AI overview
Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to influence the role of grips in film and television production, particularly in terms of enhancing efficiency and safety on set.
With AI-powered tools, grips now have access to advanced technologies that assist with pre-vis and tech-vis of complex camera manoeuvres and situations, creating responsive rig adjustments and simulating different shooting conditions. These approaches are enabling greater precision and helping people to anticipate and prepare for on set challenges before they are encountered.
AI is also having an impact in improving safety and logistics. By using AI-driven sensors and monitoring systems, grips can ensure safer camera movements in real-time, particularly in dynamic or hazardous environments.
AI tools can also assist in managing the hiring and scheduling of equipment, optimising resource allocation and providing predictive maintenance schedules for complex rigs and cranes.
While AI can assist in some of these technical aspects of the grip’s work, their expertise in problem-solving, experience in equipment handling and in-the-moment decision making are still crucial in working collaboratively with others and ultimately enabling the director’s vision to take place on set.
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How can I prepare for the future?
To prepare for the future, grips should focus on staying informed about emerging technologies and enhancing their technical and computing skills.
Reduction in production budgets is reducing the amount of available time on set and a lot more planning and preparation is needed to maximise this opportunity. This is especially true in some of the newer virtual production environments. AI can assist this planning and preparation to be effective, easily communicated and as rapid as possible
As the role becomes increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, grips need to adapt by learning about new equipment, AI-driven tools and advanced safety systems and the management of robotics on set.
Understanding how on set data is captured, analysed and utilised within AI systems will be a useful skill to develop.
Developing skills with managing prompts and understanding how to check the work AI has carried out, or what assumptions it has made will also be increasingly important. This may involve engaging in specialised training, attending industry workshops and staying updated on the latest innovations in camera support and rigging technologies.
By embracing these changes, grips can ensure they retain a vital role in the evolving landscape of film and television production.
Embracing AI as a grip
AI offers grips exciting opportunities to enhance their technical expertise and streamline on set operations.
While the hands-on skills of a grip - creativity, teamwork and problem-solving - remain essential, AI can complement these abilities by improving precision, safety and efficiency. From simulating camera movements to optimising rigging setups, AI empowers grips to work smarter and adapt to modern production demands.
By considering AI with an open mind and a commitment to learning, grips can make a real difference in their craft, directly contributing to creative technical success in film, high-end TV and unscripted productions.
What AI tools can I use right now?
Asset tracking systems can now automatically carry out resource allocation from a known stock list by combining shooting schedules with predicted equipment lists. This will still need checking, but with some bespoke training on your way of working and preferences, it has the potential to do this whole process automatically.
When this is combined with Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, real time data about the performance and condition of the equipment can also be made available, allowing an AI to predict equipment failure and maintenance schedules.
Full tech-vis simulation environments allow a team to collaboratively work through rigging challenges before they are encountered on set.
From a human created film simulation and script, AI is able to create pick lists, calculate lifting loads, predict power consumption or quickly estimate kit requirements for a production.
AIs are becoming increasingly capable at carrying out mathematics and applying that in real world scenarios. While not to be relied upon for safety critical applications, as a way to quickly establish the potential structural strength of a camera mount, viability of a given design, or resultant forces in a tracked camera going down a slope, these features can be particularly helpful.
AI tools can also be used to help with creating production paperwork and help make productions safer. For example, an AI assistant could take all of your hand written notes and photographs from a location site visit and cross correlate that with your risk assessment paperwork to suggest any additional potential risks you might not have considered.
Tools like Unreal Engine are now becoming ubiquitous in pre-vis and are starting to appear throughout production workflows, from script support, storyboarding, production design, tech-vis, virtual production, etc.
Understanding how these tools might be used for your tasks can significantly speed up collaborative workflows. It creates the possibility of one simulation being created for everyone in the workflow and the use of AI to automate tasks within that simulation, rather than each department needing to create its own version of the set or pre-vis for its own purposes.
AI-powered camera rigs: AI tools that automate camera movement, adjust positioning and improve precision. Automatically calculating intermediate key frames for movement.
Drone technology for camera support: Drones equipped with cameras to capture aerial shots without traditional rigs.
Virtual production platforms: Digital environments that allow camera and rigging setups to be pre-visualised before physical filming.
3D printing for custom rig parts: Technology allowing grips to design and print custom camera mounts or supports on set.
Health and safety planning: Working as a health and safety advisor highlighting potential risks and recommending references and locations to find solutions.
Smart sensors for safety monitoring: Sensors that track equipment and ensure safe rigging, providing real-time alerts on set.
Live event technologies: Automated hoist and winch systems, touring and fast assembly aluminium trussing structures.
Robotics: Robotic arms, dollies and pedestals with automated camera mounting and positioning solutions.
3D volumetric capture technologies: Capturing live performances directly into a 3D pixel format and 3D mesh-based formats, allowing repositioning of cameras after the recording has been made.
ScreenSkills offers a variety of training opportunities for people at all stages of their career. Explore all training, events and opportunities.
ScreenSkills resources:
- Grip job profile
- Grip (unscripted TV) job profile
Other resources:
- Film schools and equipment manufacturers offer workshops and training programmes on AI-powered camera rigs
- Unreal Engine has courses on virtual production