In short: A jib operator controls a camera on a long, counterweighted arm, lifting, lowering and swinging the shot in a smooth move that is planned in advance. They balance the arm for the camera and lens, agree the move with the director of photography, and work with the grips and focus puller. Safe rigging comes first. On a small shoot a slider or a dolly often covers the same move more simply.
A jib operator controls a camera on a counterweighted arm, so the shot can rise, fall, pan and swing in one smooth move. The move is planned with the director of photography, rehearsed with the crew, and then repeated take after take.
What a jib operator does on a shoot day
Set-up takes longer than the shot. The operator and the grips build the arm on a base, fit the camera and head, and balance the whole rig for the camera and lens in use. Balance changes when the lens or the camera changes, so the operator checks it again each time.
Next, they mark the floor for the base and the arm's travel, and make sure the crew knows where the arm will go. The move is rehearsed with the crew clear of the arm, then with the focus puller and camera operator in position. Only then does the take run. After each take the arm is brought back to a safe position and the marks are checked before the reset.
General guidance on safety: a jib is a heavy moving object at height, near people. A competent person must assess the actual rig, the floor, the load and the clearance around the arm before any move. This page cannot do that assessment for you.
Who they work with
The jib operator is usually part of the grip department and answers to the key grip, while the director of photography agrees the move and the framing. They work closely with the camera operator, who may take the head, and with the focus puller, who follows focus during the move. The grips build and move the base, and the first assistant director keeps the set clear. The director signs off the shot.
On a bigger rig, a grip or an assistant works under the jib operator and handles the base and the counterweights. On most jobs there is nobody reporting to them.
Kit and skills
The kit is a jib arm with counterweights, a remote head, a base with sandbags or a dolly, and the grip equipment to secure it. The rig is specialist, so many operators bring their own arm and head rather than sharing a house kit.
The skills are smooth movement, precise marks, a good sense of balance, and calm teamwork under pressure. A good jib operator is also a good planner, because the difference between a sweeping shot and a bumpy one is usually rehearsal.
How to become a jib operator
Most jib operators start in the grip department as runners or grips, and learn the arm on real shoots from the people who already work it. Training happens on the job, and people move from smaller rigs to bigger ones as they show they can hold the balance and the timing.
ScreenSkills lists grip trainee roles, and its Trainee Finder scheme offers paid placements. The union Bectu gives members advice on terms and contacts, and most of the work is freelance. Build a reel of moves you have operated, with a note on the rig and the crew.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
Often not. A slider, a dolly or a handheld move covers most small jobs and needs fewer people. A jib is worth hiring when the move is the point of the shot: a rise over a crowd, a reveal through a doorway, or a long swing across a set.
If you are booking a crew for a shoot at the barn, our film crew hire page explains which crew we can book for the rooms.
Related roles
- What does a key grip do?
- What does a dolly grip do?
- What does a focus puller do?
- What does a camera operator do?
- What does a director of photography do?
- What does a best boy do?
Sources
- ScreenSkills, How ScreenSkills can help you, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
Is a jib the same as a crane?
Not quite. A jib is a shorter, lighter arm with the camera on one end and the counterweight on the other. A crane is larger and usually needs more crew and more space. Both are rigged and operated by trained people.
Can you hire a jib operator for a small shoot?
Yes, but ask first whether the move is the point of the shot. If it is, hire one. If a slider or a dolly gives the same move, it is usually the simpler choice.
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