In short: Grip kit holds, shapes and controls light and gear. C-stands carry flags, frames and arms. Flags block light, frames carry diffusion or net to soften or reduce it, bounce boards reflect it, and apple boxes lift things. Granary's grip is C-stands, flags, bounce and apple boxes, included with every space hire.
Grip is the department that holds things up and shapes the light the lighting department makes. The kit is simple, and learning what each piece does is the quickest way to understand what a crew means when they ask for "a flag over there" or "a four by four of silk".
This page explains the common items and what they do. It is general guidance, and what is on a particular shoot depends on the job and the studio. Granary's published grip list is C-stands, flags, bounce, apple boxes and a 1m turntable, included with every space hire. The other pieces below are explained as industry practice, so ask what is on hand when you book. For anything involving weight, height or rigging, a competent person must assess the actual job.
The C-stand
The C-stand is the workhorse. It is a heavy stand with a base of three legs that fold, a column that rises in sections, and a grip head and arm on top.
- Base. A wide, three-legged base that folds flat for travel. The legs are set so one leg points where the load will hang.
- Column. The stand rises in stages and locks with a knob. Taller means less stable, so lock it fully.
- Grip head. A swivel clamp with two discs that grips a rod, a flag or a pole at any angle.
- Arm. A rod that slides through the head and holds the flag, frame or small light out to the side.
Setting one up safely
- Put the leg under the load. The arm's weight should sit over one of the legs, not between two.
- Add a sandbag. Load the leg under the arm. Our page on sandbags and safe working load covers the details.
- Keep the arm out of faces. Arms stick out at head height. Keep them above or below eye level, mark the end with a bright tip or tape, and warn people on set.
- Lock every knob before you let go.
- Check the height against the ceiling, the lights and anyone walking past.
Flags
A flag is a rigid rectangular frame with black solid cloth stretched over it, carried on a grip head at the end of an arm off a C-stand. It is not a banner, a drape or loose cloth on a pole. If you say "flag" to a crew, that is what they will bring.
Flags block light. You use one to:
- keep light off the lens and stop flare
- stop a lamp spilling onto the background
- cut the light to one side of a face
- shade a reflection on a shiny surface
Flags come in many sizes, from small hand-sized pieces to big floppy ones that fold open. A long thin flag is often called a cutter. The bigger the flag, the more stand and weight it needs, so a big flag outdoors or near a fan needs extra sandbags.
The rule for placing a flag is to move it until the shadow is where you want it. A flag close to the lamp gives a soft edge, and one close to the subject gives a hard edge. Try both and watch the monitor.
Frames
A frame is an open rectangular holder that you fit with a material. The same frame can do different jobs depending on what you fit.
| Material | What it does | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Diffusion or silk | Softens and spreads light | Making a hard lamp look like a window |
| Net | Reduces light without changing its character | Dimming one part of a scene |
| Solid | Blocks light entirely | Acts as a large flag |
| White or silver | Reflects light | Bounce back into shadows |
Frames are described by size, such as a "four by four" or "six by six", which refers to the dimensions in feet. A larger frame gives a softer, wider source when you put diffusion in front of a lamp. Place it between the lamp and the subject and keep it clear of the lamp itself.
Hot lamps and diffusion do not mix without care. Tungsten fixtures run hot. Keep the material a safe distance away, read the manufacturer's guidance and ask the gaffer. Our note on why we run tungsten and LED explains the difference between them.
Bounce
Bounce is any surface that reflects light back onto the subject. A white board, a silver card or a polyboard all work. It fills shadows softly, so it suits faces and products where a second lamp would be too much. Bounce is usually held on a stand, with a clamp or on the arm of a C-stand, and a sandbag keeps it steady.
In a white cove, light bounces off the walls and floor and fills the scene already, so you may need less bounce than on location. For how that changes the lighting, see lighting a cove to white and to black.
Apple boxes
An apple box is a sturdy wooden box that raises things. They come in four depths, called full, half, quarter and pancake. Crews use them to stand people on, to lift a stand or a prop, to seat an actor at the right height and to prop up a camera or a board.
Because you can stack and turn them on their sides, one set of apple boxes gives you several heights. Make sure a stack is level and stable before anyone stands on it, and never stack them high for a person.
Words that cause mix-ups
Crews use grip words precisely, and a vague word can bring the wrong piece. If you are briefing a studio, be specific.
- A flag is the black solid on a frame. A banner or a drape is something else.
- A frame is the holder. Say what goes in it: silk, net or solid.
- A cutter is a long, narrow flag.
- A stand can mean a C-stand or a light stand. Say which.
The grip glossary lists more of the terms.
Who looks after it
On a larger crew the key grip leads the department and a grip team does the work. On a small shoot the gaffer and spark often cover grip as well. Our page on what a key grip does describes the role in full. You do not have to hire a separate grip for a small studio shoot, but someone must be responsible for the kit and for placing it safely. If you want that covered, crew who already know the building can be booked with the room.
Common mistakes
- No sandbag on the leg. An unweighted stand with an arm out will tip.
- Arms at head height. Cover them, mark them or move them.
- Material too close to a hot lamp. Leave a gap.
- A bigger flag than the stand can hold. Go up in stand weight with the flag size.
- Calling every black thing a flag. Be exact when you brief the crew.
- Stacking apple boxes unevenly. Level them first.
Everything above is general guidance. If you are hiring a studio, ask the venue for its own safety rules, and have a competent person check anything that carries weight or goes up high.
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What is a flag in film?
A flag is a rigid rectangular frame covered in black cloth, held on a grip head at the end of an arm off a C-stand. It blocks light from reaching part of the set or the lens. It is not a banner or a piece of cloth on a pole.
What is a C-stand used for?
A C-stand is a heavy, adjustable stand used to hold flags, frames, diffusion, small lights and other kit. Its three-legged base folds flat, and the arm and grip head let you place the item at almost any height and angle.
What is the difference between a flag and a frame?
A flag has solid black material and blocks light. A frame is the empty rectangular holder you fit with diffusion to soften light, net to reduce it, or a solid to block it. Crews often use the word frame for the whole thing once material is fitted.
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