That is so much damn equipment required to make a film, so any tool that allows you to do a bunch of different things on set is pure gold. One of those delicious tools is the GorillaPod. These things have been around since 2006, and if you have one, you probably love it, but if you don't have one, you might need to be sold on just how versatile it is. In this video, Kellan Reck demonstrates six configurations you can bend and twist a GorillaPod into, some of which are oldies but goodies, while others may be completely new to you. Check it out below:


The greatest thing about the GorillaPod is the fact that you can bend it and twist it into pretty much any shape you want, but sometimes it's difficult to come up with new useful ways to position the arms so you can capture footage from interesting perspectives. Luckily, Reck provides several that will not only come in handy quite often on set but will allow you to capture images in ways you may have never thought were possible with a GorillaPod.

  • The Steadicam: Pretty standard stuff here. Many GorillaPod users are familiar with this configuration. Just be sure to flip your image in post.
  • The Vacuum Jib: I gotta be honest, I've never seen this one before, but it looks like a real winner. You could most likely replicate this with just about any item that has some height and weight to it.
  • The Shoulder Mount: Another oldie but goodie. Bend one arm so it rests against your chest, then bend the other two to form nifty little handles.
  • The Slider: Again, never thought to do this. The little beads, or whatever Joby calls them, form pretty decent tension to perform slider moves.
  • The Point-of-View: It might make you nervous to not keep a steady hand on your camera rig, but if you're brave, try wrapping your GorillaPod over your shoulder to a sweet POV shot.
  • The Follow Focus: Okay, we're getting crazy here. Reck basically turns his GorillaPod into a follow focus. I'm not sure how well this would work, but if it does, awesome.

What are some of your favorite GorillaPod hacks? Let us know down in the comments.

Source: Kellan Reck