Click the "insert car" to for the "classic" picture section! it has some great pictures of those who paved the way!
Sorry do to a "Hitch in the Giddy up" as Tommy May used to say my Secret Grip Website was deleted! I am now in the processes of restoring it.
These pages may take some time to load depending on your connection. All pictures are at full "display" size so there is no having to click each picture and wait for full size picture.
Several years ago I looked at a box of photos in my garage from TV shows and movies I had done and wondered what to do with them.... No one wants to look at them on your coffee table, after all if you aren't in the "Biz" they do not mean much. So this site was born.
This page is about grips, friends, and sharing this place we call "A Grips World" it is also dedicated to all those Grips before me, around me, and those to follow after me who are and have been the "Backbone" of the Motion Picture industry! It is also for all the rest of you who have shared those 17 hour days standing under a 12' x 12' griffylon in the rain waiting for the call "That's a Wrap!"
I originally started this site as a just a place to put all those pictures I took on sets over the years but it is becoming something more. If you see yourself here drop me a line and say hi! If your someone looking to hire me and want to see a Resume click on my name (it gets updated from time to time). I usually get work by word of mouth as most of us do but nowadays everyone wants a resume.... its a MS word doc.
As I rebuild the site I will add shows on the opening page and if there are too many pictures for one show ad a link to a separate section for that show only.
Shows will be added at random as I get to them but will be listed in a chronological order according to timeline of production. If there are two many pictures or I have a particular interest in a show I may do a separate page and link. I will also update these show pages as I get more pictures and information out. Please forgive me if you appear here and I do not have your name or have misspelled it, I sometimes put things up quickly and will add names later or perhaps I have forgotten it! sorry but the years and number of people you meet on a crew are often staggering. Please email me with any corrections, omissions, or pics you would like me to ad! Also if you have a site you would like to link here PLEASE do email me! I and several others are trying to get our "Hollywood moviemaking" tradition and history online for all to share and enjoy!
Classic group of Movie guys from the early 30's. At this time Grips were not
a separate group as such. The truck in the back is from Republic Pictures. You
can see ladders, shiny boards, a back drop and I think folding "Wooden"
parallels on the back of the truck. You can see a camera platform hanging of the
out of picture truck on the left and also a over the front hood camera mount on
the truck in picture. For more on this early labor period in Hollywood check out
the story on local 80s page
here. I'm trying to assemble a collection of pre 1970 pictures of the
Hollywood back lot crafts and on production stills so if you have any of these I
would love a copy to use here.
All people named are left to right and start in foreground unless otherwise specified
Amazing rig I worked on with Joe Graham, Jim Saldutti, Ted Lewis and dozens
of other grips during the filming of Rush hour III. There were over 100 40'
containers stacked together to form the framework for this 240' Green screen. In
the foreground just behind the orange condor you can see the 100' long 3' deep
"Green Screen" water tank and above the stunt ring to fly Chris Rock and Jackie
Chan down of the Eiffel Tower. To get a feeling for the enormity of this rig
each one of the containers is 10' x 10' x 40' putting the container height at
70"' and the flag at just shy of 100' tall! The rigging for this shot was over a months work!
Joe did a great job in laying this one out!
I have more than once said I'll do most anything on the set... lol... here I'm shoveling mounds of Popcorn on the set of ARLISS. Not sure if that comes under the responsibility for a Key Grip but whatever it takes....
Andy Richter controls the Universe 2003
I mess around with the set dressing so much on this show that I drove our on set Dresser mad! (? on set dresser)
CHARMED 2000-2005
Me on the Bucket of a crane in San Pedro harbor. Alvin Simmons and I were the
Dolly grips for the last 5 years of charmed.
Another "Magic Hour" Crane shot. Camera operator Kriss Koskove is at left with Alvin (dolly) peeking around lens and me up on arm. The crane is a Chapman Super Nova (Titan)
ARLISS 1996-2001
Steve Confer (DP ) looks for Indians over horizon. On the checkered Grif to the left is "Raini Bochardt" and over Steve's right shoulder is "Bobby Crocket"
Dress this! our
costumers make the scene at left.
Above John McGowan (gaffer) Alexander (Ad) and Steve (DP) make in those minute adjustments!
Robert Wuhl gets the "Prick" instead of being the "Prick" I liked working with Robert, he was all about how can we make this funnier! and he always succeeded.
(L to R foreground) Steve Confer DP, Alexander 1st AD, Hector (wardrobe) and ? 2nd AD
STAR TREK DS9
This page is dedicated to two of my friends from the Star trek years Jack White (BB grip) and Derek Garth (grip) both of whom are no longer with us. Jack White (at right) was the funniest man I have ever met on a set even funnier than my ex brother in law Ted Lewis! Jack had a cutting whit and an acid tongue! of course it was like a double edge sword made him a favorite of some and detested by others! It is so true that you do not really miss people till they are gone, I miss you Jack.....
HERO'S of the STORM 199?
Yes it doesn't get any better for me than this! Those of you who know me know I love military history and all things related to it. This was 29 day of heaven! I and my crew got to play with the BIG dogs! and I got to go to every major military base in the Southwest. Yes that me riding around in my own Bradley AFV!
Stake beds? who needs a Stake bed when you get to load into your own Humvee. The blue tank top man is Pete Portizo (Gaffer) a really nice guy wish I could have worked more with him. Joe Wright my BB is seen in the door on side of 40 footer. It was really HOT on Twenty nine palms Marine base where we spent 10 days on location.
MAGNUM PI 1985 - 1989
Lloyd Ahern was the guest DP while John Flynn Directed the episode "Sleepy Time gal" Yes that's me the studly guy behind the Dolly! We are on a cliff edge 1200 feet up above the pacific. Pat McGinnis is behind the camera Flynn to my right with red hat. Cold in Hawaii!
Magnum PI was a once in a lifetime show and I loved working on it. It was well written, acted, and just one of those shows where it all comes together in paradise! The picture above was taken during the filming of the "Black and White" episode were Tom and the cast go back to the thirties and do a take off on the Sam Spade detective movies. Lloyd Ahern was again our DP while John Flynn prepped his show. From left to right, Denny Hall (AC) Jimmy Lusk (cam Op) David Ahuna (Key Grip) Bill Witthans, me, (Dolly grip) Russ Mayberry (Director) Lloyd Ahern (DP) Pat McGinnis (Cam Op) Tom Selleck ( actor) ? (actor) Doug Olivaras (AC) and peeking through from back is Bobby Chaldu (Gaffer) seated in the front are ? (actress) Roger Mosley (TC actor) and John Hillerman ("Higgins" actor) and ? (actress)
THE OAKS 2007
The Oaks was a Surreal story of a Haunted house. Interesting but I guess it went nowhere. Probably took to much thinking to be a success today! Nicely photographed by Cameraman Peter Levy. I enjoyed working on this one despite it being done in Manhattan Beach and living in my Motor home while we shot it. While it looks like a giant moon most of us recognize what it really is.
FUDGE 1995
Joe Wright (BB Grip) "strikes a pose"
SMOLDERING LUST 1992?
later changed to BLACK TIE AFFAIR
Steel Hunter (Grip) and Robert Nelson (BB grip) load up.
ORPHANS! these are pictures that have no home!
