The Matthews 3/4" Hollywood Grip Head is an industry-standard, heavy-duty clamp that serves as a foundational and versatile tool in film, television, and still photography lighting and rigging. It is engineered to securely grip and hold a wide array of round or square tubing, such as speed rails, bars, pipes, and the arms of C-stands, with a nominal diameter of 3/4 inch. The grip head's robust, all-metal construction typically consists of a high-strength aluminum body with stainless steel pressure bolts and serrated gripping jaws. Its primary function is to act as a pivoting and locking joint, allowing grips and gaffers to mount flags, nets, silks, lights, or other equipment at virtually any angle and position within a set, providing an immense degree of creative and technical flexibility.

The design incorporates several key features that have made it a staple on professional sets. The main clamping mechanism uses a large, knurled pressure bolt that drives a movable jaw against a fixed, serrated jaw, creating a powerful, non-slip grip that will not mar the surface of the tubing. The head itself is mounted on a 5/8" diameter pin (or "baby" pin) that can rotate a full 360 degrees and is secured by a separate locking knob, allowing the clamp to be oriented independently of its mounting point. Many models include additional features such as a spring-loaded cam lever for quicker, tool-free adjustments on lighter loads, alongside the primary pressure bolt for ultimate locking force on heavier rigs. A safety pin or cable is often integrated as a secondary retention device.

The Hollywood Grip Head is celebrated for its reliability, strength, and adaptability. It is commonly used to build complex overhead rigs, create custom mounting solutions for cameras or monitors, and securely position diffusion and lighting control materials. Its compatibility with the entire ecosystem of grip equipment—from C-stand arms and gobo heads to wall spreaders and pipe grids—makes it an indispensable component in the grip department's toolkit. By providing a secure, adjustable, and multi-functional connection point, it enables the precise and safe execution of intricate lighting setups and support structures that are essential for high-quality production.