Ep 33: C-Stands

One of the most powerful tools in the Army that is Grip and Electric, today's episode looks thoroughly in depth on the C-stand.
This episode is sponsored by Lightbulb Grip, a rental house in Brooklyn, NYC. If you have any questions about gear demonstrated in this episode, questions about set safety, or need an equipment rental quote, feel free to reach out at lightbulbgrip.com or [e-mail]
Website:
griptips.net/
Lookin to buy the stands?
Spring Loaded turtle base stands
Chrome
griptips.net/products/matthew...)
Black Turtle base
griptips.net/products/matthew...
Rocky Mountain Stands
Chrome
griptips.net/products/matthew...
(affiliate)
Rules for giveaway
1) Must be a subscriber
2) Must be a USA resident, winner must also have a US address to ship to
3) Must have shared this video on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #griptipscstandgiveaway
Twitter:
@dave_donaldson
Music by: Andreyka "Making Moves"
• Andreyka - "Making Mov...
subs:2880

[@BigMistakesInRealEstate]

Dude, this video is still hitting. I just got my c-stand and this is awesome. Subscribed. I hope your still making videos because you are literally helping me achieve my dreams.

[@GripTips]

Big Mistakes In Real Estate helping you achieve your dreams... yea dude I’m not gonna lie, that just kind of made my day, glad I could help ☺️

[@weijingburr2392]

Good Stuff. 38 years in the industry. This kind of practical knowledge is invaluable. On set, G/E is the one for which proper employment of equipment is usually bound to safety for everyone, failure to deploy equipment correctly can result in injury. Thank you for sharing.

[@frankdf19]

I love this kind of detail. I've been a full time recording engineer since 1983. I teach at the university level in my old alma mater one day a week. Discussing microphone stands and cable winding often starts out with eye-rolling from some of the students. And then they realize the practical necessity of getting this kind of thing right. It's one thing to put up a single vocal mic, and it's a radically different thing to do a film score and have to mic a large orchestra with 40 channels of audio coming in. If every microphone cable is wound haphazardly, then every one you pull off the hook is like a Boy Scout project dramatically wasting your time. The same thing goes for the use of stands. And microphone stands get beat on and frequently fail. You have to know right away if something is going to drift and deal with it before it's an issue. And again, the same goes for C-Stands and other equipment like it. Practical usage, speed, and safety. Looks like Adam has it all handled! Hey all you starting out - LISTEN CLOSELY !!!!

[@imsofinite]

That double gobo trick is fantastic.

[@moritzschierenbeck]

Really appreciate the work that has gone into this! Thanks!

[@jonathanfurtado6880]

As an instructor, thank you for covering all of the different terminology and styles. A lot of people don't cover them enough.

[@ValdiValdies]

Good stuff! Appreciate the little details and Pro tips.

[@CinematographyDatabase]

Solid AF, keep it up

[@GripTips]

Cinematography Database thanks matt ☺

[@MarioGarciduenas]

Boosh! Agreed!

[@Richfxx]

Cinematography Database celebrity appearance

[@firworks]

Yeah the auto focus in this was top notch. 👌

[@camdenmounts1473]

Agreed, autofocus is 10/10!

[@Mike0193Azul]

Fantastic lecture and tips

[@chuckcrookshanks847]

I just got my first c-stand and this video was very informative and timely. Thanks for posting.. I did suscribe for other Grip Tips.

[@TheCrooksandCastle]

I watched four c-stand video today and this is the most informative and accurate video about c-stands, thank you

[@Imitating]

This is one of the best videos I've seen a long time. Thank you for all the tips!

[@markkent8436]

Another good tip is to bag the stand with the handles down, that way the handle is up when you kick the bag off. Also, it's less of a tripping hazard when people step over the stand.

[@nolesdennhardt8986]

awesome tips!! I really appreciate it.

[@evokada]

Love your videos Dave. Learn something new every time.

[@RobbScholarTube]

The effort you put into this amazing, much appreciated thank you

[@CourtneyDanielsfilms]

This video is awesome. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@nickmason8715]

Some great tips here, thanks man!

[@RAREMAGNETICS]

awesome video just what I needed to learn thanks

[@mikeyfl]

Great info Matt! Happily shared for your contest.

[@samuelsanabria4969]

great video, Dave!

