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The NBC Prime Time Drama "Ed" Clearly there is a demand for a better means of rigging lights to drop ceilings - especially large cumbersome lights like 4'-4 Bank Kino Flos. The day that our press release in American Cinematographer hit the stands, we received a call for several Porta-Grid Clamps from Tom O'Conner, the best boy electric on the NBC Prime Time drama "Ed." As soon as he saw the press release, he said, he took it to the show's Gaffer, P. Brooke Stanford, because they were in desperate need of a better way of rigging 4'-4 Bank Kino fixtures to the drop ceiling of the show's principle set - a large bowling alley called "Stucky Bowl." Because of the building's architecture - the roof of Stucky Bowl is arched like an airplane hanger - there is quite often nothing in reach above the drop-ceiling to rig a light onto he explained. And whenever one of the show's grips tried to rig a Kino fixture on a traditional scissor clip with stud, it would tilt and twist under its own weight as soon as he let go of it, making it impossible to focus. Kenny Fundus, the show's Key Grip, had just about given up rigging fixtures to the drop ceiling, when Tom (in picture #1 holding a clamp) showed him our press release too. We were only too happy to send several Porta-Grid Clamps and accessories down on a trial basis. After a couple of weeks of working with the clamps, Brooke and Kenny were convinced that they were just what the production needed. Unfortunately the penny pinchers in the front office didn't agree. So, rather than do without a good thing, Brooke sprung for the clamps himself - out of his own pocket. He was that convinced that they were the best thing available to rig the large cumbersome 4'-4 Bank Kino lights to the Stucky Bowl's drop-ceiling. What impressed Brooke the most about the clamp's design was its simplicity. The Porta-Grid Clamp consists of an extremely lightweight fiberglass I-Beam track between two fiberglass mounting brackets with scissor clips on each end. The fiberglass construction of the Porta-Grid Clamp makes it electrically non-conductive, thereby greatly reducing the risk of shock or electrocution from exposed wires above the ceiling. The scissor clips are spaced 2' apart so that they can mount directly to standard drop-ceiling "T" Channel spaced to support the most common 2'x 2' and 2'x 4' ceiling tiles. Because the clamp spans two ceiling channels, it actually binds the ceiling grid together, for a more secure and stable rig, that's capable of carrying more weight than a traditional scissor clip with stud. Once the scissor clips are attached to the drop-ceiling "T" channel, the Porta-Grid Clamp can be rigged (as demonstrated at left by "Ed" grip Pat Fontana) so that the light hangs below the ceiling. Or, the clamp can be inverted so that the light sits above the ceiling - assuring that backlights won't creep into your shot. When the clamp is inverted, the mounting brackets actually lock the scissor clips closed, eliminating the possibility that they might spread and the clamp fall. For additional safety precautions, every clamp comes with an adjustable strain relief safety eye, so that the weight of heavy lights, like 4'- 4 Bank Kinos, can be safely transferred to anchor points above he drop-ceiling . The "Ed" Key Grip, Kenny Fundus, was impressed that the Porta-Grid clamp enabled him to rig not only larger lights, but also grip hardware from the drop-ceiling. He found that, because the mounting brackets on each end of the clamp have a wide flat base, the clamp doesn't roll when the weight it is bearing is offset - the way Kino Flo Banks typically are when they are tilted up (see close-up detail in picture #5 at left). Kenny was also pleasantly surprised when he discovered that, with a simple trick-of-the-trade we showed him, the clamp was even solid enough that he could offset large flags, at the end of grip arms, to serve as lensers. In fact, with the combination of a Porta-Grid Clamp, Baby Mount, grip arm, and a couple of clothespins, he could rig flags and nets anywhere on the set - just like in a studio. Now, he makes sure that the grips have extra clamps and plenty of clothespins on hand just for that purpose. The Porta-Grid clamp surpassed Kenny's expectations to be sure. When Tom first showed our press release to him, he never expected that it would enable him to not only rig the 4x4 Kino fixtures, but also enable him keep them out of the camera lens as well. Overall, Brooke and Kenny are very happy with their purchase of the Porta-Grid Clamp. It has certainly made their jobs easier and added to the overall production values of the show. The trick, that we showed Kenny, to getting a rock solid rig is to break a clothespin apart and wedge each half in the slight gap between the mounting bracket's flat base and the drop-ceiling "T" channel. The clothespin wedge fills the gap so there is virtually no roll. In fact, the clamp becomes so solid that you can make precise cuts with flags, and even the leaves of a Leko, without either settling when you let go. This feature of the Porta-Grid Clamp is only a part of what gives the Porta-Grid System unparalleled grip capability. The system also features a large assortment of grip accessories - including lightweight articulating grip arms, small lightweight flags & nets, and printed gobo patterns - designed specifically for cutting and shaping lights rigged into drop ceilings. Taken together they offer unparalleled capability in a drop ceiling hanger, to chop, silk, net, tease, and breakup light. In fact, the Porta-Grid System offers you the same control on location that you are accustomed to having in the studio. This production demonstrates just a few of the many exclusive features of the Porta-Grid System that enable it to turn any ordinary drop-ceiling into a full blown studio grid. To be certain, the same features that made the Porta-Grid System so effective under these circumstances, also make it effective under any circumstances. By virtue of the fact that it worked here, when nothing else would, proves that it is sure to work anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances - site unseen. How many other grip lines can make that guarantee? Without a doubt, the Porta-Grid System is the best production tool you can have in your bag of tricks when shooting under drop ceilings. The Porta-Grid System is registered w/ U.S.Patent & TM Office. Sample Productions