Film crew hire/Brighton/Grip
Hire a grip in Brighton. A grip builds the camera support and moves the camera smoothly and safely.
People book a grip in Brighton for offices at New England House, conferences at the Brighton Centre and shoots on the seafront. Grips build and push the dolly, lay the track and rig the camera to cars and cranes. Our grip day rate starts at £526, and the grip gets all of it.
- 54 five-star Google reviews
- 2 hrs for our team to read your brief, in working hours
- £10m employers’ liability on every crew member we book
- 2,800+ freelance crew on our books, across the UK
Photos: sippakorn yamkasikorn, David Glessner, Rendy Novantino, Here Now Films and Young Jeffrey
The role
What a grip does on your shoot
Grips move and hold the camera. They lay track and push the dolly, build sliders and jibs, rig the camera to a car, a crane or a wall, and make sure every rig is safe. A good dolly grip hits the same mark at the same speed, take after take.
In the UK, grips handle the camera support, and lighting stands and flags belong to the sparks. In the US, grips handle those too. If a US production flies in with its own DP, it’s worth telling them that the grip won’t be rigging the lights.
We book a grip who lives in Brighton or Hove first. Grip crew for Brighton shoots usually come down from London, with the van and often with the package. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Cranes and tracking vehicles come in from further away, with their own crew.
- The grip repeats every move. The same push-in runs at the same speed each time, so the director can choose any take.
- Track is laid level. On a studio floor, a pavement or an office carpet, the grip levels it with wedges until it’s silent.
- Every rig holds. Cameras on cars, cranes and walls are rigged and checked by someone who does it every week.
- Safety comes first. Every rig has weights, straps and a plan before the camera goes on.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
In the day rate
- An 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch
- Building and operating the dolly, slider or jib
- Laying and levelling track
- Rigging cameras to cars, cranes and structures
- Risk-checking every rig
- Striking and loading out the grip kit
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- The grip package, such as a dolly, track, a jib or car mounts, at a day rate on its own line
- A tracking vehicle or crane, with its own crew
- Road closures, police time and permits for car work, at cost
- Travel from London or outside Brighton, mileage, and a suspended bay for the grip van, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Brighton.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book a grip for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example day with a grip
Track on the seafront in the morning and a dolly move in the Royal Pavilion after lunch. The Sussex Film Office gave permission for the seafront, and the Royal Pavilion gave its own. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- 06:30 Load in The grip van has come down from London. It parks in a suspended bay, booked with the council 7 working days ahead, and the grip checks the package against the list from the kit house.
- 07:00 Track down The grip lays 30ft of track on the promenade where the permission allows, with room left for people to pass. They level it with wedges and push the dolly until it’s silent.
- 08:30 First move A slow push-in follows the presenter as they walk, with marks for the start and the stop.
- 10:30 Track up The track is lifted and loaded before the seafront gets busy, and the promenade is left as it was.
- 13:00 Lunch The crew move to the Royal Pavilion. It asks for a dolly to run on track, on rubber wheels only, so the grip lays the track and fits rubber wheels.
- 14:00 Interview The grip makes a slow dolly move on the contributor, rigged so it doesn’t creak.
- 18:30 Wrap Rigs are struck and counted, and the van is loaded for the run back to the kit house.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office, Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Museums.
Types
Types of grip set-up we book
The camera support decides the grip. This is what each kind involves.
Key grip Runs the grip department Card: Up to £575
The key grip plans the camera support with the DOP and runs the grips.
Good for any shoot with dolly, crane or rigging work.
Dolly grip Track, dolly and repeatable moves From £526 a day + kit
A dolly grip lays track, builds and pushes the dolly, and hits the marks every take. On a street or the seafront, the track goes in the location’s permission first.
Good for adverts, drama and slow, precise moves.
Slider and jib Small moves, small crews From £526 a day + kit
One grip sets up and operates a slider, a Dana Dolly or a jib arm.
Good for interviews and brand films that need a bit of movement.
Car rigs and tracking vehicles Cameras on moving cars Quoted on the brief
Car rigs use suction and hard mounts, or a tracking vehicle with a crane, on a closed road or private land. On a public road in Brighton and Hove, start with the Sussex Film Office, which advises on road closures. See filming permits in Brighton.
Good for car adverts and any scene with someone driving.
Cranes and motorised heads Big rising and sweeping moves Quoted on the brief
A telescopic crane with a motorised head comes in with its own crew. A camera operator works the head with wheels or a joystick. On a public road, the crane goes in the permit application.
Good for big adverts, events and music videos.
What it’s for
What people book a grip for in Brighton
Adverts and fashion on the seafront
Brands shoot dolly moves and jib shots on the beach, Hove Lawns and the piers. On the shingle, the grip builds a level base before the track goes down. The Sussex Film Office handles the beach, and the pier’s owner handles the pier.
