Pre-Rig / Pre-Rigging / Advance Rigging

rigging wrap gaffer best boy

Installation of lighting equipment, grip gear, and technical infrastructure at a location before the main production crew arrives – enables efficient use of shooting days by having sets camera-ready, typically performed by advance rigging crews on larger productions.

What is Pre-Rigging?

Pre-rigging is the pre-installation of equipment at a location before the actual shooting day. A specialized crew sets up lighting, grip equipment, and power distribution in advance so that the set is production-ready upon the main crew's arrival.

Basic Principle

Aspect	Description
Timing	Before the shooting day
Crew	Rigging Crew
Purpose	Efficient shooting
Investment	Extra day vs. saved time

What is Pre-Rigged?

Equipment	Description
Lighting	Basic setup
Grip	Trusses, rigging points
Power	Distribution, dimmers
Cables	Runs to position

Typical Installations

Element	Description
Overhead Grid	Truss
Power Distribution	Electrical distribution
Daylight Control	Blackout
Cable Runs	Cable paths

Pre-Rig vs. Shoot Day

Aspect	Pre-Rig	Shoot Day
Crew	Rigging Crew	Full Crew
Focus	Installation	Production
Pace	Methodical	Schedule-driven
Cost	Lower per day	Higher

Rigging Crew

Position	Task
Rigging Gaffer	Lighting Supervisor
Rigging Key Grip	Grip Supervisor
Rigging Best Boy	Coordination
Riggers	Execution

When to Pre-Rig?

Situation	Recommendation
Large Locations	Yes
Complex Setups	Yes
Tight Shooting Schedule	Yes
Simple Setups	Often not necessary

Scope Varies

Project	Pre-Rig Level
Low Budget	Minimal/None
TV Series	Standard
Feature Film	Extensive
Commercials	As needed

Coordination

Step	Description
Tech Scout	Clarify requirements
Plans	Create rigging plans
Schedule	Pre-rig schedule
Hand-Off	Transfer to main crew

Rigging Plans

Content	Description
Overhead Plot	Truss layout
Power Distribution	Power plan
Dimmer Position	Control
Safety	Safety points

Communication

Between	Topic
Gaffer → Rigging Gaffer	Lighting intent
Key Grip → Rigging Key	Grip requirements
Production → Rigging	Schedule, Access
Location → All	Restrictions

Safety During Pre-Rig

Aspect	Measure
Height Work	Certification
Load Limits	Check
Safety Cables	Always
Inspection	Before hand-off

Budget Aspects

Factor	Description
Crew Costs	Rigging team day rate
Equipment Days	Extended rental period
Location Access	Extra days
ROI	Efficiency gain

Typical Workflow

Day	Activity
Pre-Rig Day	Installation
Shoot Day	Production
Wrap/Strike	Dismantling

Strike vs. Wrap

Term	Description
Wrap	Set dismantling after shooting
Strike	Complete dismantling
De-Rig	Rigging dismantling
Return	Equipment return

Multi-Day Pre-Rig

Project	Pre-Rig Duration
TV Episode	0.5-1 day
Feature	1-3 days
Major Production	Several days
Permanent Set	Ongoing

Location Considerations

Factor	Influence
Access	When possible
Power	Available/Supply line
Structure	Rigging points
Permits	For equipment

Best Practices

Practice	Reason
Detailed Plans	Clear communication
Safety First	Inspection before shooting
Documentation	Photos for continuity
Flexibility	Room for adjustments

Today

Pre-rigging is standard in larger productions and enables efficient use of expensive shooting days. With the increasing complexity of LED systems and larger setups, pre-installation is becoming ever more important. The investment in pre-rig days pays off through smoother shooting days and better results.

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Pre-Rigging bedeutet, dass ich morgens in ein vorbereitetes Set komme. Die Grundbeleuchtung hängt bereits, wir können direkt mit dem Finetuning beginnen. Das spart wertvolle Drehzeit.

Director

Pre-Rigging ermöglicht effizientere Drehtage. Wenn das Set vorbereitet ist, können wir sofort mit Proben und Dreh beginnen, statt auf technische Vorbereitungen zu warten.

Producer

Pre-Rig-Tage kosten extra, sparen aber Drehtage. Bei komplexen Locations rechnet sich die Investition in Vorinstallation durch effizientere Nutzung der teuren Hauptdrehtage.