Episode 101: Lunches

[@JacksonParodi]

Never thought I'd dig a 15 minute video about lunch, nice work

[@GripTips]

😂😂😂

[@DoctorBatmanMD]

As a PA, lunches are gosh darn anxiety inducing. Trying to get everybody through the line, and all the logistics that involves. And if things get messed up, nothing is worse than a hungry crew member who’s disappointed.

[@DennismMaler]

Thanks for making this video. This is the kind of stuff no one talks about nor do they know about, but is incredibly important. Good work, Dave.

[@GripTips]

Sorry, accidentally had hit “yes, made for kids” when selecting options. Here’s your comment section folks!

[@CinematographyDatabase]

yooooooo

[@GripTips]

My favorite part about your comment is right underneath it “translate to English” bahaha

[@108u9]

There’s no free lunch in the world. Except Dave dropping free knowledge bombs.

[@NDWolff-of2zw]

Love the video. Sharing it to AC world

[@GripTips]

Love that, use to be an AC myself ☺️

[@oscargt23]

Thank you for all the amazing knowledge you share. God bless you sir!🎉

[@monsieurgolem3392]

This is intense.

[@davisfan]

Hi Dave! I just bought a 12x12 frame, and my first couple rags (silk and black duvetine). I'd love to see you make a video about big frames - I've gotten some advice some a couple gaffers, and I've helped in a few big shoots, but I feel I have a lot to learn. Great video, as usual

[@quietpersona]

Welcome back!!! I love your channel!!!!

[@MaxHernandez-qz5tp]

Dave! I'm in film school now and we mostly work with Kinos, Arri tungten (100w-1k) and some LED from ARRI and Apurture. One thing we don't talk about is electrical safety, especially with the tungsten lights. I was hoping despite your busy schedule, could you do a video on indie gaffing and safe practices using common house outlets and all things concerning breakers!! Thanks! hope your doing well!

[@GripTips]

I did bud! Episode 5: Paper amps

[@MaxHernandez-qz5tp]

@@GripTips appreciate all the work you do!!

[@TimTylerCine]

Thx for uploading

[@TylerEdwards]

Hello there

[@GripTips]

😂😂😂

[@jordiyepez2380]

Missed ur videos buddy! I have a question though, what is union and non union? Is it some form of regulation in the US?

[@GripTips]

If you are watching the credits at the end of a movie, you’ll see things like AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters, IATSE, DGA, WGA, ASC, etc etc. In most cases, very hard to become a member in one of those. But being a member means having medical benefits, pension 401k retirement, job postings, worker rights, and people who back you up for getting paid in a timely matter/ fair pay. Where when you’re non-union, it’s basically like freelance contracting where you have to do all of that on your own.

[@jordiyepez2380]

Thanks for the info man, nice to know if I ever work in the US

[@108u9]

Hi Dave, hope you can do a review of the new Matthews Grip Rail vs the regular speed pipe you’ve done tutorials here on the channel. Curious if they are functionally any better or worse. If they’re worth a purchase if starting to assemble a working set vs regular speed pipe (Matthews markets it as saving on cutting and destroying speed pipes). Thank you!

[@GripTips]

Hey bud! Rn I’m currently moving, along with some other complications but I saw my buddy Martin in their promo. From a far I absolutely love the design. Super sleek and looks great. Per usual with any of Matthew’s stuff, just looks designer grip. Functionally I love that there’s a stop for the Grip rail as I’ve pulled apart a lot of wall spreaders when setting up. And while I’ve cut my share of rail, it would be nice to have a preset couple of rails dedicated to just wall spreading. I personally have had some wall spreaders pre-cut and loaded on the truck many times. So being able to just slap the flanges on those seems great in comparison to pre-building. I also dig that the shaft is not hallow vs speed rail. I think my only thing would be if they had some sort of quick connect wall spreader system in tandem with it. But I also see where they could be handy for car rigging. Idk, just my two Pennie’s. Maybe once I get over this hump I’m currently in, maybe I can give them a call and give it a run myself. Hope this helps! Stay frosty 💪💪

[@Tylerjstratton]