[@thenerdherdforum]

That tip about using the same c-stand for the light and the bounce was brilliant 👏

[@antonc108]

Sir, can you do a tutorial on a few common ways of car rigging and the tools needed for it? Thank you so much for these vidz! Love them!

[@ricardobirnbaum]

This was great man! Learnt a couple things... SOLID TUT

[@fairlie1000]

Great episode

[@juancarlospena7089]

Love it! Nice job!

[@eriksonderlon]

Thank you, great video!

[@deebz3475]

really well done mate thanks. info packed

[@JohnMcQuay]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@bryanalcantarfilms]

This is so awesome!

[@PulpFreePress]

This is a well done tutorial. Thanks.

[@MASTERSHOTFILMS]

Thanks so much for making these videos, Dave. Really informative and you guys covered just about all aspects related to C-stands. I hope you guys can do a future episode on different equipment carts to safely & efficiently transport G&E gear. Light Bulb & Grip in Brooklyn rocks and thanks for allowing these videos to be made! ps From a guy who has smacked his dong far too many times closing C-stands, I'm comforted knowing there are others out there that feel my pain.

[@YountFilm]

I like the inner-knee method. Keeps you alert.

[@ihsanrazali]

Thanks for sharing very helpful

[@teletape]

Great job. Thanks!

[@spadawebtor3413]

SUPER!!!! GREAT JOB!!!

[@videoguyla]

Thank you great video!

[@IndieMusiCon]

AWESOME episode. Love your vids.

[@GripTips]

Noël Ramos thanks dude!

[@screenboiler]

My mind is blown. You are wise.

[@JohnLuna]

I appreciate the extra tips!!

[@markshirley01]

Thanks - this is so helpful 👏👏👏👏 subbed.

[@BrandonPlantz]

Fantastic. "Everything You Wanted To Know About C-Stands (But Were Afraid to Ask)". Thank you so much, man.

[@GripTips]

Brandon Plantz not a problem ☺️

[@blakebauer5112]

Awsome bro. Good work

[@ROBLOXowns]

Great video!

[@beaverboyb]

Great video

[@lephotographinc]

Amazing video. I am new to cinematography and I’ve learned so much from your videos. THANKS A MILLION

[@GripTips]

Awesome Pascal! I’m lookin to gettin back to releasing a lot more frequently than I have and these kind of comments definitely help motivate me . So for that, I thank you as well ☺️ cheers

[@ChicanoCreator]

Uuuuum WHAT?!?!?! How am I just finding your channel now? This is absolutely amazing!

[@joncarson2322]

Ive been on sets for about 10 years (including film school) Ive worked in every department on set, but mainly camera and G&E. I have never seen the 1 C-Stand light bounce. Mind Blown!!!!!

[@GripTips]

Jon Carson it's rare but it does happen

[@joncarson2322]

Actually I know why I might have never seen it. I work with Mole lights a lot. The Arri lights have 2 baby pin holes.

[@ASSADZMANFILMS]

This is awesome

[@1NOnlyAdityaOfficial]

Thanks man ❣️🙏👏

[@gentlegnt]

Excellent!! Thanks so much!! Greetings from Bay Area, California!

[@pablodejesusportillavasque5043]

Boosh! Dude, you rock!

[@firworks]

I really liked the look of that screen cu-cu-loris. I've seen videos about cookies before but they were always solid ones. Another good idea for the ol' Christmas list.

[@sheldondowney3648]

Came from theatre school to the film set because of your videos, thanks for the knots, tips, and jokes.

[@jaygrambling79]

Thanks so much for the tutorial...will definitely have me a little less green on my second day. 😎

[@FamilyFilmmaker]

subscribed even five years after you posted this video on c-stands!

[@tqaproduction]

your best episode!

[@rubenrodriguez2590]

This is pretty entertaining... and I did learn something... :)

[@RavKan]

Haha! First time I’ve seen a video of yours. Man, it was funny and entertaining! Subscribed straight! BOOSH!

[@mastervic6230]

This is great, I learn better than at the class. Awesome!

[@CalHallows]

I love/hate working with C-Stands. They're so useful but so annoying ergonomically. Great video, tonnes of solid advice and I love the inky + bounce idea, definitely gotta use that one some time!

[@dragonwort]

Great video! Made me laugh and lots of good info.

