Grip and Lighting Equipment for Film and Video production Illustratrated Dictionary

C

C-47 - aka bullet, or clothespin. But don't call them clothespins; you'll sound like a real beginner! Used in many ways in film and video production, but mainly to attach diffusion materials and gels to the barndoors of lighting instruments. Note: don't use plastic ones! Wood is the way to go,

C-stand/century stand - is the mainstay of any video or film grip and lighting package. With a low center of gravity design to the legs and the addition of a grip head and arm mounted on it's baby stud top, the C-stand can hold and position flags, scrims, lights and hundreds of other uses. It's best to lay a sandbag on the mid-height leg prior to putting any weight on the stud or arm. See grip head for more details of usage.


Cam-lok - is a power/electrical cable connector used in location generator and film/video studio power distribution set-ups. Cam-lok connectors are waterproof, and usually color-coded (red, white, green, black and blue) to make life easier and safer when laying out your electric power system. Probably the most modern, simplest and safest connector option available


Can - the body or barrel of a film or video lighting instrument. Also a particular type of light which is open-faced and cylindrical, with no focus controls. A can light is used more in theatrical stage and concert settings, but is sometimes used on film and video productions.

C-clamp (studded) - a standard c-clamp  with one or two baby studs for light and device mounting welded on, available in various sizes or widths. Wood shims are best used under the clamp to prevent damage to surfaces. Studded c-clamps can be used on a wide variety of mounting opportunities like doors, some window sills, planks, wooden beams and more.


Camera wedge - a small wooden wedge, used as named (to level out various pieces of camera, grip and lighting gear, among other uses) that is four inches long and 1/2 inch tall at the bigger end.

Cartolini clamp - two gripping flanges are mounted on a threaded rod, with large thumbwheel nuts to tighten them against either side of the mounting surface, post or edge. One or both ends of the threaded central post ends in a baby stud for grip heads or small lights. It is a simple yet complex clamping "machine". Cartolinis are a quick and easy way to attach and very handy on shoots, where speed can count. The usual mounting spots such as doors, narrow beams, and rails are likely locations for Cartolinis to be used.

Ceiling clips - also known as drop ceiling hangars. These clever devices are baby studs with a scissors-clip attached, and can slip or clip onto the metal strips that are found in drop ceilings in many interior locations. Use caution! The clips are strong, but the ceiling strips aren't that sturdy, usually. Smaller lights and devices are okay, but don't try anything bigger than a light-weight tweenie.


Celo - (pronounced sello or chello) is a type of cucoloris or cookie used to create a subtle pattern in a light beam to cast upon a scene (usually on a background element). The celo is made from plastic-coated (celophane) metal wire screen, with a random pattern burned into the plastic. The pattern can create a semi-transparent leafy shadow or even rain-streaked window light effect.

Chain vice grip - is one of the coolest grip devices around! Take a regular vice grip tool, add a piece of bicycle chain, a baby stud, and some welded modifications and you've got a mounting device that can grab onto poles, pipes, beams and more.

Color correction - applying colored gels (usually "daylight" blue or "tungsten" amber) to lights to filter and balance varying color temperatures from various light sources. Slight color correction can also be achieved, on some types of lighting units by raising or lowering current slightly, or changing the light generator/bulb/source itself (see Kino-Flo's/flourescent).

Combo stand - is a combination or dual capability heavy duty stand with a junior receiver as the mounting point. The "combo" is the stand can take lights or reflectors. Their studier structure is capable of handling the weight of larger lights, as well as heavy 48"x48" reflectors and the force of winds pushing against them. They can also be adapted with a large lollipop or grip head and used for support of larger framed silks, nets and grifflon in some situations where wheeled high-roller stands aren't the best option.

Cribbing - short pieces of 2x4 lumber that can be used for leveling stands, dolly track or any number of other tasks on a video studio set or film location.

Cuculoris - (a.k.a. cookie) a light beam modifying device that is a rectangular solid piece of wood or other material with a pattern of holes or curved lines cut through to create a shadow pattern that can be abstract or regular. Usually used on a background element to "break up" a bland or flat look, or to imply a window with blinds as a light source in a scene, for example.



Contacts     Privacy Policy