CAR RIGGING BASICS COURSE - 18 LESSONS I built my first car rig with zero guidance - just trial and error.This course is the system I wish I had: clear, repeatable, and adaptable for any level and any gear. You’ll see how the same key shots (profiles, hoods, tires, interiors) are built across three cars at three experience levels, so you understand how rigs scale as cameras and complexity increase. Whether you’re a solo shooter or a working grip, you’ll leave knowing how to plan, build, and troubleshoot rigs safely - and actually understand why the setups work. TIERED LEARNING This course meets you where you are. We rig three different cars to show how the same shots evolve as cameras get bigger and rigs get more complex. Start small, stay light, or level up your builds as you go. Learn safely, build confidently, and come back to this course as your skills grow. Tier 1: Content Creators Build safe, cinematic rigs with minimal gear. Learn how to mount GoPros, DSLRs, or Osmo cameras confidently using suction-based setups and ready-made car-mount kits - no grip truck required. Tier 2: Indie Filmmakers Upgrade your car shots with entry-level professional gear. Step into versatile, rental-ready kits and learn to use hostess trays, suction systems, and ratchet straps for solid, safe shots that protect the vehicle and save time on set. Tier 3: Professional Grips Refine your workflow with full grip-truck builds. Learn to rig custom, beefier setups with speedrail and hollaenders that offer extensive adjustability, smoother workflow, and reliable results under real production pressure. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ THIS COURSE WILL COVER 1. Car Rigging Fundamentals Understand the key principles of safe, stable camera car rigs. From load paths and triangulation to vehicle protection. 2. 5-Step Rigging Framework A repeatable process to plan, build, and troubleshoot any rig - used by working key grips on real sets. This framework guides you through the process. 3. Gear by Skill Level Learn what gear to use at each tier. Small kits, rental-house essentials, and full grip-truck setups. Build your kit out as you advance. 4. Core Rig Builds Follow step-by-step builds for 10 real rigs across three cars - hood mounts, side profiles, interiors, and tire shots. 5. Adjustability & Efficiency See how pro rigs achieve smoother framing, faster setups, and safer results through smarter design choices. 6. Rig Safety & Best Practices Lock in a professional mindset for on-set safety, redundancy, and communication. The habits that keep rigs secure. MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR Brendan Riel - Key Grip Local 80 Key Grip and the founder of Legacy Grip. Over the years he's rigged cameras to everything from rollercoasters and condors to kitchen appliances and cars - hundreds of builds across features, commercials, and music videos. This course distills that real-world experience into something clear, safe, and practical. Brendan's goal isn’t just to show you how to build a rig, but how to think like a grip. Problem-solving under pressure and making rigs that are solid, repeatable, and get you thinking like a professional grip.
