Dave Wells,Trainee Grip FT2
“This is all I have ever wanted to do. I’m a big film fan. I spend all my free time watching movies.” Dave Wells is a trainee Grip working on Red Light Runners starring Harvey Kietel and Michael Madsen and currently being shot in London. The first day on set was an intimidating experience for Dave. “It was mind blowing! I’d never seen so many trailers and equipment and there were people running all over the place. And it took me a while to get my head around the fact I don’t have to lay track! On the smaller pop promos I’ve had experience on, it was the grips responsibility but here the chipie kept having to stop me and say that’s my job mate.”
Dave started off on a Broadcasting degree at Ravensbourne but he dropped out after a chance meeting with a film production crew. “I just sort of hung around on my days off from Ravensbourne. I went around all the different departments fetching and carrying and when I saw what the grips do I felt it was really me. My Dad was a blacksmith so from a very early age I’ve been doing physical, mechanical work which is a big part of what a grip does.”
Red Light Runners is the perfect film for Dave who loves action movies. “My ambition is to be a 35mm Key Grip but if I get the chance to work on a lot of action movies that would be a great bonus. For a grip, the action genre presents tough challenges. It gives you the chance to set up some of the most exciting and complex shots and sequences.”
Dave is still struggling with student loans, an ever increasing overdraft and a not so friendly bank manager but none of this can dampen his enthusiasm. “Since I was a kid, all I have ever wanted to do is work on feature films. And now here I am on this big budget movie with Harvey Keitel. Mind blowing!”