The Grip of Film: Richard Ayoade

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Become a Faber Member for free and receive curated book recommendations, special competitions and exclusive discounts. Gordy LaSure’s passionate about film. He eats film, he drinks film, and sometimes he’ll even watch a film. But most of all he loves talking about film, and how they’d be a shit-ton better if only people would pull their asses out of their ears and listen to Gordy LaSure. There are cables to be coiled, C-stands to be folded up, rigging to be taken down, silks and reflectors to be folded and stashed. And all of that needs to be inventoried to be sure that nothing’s been left out in the wild. See Faber authors in conversation and hear readings from their work at Faber Members events, literary festivals and at book shops across the UK. Any Film Grip equipment list starts with protecting your hands. You’ll want a well-fitting pair of leather Film Grip gloves that both enhance your grip and protect you from injury.

The Grip of Film by Richard Ayoade | Waterstones

This is ostensibly written by Scottish ex-pat Gordy LaSure, and edited with many a footnote by comedian/actor/TV presenter/film director Richard Ayoade (who will always be Ned Smanks from Nathan Barley to me). It's Gordy's own take on what makes a good movie. Now living in LA and holding forth on movies to anyone who'll listen, Gordy has tried to put his many failed marriages behind him. Maybe if every non-Asian actor dies. And if the cost of revivifying those dead non-Asian actors is prohibitive.

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Side note: Unless it’s a super low-budget project, most of the time the show will provide breakfast for call times before 6:00 am, especially if you’re on a remote location. Drawing inspiration from iconic films like Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965), Tales from the Crypt (1972), and Asylum (1972), the new portmanteau feature will spotlight four tales rooted in the works of revered authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, and E.F Benson. With a central theme of medical macabre, the film promises to be a chilling experience. Technically, and especially on union shows, Grips are not permitted to handle any of the actual lighting instruments. A good way to remember this is to think, “Movie Grips don’t have any power." Offset Arm – A stand-mounted lighting fixture that can be extended off center over a wall or other object.

The Grip of Film | Faber The Grip of Film | Faber

For his latest foray into the world of publishing, celebrated British actor and filmmaker Richard Ayoade presents a guide to the movies as viewed through the unique lens of Gordy LaSure, a man who knows the industry inside and out and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. The book is an A-W exploration of the cinematic medium which seeks an answer to such searching questions as: why are some films bad, and some films terrible? And how come just a handful of film (Titanic, Porky’s, Dirty Harry) are any good at all? Here’s a little taste of what Gordy has to say… Actors, Having More Than One Asian One If you're not familiar with Ayoade's comedy, familiarize yourself. He's a wry, sensitive, artsy, self-effacing nerd after my own heart. The irony of his having written this book is a big part of the joke here. Chain Vise Grip – A vise grip with a chain that is often used to hang a lighting fixtures or equipment. The title In the Grip of Terror was generously shared with me by Sergei Subotsky, derived from a list of potential titles his late father, Milton Subotsky, had curated decades ago. It feels profoundly fitting that we’re expanding upon the imaginative groundwork set by such a visionary. What’s even more fascinating is that three of the four stories we’re adapting were suggested by Milton’s widow and Sergei’s mother, Dr. Fiona Subotsky.'”And let’s not forget cable pullers, who trail the camera crew and keep the camera/dolly path clear for a smooth shot. So, what’s it like to work as a Grip for film? Let’s discuss that next. Movie Grip Job Description Film Grip tools and tips for success C-Stand – Originally known as a century-stand, it is designed to take up very little space and is generally made up of four parts, including the base, a vertical leg with multiple stands, a gobo head and a gobo arm. One of the most common pieces of equipment on a film set, it can hold a variety of reflectors, lights, show cards or boom microphones. The Grip of Film is a piss-take of the A-Z of film books written by and about masters of cinema. For this book, Ayoade has created a character, Gordy LaSure, a guy obsessed with the rules regarding what makes a great movie. Movie being the operative word: “A movie is a film people want to watch”. Except the only films Gordy wants to watch are Road House and View From the Top.