C-Stand (Century Stand)
Definition
A C-Stand (short for "Century Stand") is a heavy-duty, adjustable metal stand used by the grip department to support a wide variety of equipment, including flags, diffusion frames, bounce boards, small lights, microphone booms, and other accessories. The C-Stand features a distinctive three-legged base with legs of different lengths (allowing them to be nested together when multiple stands are placed close to each other), a central column, and a gobo head with a knuckle that allows the arm to be positioned at virtually any angle. C-Stands are one of the most versatile and essential pieces of equipment on any film set.
Contextual Usage
The key grip instructs a grip: "I need a C-Stand with a 40-inch arm on the left side of the set to hold the 4x4 flag. Position it so the flag cuts the light off the back wall. Make sure the legs are properly spread and the stand is sandbaged — we don't want it tipping over."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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