Here they are, goofing around on I Love Melvin…
…and laughing with Gene Kelly (whose birthday was yesterday) on the classic Singin’ In The Rain…
…and 50 years later at the anniversary of the movie, with Rita Moreno and Cyd Charisse.
According to gorillafilmonline.com, the grip is the person in charge of setting up equipment to support the camera, and on some sets, support lighting equipment (but not the actual lights. Never touch the actual lights). It’s a physically demanding job where experience is invaluable.
The grips set up all the rigging which allow the camera to move about within a set in a way that captures the shot as the director wants it, so this can involve working on camera dollies, cranes, tracks and other camera setups. When a grip does his job well, the camera movement through the scenes will be seamless, so much so that you don’t even think about it, meaning you don’t think about the grips.
The grips below are moving a camera dolly onto a track. I hope they have a chiropractor on set. Or at least a masseuse and a couple ice packs.
Reelrundown.com states that the term “grip ” dates from the days of silent movies when cameras were hand-cranked. The cranking action would make the camera wobble, and so the camera operator would call for anyone with a “good grip” to grab the camera tripod legs and physically steady the camera.
Relax. Those Bay City freshmen never landscaped a day in their lives. During this highly-charged political season, some candidates may claim “illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from U.S. citizens.” But it never looked like this, even in 1970. Who wears a mini-skirt to rake anyway?
Don’t be so defensive, Kanye. It’s a joke, like when you walked up onstage during Beck’s acceptance speech.
Petey the harbor seal is sad. He has slithered across shells and seaweed to watch the widow Stella once again fry up eggs for one. Ever since Galen went to be with the Lord, Stella has been very lonely. When she looks out the window, she sees Petey watching her.
So she decides to make a friend. But when she has eaten her breakfast, Petey is long gone. Determined, she ties a kerchief ’round her noggin and gallops into the cold Atlantic Ocean until she retrieves Petey.
“Catch of the day,” she yells into the salty air, and a shiver goes down Petey’s spine.
Stella is so, so lonely. Petey has second thoughts. Stella doesn’t understand personal space.
Petey decides he doesn’t want to be where the people are. He is totally cool being where the sharks are.
But Stella invites him to visit with her and her neighbor Bruce. Doesn’t Petey look happy?
Petey learns that hind flippers are of no use on a cheap throw rug. Still, he is determined. At dawn, he rolls himself onto the original hardwood floor and off the sun porch into the sand. A trio of nuns spots him as he enters the water.
But Petey doesn’t need their blessing now. He is home free. Godspeed, Petey. Godspeed.
Note: All images are from National Geographic. The seal is actually named Shag, and he was adopted by the Horstman family in Longport, New Jersey. Not that that makes it any less weird.
I Don't Get It 