The women I interviewed have cracked their kneecaps, fractured their feet, torn their rotator cuffs, developed early arthritis and wrenched their backs. Depending on the city and the frequency of work, grips can earn salaries in the low six figures, with key grips potentially earning more than double that, especially if they have their own gear and trucks to rent out. The women I spoke with said many of their male colleagues were supportive, while others heckled them or worse. “It sounds kind of corny,” she said, “but grips are the unsung heroes on set.”Here they explain more about the job and what it’s like to be one of the few women doing it:Tana DubbeDubbe knows exactly one female key grip in Hollywood: herself. Dubbe grew up building forts and later found herself drawn to jobs not traditionally occupied by women: logging, construction.

Source: New York Times April 10, 2019 07:52 UTC