Hey Dave, great Videos. I've been a DGA AD for 8 years, and now teaching Set safety at college level. I've been using some of your videos for my students! Maybe I can shed some light on your NDB Questions of why ADs ask for that (near the end of the video). In my experience it comes from a back and forth between a request to start earlier, vs the UPM (unit production manager) not not wanting to pay the meal penalty. A good example: The day isn't scheduled to be a 12 day overall, so the UPM has no problem with Grips coming in 30 mins early to get setup and do what they need. Doesn't cost them anything over their budget EXCEPT if they hit Meal Pens now. So they basically say, yes you can come in early as long as you NDB. Even though practically speaking you don't really ever have time to take 30 minutes exactly as you expressed. But the Key Grip or the Best boys usually agree to it because in the long run, sneaking in a burrito after you're set up (say 70 minutes after call) is more effective and less stressful then having to come in at call and bust your tail to get ready in time. The ADs are the ones asking for this sure, but it's almost always comes from a mandate from above. (Again in my personal experience). Hopefully that helps. Cheers!

[@GripTips]

Well now see that’s the thing, by union rules, you can’t do 70 minutes after call. In the contracts it says an hour before or within the hour after. So you’re either 10 mins into crew call which no one has time, or your 10 mins over the hour after and given the other wording in the contract, they’re not suppose to be “sneaking in a burrito”, they are suppose to be seated, well ventilated area, yadda yadda. So that violates two things in the contracts. I see what you’re saying but that’s how it’s written. I had to have local 80 reps look over my script here to make sure I wasn’t misleading. I’ve never spent so much research on eating in my entire life 🤣😂🤣

[@Tylerjstratton]

@@GripTips Oh 100% you have the rules correct. I'm not condoning or saying it's okay or allowed. Was just shedding light on your questions of "Why ADs ask for this". And I find its usually because the Key asks for a 30 minute pre-call, and the UPM says yes only if you take an NDB. and the key in return says "Okay we'll make it work". Thanks for doing all the deep research and sharing it though, most people don't know these rules enough to protect them selves!

[@ScottBalkum]

Wait? I can get paid for lunch? That’s a win win!

[@GripTips]

100%

[@CaitlinBurt]

i loved every minute of this also it made me hungry

[@GripTips]

You should have seen how hungry I was making it

[@DavidEllsDP]

My wife just worked on her first real film set (props) and confirmed all of this as accurate. Videographer me had no idea about all this.

[@GripTips]

Tell her congrats! I too also use to be a bit of a videographer

[@lukerodelyfilms]

Great info! I even watched it and I'm in Australia! We need an IATSE equivalent here, we only have the MEAA (Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance) which covers actors, journalists, crew etc and despite it having been very useful recently with overturning the cancelling of a film incentive fund called the Made in NSW, to attract offshore productions to NSW, it really is useless for crew when it comes to upholding production to rates, conditions and that sort of thing.

[@steveworonko5307]

Some of this applies to California only, especially non-union and things like meal penalties, because of the labor laws there. Whereas other states don't have as strong laws, so you might not get meal penalties unless you tell production when negotiating. As far as Grace, technically, by contract, they're supposed to ask the keys if they can go into grace, not just we're going into grace. Also depending on where you are, once they call grace, if the slate changes, grace is over and they have to buy the penalty. In other areas of the country, they're not as strict. Technically a meal is 30min sit down, not just grabbing a breakfast burrito or a slice of pizza and going back to work, doesn't reset the meal penalty clock.

[@GripTips]

Actually, come to find out. No where in the contracts does it say grace must be asked for. Which is weird cause that’s what I was taught and I didn’t find out until this episode that they don’t have to ask for it, through my union hall

[@stevestussey1928]

@@GripTips You are correct in that aspect about nothing in the contract. But spinning the dial isn't accepted as 'notifying' since not everyone is on walkie. As the phrase 'past practice' gets used a lot. And I know different parts of the country does things differently.

[@yoson29]

Welcome back.

[@Ranger7Studios]

And now for the most important rules of all. :)

[@madnessbydesignVria]

My God, lunch is complicated. I need a lunch manager... :)

[@ScottBalkum]

Star Wars reference…

[@GripTips]

How are you?

