tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post4881507282008419527..comments2024-03-28T00:18:19.640-07:00Comments on Dollygrippery: When You Are Operator's ChoiceDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466991423411721535noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-27644507993483565472009-06-02T20:51:10.132-07:002009-06-02T20:51:10.132-07:00I've been on all three ends of this. The regul...I've been on all three ends of this. The regular dolly grip that gets replaced. The operator's choice that gets the other regular guy replaced. And I've been the A guy that gets bumped to B. It's a political nightmare for everyone, but it is in fact just a part of the business and you gotta take it like the rest. Getting bumped for another guy on your own regular crew is the worst, but it is what it is. Fortunately when I've been the operator's choice, the key grip didn't have a regular guy so it wasn't really that bad. My favorite story in this topic is one time I got bumped from A to B by a guy the operator chose and as the show progressed we found out he wasn't very good. I was sent to build a mini-lenny with him one day at a pool while the crew was shooting hand-held and he had no idea how to build it and really wasn't interested in learning. Now I don't know how to build every crane on earth, but this is a pretty common one (at least in Los Angeles) and even if he didn't know how, he could have picked it up after the first piece or two got attached. It ain't rocket science...But he chose to plead ignorant and it just irked me that he called himself an A-Dolly grip and was that much of a dumb-ass. oh well. that's how it goes sometimes.GHBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-33541801373779585842009-06-02T11:53:26.878-07:002009-06-02T11:53:26.878-07:00My (sort of) response is posted today.My (sort of) <A HREF="http://polybloggimous.com/2009/06/serving-more-than-one-master.html" REL="nofollow">response is posted</A> today.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00648438549121320566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-91996414056396323492009-05-29T13:37:21.186-07:002009-05-29T13:37:21.186-07:00Thanks for the comments Nathan and Azurgrip. I was...Thanks for the comments Nathan and Azurgrip. I was actually "brought in" with a DP who didn't get the guy he wanted on a show and he now says I'm his first call, so sometimes it works out for the better. I always hate that first week of "proving yourself" that comes with this scenario.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08466991423411721535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-15540801610024943812009-05-27T14:29:36.170-07:002009-05-27T14:29:36.170-07:00I've been lucky. I've got a key who has stood by m...I've been lucky. I've got a key who has stood by me and his right to chose who falls under him. This hasn't gotten me into hot water, and actually, when once I was "forced" onto someone, it worked out for better so much so, the operator asked for me their next show replacing his "regular" guy.Azurgriphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06782192437325161681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-86358355332711431662009-05-27T11:38:25.058-07:002009-05-27T11:38:25.058-07:00Testing the comments. Ignore this.Testing the comments. Ignore this.dhttp://dollygrippery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18888640.post-17409348445906064832009-05-26T05:57:53.372-07:002009-05-26T05:57:53.372-07:00Wow. I hadn't ever really thought about this from...Wow. I hadn't ever really thought about this from a dolly grip's point of view and you're right...huge potential for discomfort. I'm usually hired by a Producer and the Director and Production Designer just accept me as a fait accompli. Every once in a while, though, one of those luminaries wants "their guy". Whether they win or lose that fight, it can make for some uncomfortable days.<br /><br />This may deserve it's own post.<br /><br />Thanks for the insight.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00648438549121320566noreply@blogger.com