There is a mountain of equipment behind every successful film shoot, commercial or music video that must move from one location to the next. On set there are so many different tools to organize, haul, and have on hand with the cameras, lights, rigging, dolly tracks, sandbags, C stands and so much more. With the grip truck, you can do that. Whether it's a small or large production, grip truck rental los angeles services have become a crucial component of pre production plans for productions operating in the entertainment capital of the world. If you're planning to hire one, here are a number of points to take into account.

What Is a Grip Truck?

A grip truck is a specially equipped vehicle for transporting grip and lighting gear to a film set. Grip trucks are designed for production work and often have built in shelving, gear secure compartments, generators and sometimes even a small workspace or “man door” side entrance for easy access to the gear. Grip trucks come in a variety of sizes from a one ton truck for small production jobs up to a complete 5 ton rig for a large commercial or feature film.

Why Los Angeles Productions Rely on Them

Los Angeles is one of the world's hottest production cities, with film, TV and commercial shoots occurring throughout the city on any given day. This insatiable demand has made it essential to have equipment solutions that are fast, reliable and specific to the logistics of filming in LA, ranging from backlots to massive outdoor sets. The right grip truck rental los angeles provider ensures you have a driver technician who not only knows how to drive the truck, but how to operate the gear when it's on set.

What's Typically Included

Most grip truck rentals have a set of basic equipment, such as:

• Lighting equipment — HMIs, LEDs, tungsten fixtures or a combination of all of these.
• Grip equipment — C stands, sandbags, apple boxes, flags, nets and butterflies
• Rigging gear — Clamps, arms and camera & light mounts
• Generators — For places that do not have a good supply of power.
• Expendables — Consumables: gaffer tape, clothespins, etc.

Many companies also include add on packages that enable productions to tailor their rental to their particular creative and technical needs for the shoot.

Choosing the Right Provider

Not every grip truck rental firm is created equal and the ideal one could make a huge difference in the smooth flow of a shoot. When looking at providers, filmmakers should take into account:

• Experience and reputation — Find a company with experience in their productions of this size.
• Equipment condition — Keeping equipment well maintained and current will minimize the chances of failure on set.
• Driver technician expertise — Beyond transporting, a good operator with an understanding of lighting and grip work can be a big value.
• Availability and flexibility —Last minute changes are sometimes required for productions, which is why a scheduling flexibility provider is a huge asset.
• Pricing structure — Know if rates are daily, extra mileage or extra charge for hours.