[@ScottBalkum]

@@GripTips I shall reply in a completely different movie and star… “I’m, fine….” See if you can guess it

[@ZoZZh]

Bon appetit!

[@wadecordts3286]

Dave, when’s the next video coming out?

[@GripTips]

@@wadecordts3286 when the angels win a pennant

[@rinnywilson1400]

I've never heard about sacrificing a meal penalty because you had an NDB. More like they shouldn't have to pay you an NDB because they gave you a meal and restarted the 6 hour clock. Does it vary by Local?

[@PancakeLighting]

Question about Grace- Doesnt production need to ASK for grace, not CALL grace? In other words, the crew has the power to grant or veto grace. I’ve never seen it happen but my understanding was that they’re asking crews permission to go :12 more.

[@GripTips]

Sorry I’m just seeing this, there’s no wording in the contracts that say they need to “ask” for grace. Which is weird cause I was taught the same. But no, they don’t have to ask, they just have to inform.

[@ethanfoery9399]

How do you handle non-union employers that call for grace?

[@GripTips]

Sorry, you ask them politely but firmly “what are you negotiating for grace”, if they don’t have an answer (and likely they won’t) you tell them, Grace was what unions created to negotiate, this is a non-union job, what’s the negotiation? If they still have no answer, you say “ok well that’s a meal penalty then unfortunately. And you stand your ground and charge them the MP. Cause if you back down, they are getting away with not paying you what you deserve. Be nice, but also hold your ground. They should know better.

[@rmeaner]

What about a 2nd meal on a non union crew? If they feed you but you don't sit down for 30 minutes. Shouldn't that be a meal penalty? Or since it is non union they can get away with it?

[@GripTips]

So this is something I didn’t mention on purpose because the truth is, it depends what state you’re in. For example, here in California, you can get a 2nd meal penalty but only if the company didn’t break you for lunch all day. Maybe you ate, but you didn’t actually take time off the clock. That’s the cliff notes of that law anyway. But also in theory, because it’s non-union, and I mean this nationwide, they can set the rules as long as it falls under your state law. So maybe a company has a 2nd meal penalty policy even though there’s no state law enforcing it and vice versa, if that makes sense?

[@rmeaner]

Copy, I am in Cali too, Los Angeles. Hope to work with you on set one day. @@GripTips

[@GripTips]

@@rmeaner awesome, you local 80 yet?

[@rmeaner]

No, I am still non union. I do more electric than grip but a bit of both. I get several qualifying days every year but never enough.@@GripTips

[@GripTips]

@@rmeaner oic

[@ethanfoery9399]

YO ARE YOU BACK?!

[@GripTips]

Never really left, just been lazy 😂😂😂

[@ethanfoery9399]

@@GripTips Well hey I'm new to the industry and I've been binging the CRAP out of your videos, so I'm pumped to get some new content. This was super helpful cause I just had a shoot that I should have charged like three meal penalties on!

[@GripTips]

@@ethanfoery9399 yea so something to note about that. Getting multiple meal penalties on a non-union shoot can only happen twice in a day and specifically to the state your in. For example, it’s possible to get 2 meal penalties here in California but that would mean that production didn’t break you for lunch at all that day. But it’s to my understanding that it varies per state. In the union though it’s the structure that I showed. Also, welcome to the industry and thanks for watching! ☺️

[@MileyonDisney]

Woo-hoo! Did you miss me? For lunch, today, I just had a potted meat sandwich, a deviled egg, half a pickle, and a quart of prune juice. Mmmm! Mmmm! Not really, of course. Looks like Hollywood is treating you okay. Seriously, I think you'll make it pretty far up the hierarchical chain. You seem like an intelligent, decent guy.

[@GripTips]

Not too bad minus the strikes. Also my BA at the union hall said I seem to be working up the ranks pretty quickly. Which is nice to hear. ☺️and of COURSE I miss your random lobotomy comments 😂😂😂

[@MileyonDisney]

@@GripTips Okay - I asked my surgeon for a discount on my lobotomy. He said, 'I'll give you half off, but you won't remember it.