Mobile Camera Platform Operator Lifetime Achievement Award

Darryl Humber

From the first time Darryl Humber saw Harrison Ford outrunning that boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark, he was hooked. Not many people from Oak Grove, Alabama went into movies, so Darryl planned a career in radio, his second love, and began studying communications at the University of Alabama. A chance encounter with a friend led him to sign up for a weekend class on film making, taught by Billy Field, a screenwriter who had worked in Hollywood. At the end of the six week class, Darryl and his classmates made a short film and somehow he ended up in the grip department. The following summer, Mr. Field helped Darryl secure a spot on a low budget film shooting in Mobile, Alabama. He loved every second of it - thus ended his radio career.

Darryl followed up with several TV movies and commercials in Birmingham, before moving to Atlanta to become a company grip on My Cousin Vinny. Discovering a love of camera movement, he began working toward learning the craft of the dolly grip. Darryl’s first “A” camera dolly position was on the long running TV series In The Heat Of The Night. In 2001, he moved to Los Angeles. Darryl later began a 20 year working relationship with respected key grip Alan Rawlins and his ‘Gentlemen Grips.’ This led to features such as Big Fish, Constantine, Furious 7, Black Panther, and Bad Boys For Life, among others. It also led to a long running relationship with renowned cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, ASC.

In 2012, Darryl and his family returned to Atlanta, where he completed several Marvel projects and continues to work in the local film community. In 2019, Alan retired the famous ‘Gentlemen Grips’ name. Darryl has been fortunate to remain with the Rawlins family and currently works for his son, key grip Kerry.

Darryl lives in Roswell, Georgia with his wife, Rebecca, son Jackson, three dogs and two cats. And importantly, within driving distance of his daughter Kylie. He is proudly a 22 year member of IATSE Local 80 and 32 year member of IATSE Local 479.

The Tiffen Company