across Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary unit work. Greenscreen frame stock up to 30x30, rain-bar and Cyclone fan effects, and full set-piece rigging integrate cleanly with the lighting department; truss and grid systems are rigged by IATSE-certified riggers carrying current Working at Heights, Fall Protection, and provincial Op certifications. WorkSafeBC, WSIB Ontario, CNESST Quebec, and WCB Alberta coverage and CSA-rated PPE are built into every crew booking, with CBSA ATA carnet handling for any inbound specialty grip shipped from the US or EU.
FAQ
Our Grip Network
What does a grip department do?
The grip department supports both camera and lighting. They operate dollies, cranes, and camera support equipment for camera moves. They also handle all non-electrical lighting support: stands, rigging, diffusion frames, flags, and bounce/negative fill.
What positions are in a grip department?
Key Grip leads the department and works closely with the gaffer and DP. Best Boy Grip manages equipment and logistics. Dolly Grip operates camera dollies. Company Grips handle general grip work. Rigging Grips focus on pre-rigging and construction.
When do I need a grip vs. an electrician?
Electricians handle anything electrical—lights, power distribution, cables. Grips handle physical support and rigging—stands, camera movement equipment, flags, diffusion frames. The gaffer supervises electrics; the key grip supervises grip.
What equipment is included in grip packages?
Grip packages typically include C-stands, flags, nets, silks, bounce boards, apple boxes, sandbags, clamps, and basic rigging. Dollies, cranes, and specialty equipment are usually additional items quoted separately.
Do your grips have rigging certifications?
Yes. Our rigging grips hold appropriate certifications for overhead work, truss systems, and safety rigging. Complex rigging work is supervised by certified rigging supervisors meeting industry safety requirements.
Can you provide grip trucks with equipment?
We coordinate complete grip truck packages through our rental partners. These include the truck, driver, and comprehensive grip equipment. Crew is booked separately based on your production's needs.
Related Services
Productions in Canada that need this often pair it with Portable Power Solutions, Gaffer & Lighting Services, and LED Lighting Systems for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Lighting & Grip and Green Screen Filming.
On Set
Need a Grip Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend the right key grip and crew for your needs.