[@phillip2446]

this is great

[@calebgeniott1891]

Checking in from '22, still hits.

[@FergVision]

My office is pretty cramped and my boss has smacked his face more than once on the end of my C-Stands because our offices have a combined doorway that I often need to stick my stands partially into just like you showed hah. We mostly avoid it now by either doing what you showed moving it up or just flagging it with some red safety headphones and a yellow microfiber cloth, same concept as the tennis ball but tennis ball is prob a little easier. Love it. Great stuff on this channel especially for people who are working on smaller sets and may need to fill many roles.

[@WalterTheBalter]

Thanks man

[@DaveDonaldsonLive]

Sure thing!

[@otaythen]

Love that Alt-j in the background at the end :p

[@ss14s]

Thanks

[@GilbertTV]

brilliant

[@anniecompton503]

This video autoplayed after another I watched on light stands. I don't even shoot film and I just watched this whole video. Well done. lol

[@guyjperson]

Liked for showing how to stack sticks pointed towards the set. I try to drill that into my guys. On another note, we call the rule the Right Hand Rule where I'm from.

[@bryanalcantarfilms]

God I love C-Stands!

[@alejandroescalas8970]

Yeah... for some reason I didn't see this. Thank you I apologise, great video man

[@GripTips]

Alejandro Escalas haha no worries, for a second I thought it was a joke cause I've been asked to do it so much haha

[@terenceokane]

knew a lot of this already, but that arri light setup with the bounce and flag blew me away. coming from an ex travel shooter, that is a lot of punch for just one stand

[@ImmobileLizard]

never seen that way to extend an arm. that's definitely going to help on this next shoot

[@PrettyLady7282]

Cinematogrphy database brought me here. very nice vid. thx - liked -

[@razvanrosca3035]

Liked. Subscribed. Boosh!

[@sethholston4142]

Nice

[@On3_racing]

"BOOSH!"

[@BenjaminCarroll]

WTF. Such an underrated channel. Holy shiz. Who needs film school? haha

[@madnessbydesign1415]

I've never seen a putty knife stuck into the gobo as you showed, but I was shown that space was for the ears on speedrail silks, etc. I think I also saw someone stick a small foamboard bounce in there out of necessity once (it was indoors, so wind wasn't an issue)...

[@GripTips]

Madness by Design though I’ve done it, ears for speedrail for a butterfly frame should absolutely, never be inside of a gobo or knuckle.

[@madnessbydesign1415]

Live and learn... When I took my scissor/boom lift certification, the instructor said "The great thing about this country is our 'get it done' attitude. The bad thing, is our 'get it done' attitude.". Then he showed us a picture of a scissor lift being lifted on the forks of a forklift. "That shouldn't be...".

[@TJKgoclones]

I got that same Music poster! (3:44)

[@krisztiannagy6276]

Hello Dave! I hope somehow you will make a give away game not just for the people who live in the US but for who live in Europe. Your episodes are awesome and thanks so much for your videos. I really appreciate it!

[@kimeunsoo1807]

Thank you for the helpful video! I have a quick question. So it appears the grip head that goes onto the C-stand itself (holding the gobo arm) and the grip that's attached to the gobo arm itself are slightly different. I see one has extra swivel while the other does not. Why is there such difference? can these be used interchangeably? or in other words, can I switch the grip heads and still be able to use the C-stand just fine? Thank you very much.

[@doylelacrua]

Okay. I fucking LEARNED SOMETHING. Thanks, Mr. Tips!

[@DennisKussener]

righty tighty, lefty loosy

[@minerva5025]

Thank you for not taking bad what I wrote, I really didn't want to be rude or mean but I got so frustrated that it was so difficult to follow you, that I decided to comment. I'm glad you understand, it's a learning process for sure for you and for me too. Stay safe.

[@djamesvideography]

4 week film school class in 10 minutes - nice!

[@lautarogonzalez7655]

Capo!!

[@GripTips]

El estudiante de Praga does that mean boss? Or....?

[@lautarogonzalez7655]

Grip Tips You are the master

[@mikegustafson6679]

Sweet shoes.. 😄.

[@GripTips]

Ikr?! I miss them so much, haven’t worn those in a minute

[@GarageDynamics]

I love your content! I noticed you have both black and chrome C stands. I'm looking to buy my first C stand and was debating on whether to get black or chrome. What is your recommendation? Also do you recommend the low profile legs (MSE brand) over standard legs or is it just a gimmick? Cheers!

