What does Best Boy Grip mean?
Best Boy Grip is the second-in-command of the grip department on a film or television production, working directly under the key grip. The best boy grip manages the day-to-day logistics of the grip crew — scheduling crew members, tracking equipment inventory, managing the department’s budget, and ensuring the right grip equipment is available on set when needed. While the key grip focuses on the technical execution of camera support and lighting control, the best boy grip handles the organizational and administrative side of the department. The role is analogous to the best boy electric in the electrical department.
Example:As the production moved to a new location, the best boy grip coordinated the grip truck loading, confirmed crew call times, and verified that all the specialized equipment needed for the outdoor tracking shots would be on site before the camera crew arrived.
Example: The key grip worked with the director of photography on the lighting control plan for the scene, while the best boy grip tracked the rental agreements for the specialized equipment and managed the crew’s overtime documentation.
Did you know?
The grip department takes its name from early cinema, when crew members were called grips because they physically gripped and moved heavy studio equipment by hand. Today the department still handles all camera support equipment — dollies, cranes, tracks, and camera mounts — as well as flags, nets, and diffusion materials used to shape and control light. Despite the name having nothing to do with electrical work, grips and electricians work side by side on every professional production.
You can also find “Best Boy Grip” and related terms in this category: Filming and Production.
