Charlie Productions : Dolly Grip

A Dolly Grip, despite sounding like a 1930s pin-up, is the person in charge of the Dolly. It can't be overstated just how integral this piece of equipment - and the person operating it - is to making a movie a movie...

We're all used to seeing cameras float through rooms, windows, up from the floor over to the main actor and to their face. A fully-fledged top-level dolly is one of the very few ways of doing this. For years we tried our best with doorway dollies, fold-out dollies, whatever we could get our hand on, but we'd never get that solid firm storytelling camera move. Why?

Well, in part it's because of the track - bumpy. And in part it's a simple case of weight - film dollies like the Pee Wee or the Fisher are large and solid chunks of stainless steel for their sturdiness, meaning the movement of the camera becomes ultra-smooth.

But perhaps just as importantly is the arm. On all of these devices, the camera gets to sit on a hydraulic arm that can go up and down, whatever the grip determines. Now this is obviously useful for jib moves, making the camera sweep and all that, but actually one of the most important things it does is allow you to keep eye-level. It's the subtle jibbing up and down as a camera tracks into someone's face for a close-up that makes the shot feel so satisfying. Not because you're showing off, but because the camera manages to be in the optimal place to make the shot look good all the way through the shot, not just at the start or the end.

And it becomes hard to understate just what a good Dolly Grip can do with this tool at their disposal. Smooth and beautiful tracking shots, yes please. The time and effort it takes to set up dolly shots are definitely worth it - as are the people who'll make your film a film, not just an amateur video...

Charlie Productions believe passionately in doing things and always trying to stop in time for tea.

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