pick up a job over the phone. If you really want to do this, go to
Hollywood and meet as many people as you can. Go to all the different
studios and put your name in. Do whatever it takes."
A job as a production assistant or day player is a good way to get on
the set, see what grips do, and make contacts that might lead to a future
job. "Call the film commission in your state and tell them your interests,"
suggests Senato. "They might be able to help you. They know what films
are coming into the state and
who is looking for interns."
With under two years of
experience, Senato says, "I
walked up to a key grip doing
a scout on a movie. He didn't
know me. I saw them moving
stuff and started helping them.
After a time I told them, `I'm a
grip trying to get on a movie.'
He told me to report next
Thursday and I was hired."
Professional Profile:
Bob Munoz, Key Grip
"I've got about 29 years in the business," say Bob Munoz, "and grip-
ping is the only thing I've ever done, besides being a stagehand. I just
can't imagine doing anything else."
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Munoz's father was a projectionist and
a member of IATSE. Through his father's connections, Munoz began
working as a stagehand while still in high school. After one semester of
college, he realized it wasn't his forte and moved to Los Angeles in 1973
to look for film work.
Munoz found work at Universal Studios, on a crew constructing sets
for television series, and remained there for four years. "They had so
many TV shows. You went from one stage to another, setting up stuff for
the production company to use
the next day."
Introduced by a friend to
key grip Gene Kearney,
Munoz got a job on The
Baltimore Bullet that launched
his career in features. He
What do you like
least about your job?
"What I like least is
driving to work every
day--but, if I'm out of
town I don't have to
drive."--Bob Munoz
What do you love most
about your job?
"What I like most is that I don't have to do
the same thing every day."--Bob Munoz
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
When you land a
job, listen and learn
from those working
around you.
CAREER TIPS
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