key grip

American  

noun

Movies.

1. the chief stagehand on a movie set.

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key grip British  

noun

1. the person in charge of moving and setting up camera tracks and scenery in a film or television studio See also grip 1

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Etymology

Origin of key grip

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

“At first you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, wow, am I going to New Jersey now?’” said the show’s key grip Dennis Conrad, who lives across the river in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Price was the key grip, who handled the nonelectric support gear.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

"From key grip to best boy, everyone on the show has a fabulous recipe to share," the description of the book reads.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2022

A welder, she said, “might be a key grip and make 85,000 a year.”

From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2017

“Well, not exactly. But obviously it’s important, or else why would it be called key grip instead of average grip or not-so-critical grip?”

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed