WRAP DRINKS
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. For years, Shitty Rigs has been a platform for filmmakers to showcase the ingenuity and problem solving skills they use to get the shots they need. Sprouting from that same idea, we present Wrap Drinks; a podcast dedicated to talking with those same film & television professionals from around the world as they tell us how they got into the industry, offer tips & tricks, and share their experiences from set. There's a fine line between "shitty" and "genius," join us as we cross it together.
WRAP DRINKS
#034 - Rob "Smitty" Smith // Key Grip
If you've worked on a New York Production, the chance that you've bumped into Smitty on your set is pretty high. If you haven't - it's likely the Key Grip on your set probably trained under him.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Rob Smith says he was saved by the film industry after years of getting into trouble on the streets. After a friend brought him to set of a music video in 1990s, he was immediately pulled into the industry where he tackled multiple crafts from PA, Director, AD, and more before eventually becoming most known as a Key Grip.
Smitty is probably one of the most seasoned non-union Key Grips you'll ever meet with an unforgettable personality. He's no BS, always keeps his cool, but loves a good challenge when it comes to rigging on his shoots. We talk with Smitty about his experiences working in music video world in its heyday, some of the challenges he encountered during his 30 year career in the industry, and where he thinks the industry is headed.
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