Flexible metal arm with quick clamp for positioning gobos or reflectors without tripod — speeds up lighting setups. Typically counterweighted on set.
The flexible metal arm — called a Gobo Stick or Grip Arm in English — is one of the most underestimated aids for quick lighting setups. Instead of setting up a heavy C-stand or tripod, you simply clamp the gobo or reflector into the holder and position it exactly where you need it by rotating and bending the arm. This saves considerable time during shooting — especially in natural light scenes or when the sun is moving and constant adjustments are necessary.
The arm itself consists of several nested steel tubes, making its length variable between approximately 60 and 100 centimeters. At one end is the clamping device (usually a C-clamp or a special gobo head), and at the other end, it is balanced with a counterweight — typically sandbags or a weighted arm attachment. The counterweight is crucial: anyone who underestimates this and mounts a large reflector or a heavy flag without sufficient ballast will quickly experience the arm tipping over and equipment falling onto the actor. The first time, you should always support it with your hand and test the weight before letting the arm go completely.
On set, the gobo stick is usually operated from the floor or a grip table. The big advantage: you only need one person and no second stand operator. The cinematographer or gaffer can look directly through the camera, call out changes — such as "two centimeters higher, more to the left" — and the grip makes the adjustments. This is significantly more agile than with classic tripod systems, where you have to loosen and retighten the center column every time. Especially in documentary work or on fast shooting days with changing positions, the gobo stick becomes routine equipment.
For even more precise work — when you need to position a small gobo exactly in front of a light — a shorter, stiffer version is often used, which is permanently stabilized with a C-stand. Here, this item is sometimes called a Baby Arm. The larger, more flexible versions, on the other hand, are workhorses for reflectors and diffusion panels in outdoor lighting setups. You quickly learn whether you prefer a longer or shorter version — it depends on your own reaction time and the typical set size.