A Tight Grip (Truck): Revealing the Inside of Mad Genius’s Grip & Electric Truck

Revealing the Inside of Mad Genius's Grip & Electric Truck

By Adam Daniel, post-production manager

“Hey! I need to get a combo over here with a menace arm. On the arm you’re gonna mount the 1200, underslung. You’ll need two mid-jaw cardellinis, some ratchet straps, a few half apple boxes, and some sandbags, along with a stinger for the light. Got it?” —any key grip at some point

The Mysterious Production Truck

One of the questions we get asked by almost every client on set is, “What’s in the truck?” It’s easy for those of us who work on productions every day to forget how cool the tools are that we get to play with for a living. It can be neat for someone who doesn’t spend their days on a set to see what’s inside and how it’s organized (shout out to my neat freaks).

So, we made a video, which we’ll get to in a second.

For the cinema civilians, a grip truck is the backbone of any grip and electric department. They provide secure storage, efficient transportation, and easy access to essential equipment required for lighting and electric work. Grip trucks are like mobile warehouses. The efficiency they afford crews contributes to smoother shoots and greater productivity. Whether it’s setting up lighting for a dramatic scene or rigging overhead frames, the grip truck has everything needed to tackle various on-set tasks and technical requirements.

What’s in a Grip Truck?

Of course, depending on the shoot, some elements in a grip truck can be swapped in or out. And some things are almost always in the grip truck. For a full rundown of what’s in the truck—or what could be in it—check out the Mad Genius production website. If you’re more interested in talking to someone about a full-fledged production—from photography to film and everything in between—reach out on our contact page, and we’ll get our best and brightest with you as swiftly as we can.