The Downs and the coast
Crews film tracking shots and car work on the Downs, at Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Seven Sisters. Car work on a road or on private land needs permission first, and the grip plans the rig around it.
Founder and customer films
Many of the city’s tech and games companies work at New England House and round the station. A slow slider move in the boardroom adds movement to an interview, rigged so it doesn’t creak.
Conferences at the Brighton Centre
A jib or a slider adds movement to the keynote coverage, and crews film interviews between the sessions.
University and research films
Crews film slow moves through labs and lecture theatres at the University of Sussex at Falmer and the University of Brighton. The grip lays track on the floor, or uses a slider where space is tight.
Recent work
Grips on our jobs, and how we crew Brighton
Crew hire · City of London and Uxbridge · September 2025
Four days, two offices, one grip line
We crewed customer-story interviews for a chip maker with a US production company over four days. Two days were at a law firm’s office on Cannon Street, and two at an office in Uxbridge. The quote carried a grip, a swing and a grip package. In the end the grip line went to a grip/spark, which saved money every day. In the City the crew unloaded from the car park straight into the lift. The job came in £498 under budget.
How we crew it · Brighton
A grip and a van from London
We book a grip who lives in Brighton or Hove when one is free. Grip crew for Brighton shoots usually come down from London, with the van and the package, and the travel goes on the quote before anything is booked. Cranes and tracking vehicles come in with their own crew. On the beach, the grip builds a level base on the shingle before the track goes down.
Before you book
Things to know
The day and the kit
- The day is 11 hours, including an hour for lunch.
- Overtime is paid at card rates, and we agree it with you before it happens.
- The grip package goes on its own line, at a day rate.
Roads and permission
- Car work on a public road, such as low loaders, tracking vehicles, vehicle-mounted cameras and A-frames, starts with the Sussex Film Office. It handles filming on council land in Brighton and Hove and advises on road closures.
- The Royal Pavilion asks for tracking to be laid for a dolly, with rubber wheels only, and for any on-site power to be agreed in advance.
- A road closure can take up to 12 weeks, and a suspended parking bay for the grip van needs 7 working days’ notice. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office, Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Museums.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the grip.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the grip we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
- Private venues usually ask to see it. The Royal Pavilion, for example, asks for at least £10m public liability. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove Museums.
£526 a day
APA/Bectu card: £526–575 a day, grip to key grip.
| Day rate, 11 hours | £526 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £52.60 |
| Insurance, 2% | £10.52 |
| One day, before kit and travel | £589.12 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the grip we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the grip.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book a grip in Brighton.
Tell us the moves, the camera weight and the location. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Brighton
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Brighton, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Brighton, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Brighton.
Production support
Everything around the crew
Grip work often needs a road plan, the location’s permission or a studio floor. The pages below cover kit hire, permits and studios for the rest of a Brighton shoot.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for a Brighton shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The Sussex Film Office, private places such as the pier, filming on the beach and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios in Brighton for interviews and product shots, and where to go for a bigger set build.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring a grip in Brighton
How much does a grip cost in Brighton?
Our grips start at £526 for an 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch, and the grip gets all of it. On the APA/Bectu card, a grip or key grip is £526–575. We add our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, so a day starts at £589.12 + VAT. The grip package and any travel from London each go on the quote as their own line.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
What’s the difference between a grip and a gaffer?
In the UK, the gaffer runs the lighting and the grip runs the camera support. In the US, grips also handle lighting stands and flags.
Can you rig a camera to a car in Brighton?
Yes. On private land, you need the owner’s permission. On a public road in Brighton and Hove, start with the Sussex Film Office, which handles filming on council land and advises on road closures. A road closure can take up to 12 weeks, so plan car work early. Check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Can I use a dolly on Brighton seafront or in the Royal Pavilion?
Yes, with permission. Track on a street, the seafront or in a park goes in the Sussex Film Office application. On the shingle, the grip builds a level base before the track goes down. Inside the Royal Pavilion, a dolly runs on track, on rubber wheels only. Check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove Museums for the latest.
Where does grip kit come from for a Brighton shoot?
Most grips bring a van with track, a dolly and a slider, priced on its own line. Bigger packages come from London kit houses. Cranes, motorised heads and tracking vehicles come in with their own crew, with the travel on the quote.
Are your grips from Brighton?
We book grips who live in Brighton or Hove first. Grip crew for Brighton shoots usually come down from London, with the van. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our own base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.
How far ahead should I book a grip in Brighton?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours, and the grip is rarely what sets the date. The location usually does. A suspended parking bay for the grip van needs 7 working days’ notice, and a road closure can take up to 12 weeks. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.