Film crew hire/Oxford/Grip
Hire a grip in Oxford. A grip builds the camera support and moves the camera smoothly and safely.
People book a grip in Oxford for college halls, labs at the Science Park and Harwell, and shoots on the street. 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.
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- 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: Here Now Films, sippakorn yamkasikorn, David Glessner, Rendy Novantino and Sidharth Bhatia
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 or near Oxford first. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Grip crew for Oxford shoots usually come from London, with the van and often with the package. 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 Oxford, mileage, parking and any Zero Emission Zone charge for the grip van, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Oxford.
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 Broad Street in the morning and a dolly move in a college hall after lunch. Oxfordshire County Council gave permission for the street, and the college gave its own. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- 06:30 Load in The grip van has come from London, and the grip checks the package against the list from the kit house. If the van is driven in the Zero Emission Zone between 7am and 7pm, the day’s charge is on the quote.
- 07:00 Track down The grip lays 30ft of track on Broad Street 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 before the street gets busy, and the pavement is left as it was. Broad Street is one of the listed streets in the centre, so the county council had 30 working days’ notice.
- 13:00 Lunch The crew wheel the dolly and track to the college. Each college sets its own rules, and this one agreed the track, the dolly and where they go before the day.
- 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 Oxfordshire County Council.
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 in a college, 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 Oxford or the county, start with Oxfordshire County Council, which handles filming on roads, streets and pavements. See filming permits in Oxford.
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 Oxford
Brand films and adverts on the street
Brands shoot dolly moves and jib shots on Broad Street and the High. Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements, so the track goes in the county’s application.
Heritage locations out of town
Brand films go out to Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, the edge of the Cotswolds and the Chilterns for tracking shots and car work. Private land needs the owner’s permission, and car work on a public road starts with the county council. The grip plans the rig around both.
Founder films for spin-outs and biotech
Spin-outs and biotech companies film at the Oxford Science Park, Begbroke and Harwell Campus. A slow slider move in a lab or a boardroom adds movement to an interview, rigged so it doesn’t creak.
Conferences and events at college venues
A jib or a slider adds movement to the talks, and crews film interviews between the sessions. Keble is one of the colleges that takes location filming.
University and research films
Crews film slow moves through labs, lecture theatres and libraries. Start with the University’s filming coordinator or the college. 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 Oxford
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 · Oxford
A grip and a van from London
We book a grip who lives in or near Oxford when one is free. Grip crew for Oxford shoots usually come 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. In a college hall or a quad, the track and the dolly go in the college’s permission before the day.
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 Oxfordshire County Council. It handles filming on roads, streets and pavements in Oxford and the county.
- Each college decides on filming in its own buildings and grounds. Ask about track, a dolly and any power when you apply.
- A road closure needs a Special Event Order from the county council, with at least 12 weeks’ notice. The order costs £3,029 plus VAT, including up to £600 of advertising. If the grip van is driven in Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone between 7am and 7pm, a Euro 6 diesel van pays £4 a day and an older diesel £10. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
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.
- Venues usually ask to see it. Oxfordshire County Council, for example, asks for at least £10m public liability for filming on streets and pavements. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
£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 Oxford.
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 Oxford
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Oxford, 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 Oxford, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Oxford.
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 an Oxford shoot.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for an Oxford shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The county council for streets, the colleges and the University, the Bodleian and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios at Didcot and south of Reading for set builds, and college rooms hired by the day for interviews.
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 Oxford
How much does a grip cost in Oxford?
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 Oxford?
Yes. On private land, you need the owner’s permission. On a public road in Oxford or the county, start with Oxfordshire County Council, which handles filming on roads, streets and pavements. A road closure needs a Special Event Order with at least 12 weeks’ notice, so plan car work early. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Can I use a dolly on an Oxford street or in a college?
Yes, with permission. Track on a street or pavement goes in the Oxfordshire County Council application. A small crew needs at least 15 working days’ notice, or 30 on listed streets in the centre such as Broad Street and Turl Street. In a college, the college decides, and most colleges want at least two weeks. Check with Oxfordshire County Council and the college for the latest.
Where does grip kit come from for an Oxford 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 Oxford?
We book grips who live in or near Oxford first. Grip crew for Oxford shoots usually come 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 Oxford?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours, and the grip is rarely what sets the date. The location usually does. The county council needs at least 15 working days’ notice for a small crew on the street, or 30 on listed streets in the centre, and a road closure needs at least 12 weeks. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.