[@GripTips]

SkipArtPictures I love the black ones to be honest, though I feel like they could get lost on a night shoot. Hasn’t happened to me but I do love the look and on winter days they stay warm because of the sun. As far as legs go? I wouldn’t worry too much, especially on your first few stands. Stick with Matthews, American Grip, or Norms brand names. Don’t cheap out on the stands. The longevity of a quality stand is worth it. I know there’s cheaper options out there but trust me on that. Hope this helps!

[@GarageDynamics]

Black it is. Thank you so much for the advice Grip Tips!!

[@justinnix4764]

oh wow that light bounce trick

[@philindeblanc]

Has anyone tried to put casters on Cstands...I know you gotta double or triple bag it :-) But, I have limited space and 3 feet is a lot to give up on 2 stands with wheels, vs Cstands much smaller footprint.

[@LMActionsports]

Nice video! I am debating on getting a C stands for outdoor portraits. I do have a stainless steel tripod with the normal legs but I’ve been thinking about picking up a c stand to mount my heavy flashpoint ad600 . I paid a lot of money for this flash so I think I should upgrade the light stand to secure it better.

[@GripTips]

truckin3030 can’t go wrong with Matthews or American. They’re built for the abuse. If you can’t do those, avenger is not bad.

[@LMActionsports]

@@GripTips thanks for the quick response. Quick question. I do a lot of outdoor photo shoots and half the time I am never on flat ground. Do you think I should get the c stand with the adjustable height 3rd leg or the normal legs. I am on kind of a tight budget right now cuz this stupid pandemic. But I got to realize I've been using a normal tripod Everywhere I Go do over I need the adjustable third leg? What's your opinion thank you again

[@GripTips]

truckin3030 yes, absolutely get the Rocky Mountain leg version first and for that reason. Don’t get me wrong, I love turtle bases for the ease but for a starter C-stand. Get the Rocky Mountain leg first. Buy like three of them, then get the turtle bases.

[@MrJaTPa]

Wonderful episode man but we want your gifts also in Italy! You have grip fans here! lol

[@GripTips]

Generico Larvis do you know some distributors? I would love to expand the contest but shipping from the US is murder

[@MrJaTPa]

ahahah i image this. I know sundy rent in Italy but i don't know any direct distributors. In these days i can ask to my key grips, if i have any information i will tell you

[@GripTips]

Generico Larvis would love that, thank you

[@Rossella235]

I'm italian too!

[@videographiya]

Incredible video! Wonder can I do the giveaway part one year after the video was posted:)

[@walterjohnson8127]

BOOSH! #greatcontent

[@BRITEBOXMEDIA]

The story I heard is that they are named after Century Studios in Century City

[@fangshizhu9383]

Really nice introduction! Have a question, how do I mount a light (e.g.: aputure 120d) on a C-Stand? Do I just directly mount it on the end of the C-stand arm or I need some other adapter? How to mount a camera?

[@GripTips]

Fangshi Zhu use the back end of the arm like I showed in regards to the 120d. For cameras you’re gonna wanna start looking into speed rail, grid clamps, and cheese plates. Not to say you can mount cameras to c-stand arms, but it’s not really a solid stable rig. But if you really want to, “baby ball head adapters” from matthews are usually my go to. It’s basically a 3/8-16 thread to a female baby pin adapter. Hope this helps!

[@fangshizhu9383]

@@GripTips Thanks for replying! I will look up. Very nice C-stand introduction!

[@Hosweh_]

When you said that the reason you put the big leg in front is because the bogo will be weighing down the back so it works against the big leg is huge to me. I haven’t seen anyone give a reason to putting a sandbag under whatever you’re lifting so knowing that it’s because the heaviest part is opposite of the leg makes sense. Now let’s say you operate on a smaller set where you have a c-stand with a cross bar completely extended out and doesn’t have a counterweight working against the big leg, would it make sense to place that big leg opposite to the cross bar (which will carry the weight) so that is working against it? Will you always place the big leg against which ever side carries the most weight? Or do you always have the c-stand setup the same and make sure the heaviest part works against the big leg? (Sorry if this was confusing)