What is a hostess tray shot?

This shot places the camera right outside the car window for a profile angle. The hostess tray shot can utilize a piece of equipment called a “hostess tray”, hence the name. It is synonymous with this camera angle and got it’s name from its resemblance to old school drive up and eat hamburger trays. Hostess trays (the equipment) are most commonly used for achieving the side profile shot of someone in the car but can also be used as a rigging platform for other shots that don’t look through the window. For example, a low shot of the front tire.

It is possible to achieve a hostess tray shot without using the hostess tray piece of equipment as well. Like most things in gripping, there are multiple ways to build a rig to achieve a similar result.

Hostess trays give you a bunch of adjustment ability which is what makes them fast and effective tools to use for these shots. Hostess trays are great but they’re not the only way to rig up this type of shot.

Preparing for the rigging process

Scoping out your vehicle is the first step to any vehicle rig. When we are planning out a hostess tray shot on a car I am looking and thinking about a few different things:

• Where does the camera want to be?

  • Does it partly want to be inside the window, or outside?

  • Does the shot call for the window to be closed or can it be down? (I usually prefer it to be down)

  • Are we going to be locked into a profile or do we need it more 3/4 frontal?

  • What sort of adjustability do we need?

• Are there points for ratchet straps to hook on to?

• Do we need to be aware of any vehicle limitations that would inform our use of various mounting methods?

• Do we need fast adjustability and rig flexibility?

• What will our driving conditions be?

  • Will we have a closed street? ITC?

• Will body panels easily bend or will delicate exterior paint get damaged?

• If safety isn’t lining up perfectly then call the plug

  • Would this work better on a process trailer?

  • Does this impair the driver’s ability to drive?

As always, safety is paramount when it comes to rigging. You must be driving in a closed off area with eyes watching entrances for vehicles or pedestrians. Crew members and the public must stand clear of the car when it is in motion for any vehicle rig you do. Most of the time it is safest to do these types of rigs with an insert car and process trailer, especially if an actor is driving.

3 Different Methods

Hostess Tray

Rigging with a hostess tray provides a bunch of versatility with easy adjustments. These can be rigged in a way that allows you to make small changes after they’ve been strapped down and have been designed specifically to get a side profile shot through a window. Hostess trays require the window you are rigging to be down. Setup is straightforward - fit the hostess tray to your vehicle and then ratchet strap it down. Throw a mini ball leveling head or a dish leveling head and triangulate the camera in its final position for rigidity.

Make sure your hostess tray pads don’t end up in the middle of the body panel. When you ratchet down the force can bend or deform the body panel. Make sure you are close (but on directly on) to a bend in your door panel for added rigidity. If that’s not possible then set your pads to the bottom of your panel.

Simple hostess tray rig with a dish leveling head

Pros:

• Lots of adjustments, but only within its footprint

• Easy to use

• Fast to rig

• Can use a hostess tray as a base platform for other rigs, such as a tire shot

Cons:

• Can only rig the camera within its own footprint unless you build a more complicated rig

• Requires ratchet straps, which may not work well on certain vehicles

• Possibility of bending or damaging body panels especially with a heavier payload

• Can be bulky and overkill

• Bulky to store / carry in your truck

Use Cases:

• You need a fast and easy setup

• You require traditional hostess tray camera placement

Don’t Use When:

• Your shot requires the camera be outside the platform of the hostess tray

• You don’t have points for gutter hooks and / or ratchet straps

Hostess tray with starter risers for the the dish head

Suction Cups

Suction cups are versatile pieces of equipment we use often for car rigging - but they don’t come without their challenges. I generally don’t rely solely on suction cups unless a rig meets 2 requirements:

1. The pressure on the suction cup is downward and not sideways

2. I can also use a redundancy ratchet strap in case the suctions fail

   
   

For that reason most of the time I will combine a hard mount with suction cups in addition to a ratchet strap. It’s the 3 method combo.

You have to be aware of a few things when using suction cups. Firstly, make sure they won’t damage the paint, which can happen on vintage or very expensive cars. On new car commercials there are times we have been forbidden to use suction cups as well. Suctions have been known to break windows, especially the 10”. I find this happens when extreme heat is paired with cold. It’s 105 degrees outside and the AC is on in the car. It’s scorching hot outside and when the sun sets the temperature shifts drastically. Knowing these sorts of things will help you make the right call on what method to use for your car rig.

Another suction cup option is an electronic system with a pump that maintains pressure. These come as kits and are drastically more expensive than a traditional non-electric suction.

Suction cup / hard mount combination

Pros:

• Useful for shots rigged onto a car door that need to open and close

• Good option when there are no hard mount points

• Allows for great flexibility with camera placement

• Can rig the camera at greater tilted angles than a hostess tray

Cons:

• Require you to check the suction pressure often which means you either have to travel with the rig or the car needs to come back to basecamp

• Suctions aren’t a great option for rigs that will be utilized on rough terrain

Use Cases:

• Short shots such as a vehicle pulling away or pulling up

• When you need the camera rigged to an opening or closing car door

• When you don’t have great options for a hard mount and don’t have a hostess tray

Don’t Use When:

• Your car will be traveling over rough terrain

• You can’t periodically check suction pressure

• Conditions might make your suctions damage the car

Hostess tray rig paired with a lighting setup

Hard Mount

A hard vehicle mount is always my preferred method of attachment. If done correctly a hard mount provides the most rigidity and structural integrity. Tools like hostess trays exist because learning how to hard mount to a vehicle takes both time and skill and is best learned under an experienced grip crew. Hard mounts aren’t easily available on some cars without some sort of modifications. In this instance, a hostess tray and / or suction cups would be the preferred option. Underbody frame points are abundant on older vehicles with visible body frame beneath the car. Most frames are usually populated with random holes that either fit body starters or 3/8 bolts which provide your starting point.

One of my buddies rigged up a vehicle with a hard mount one time and the driver accidentally clipped an object on the side of the vehicle while driving. The sideview mirror on the picture vehicle got damaged but the hard mount didn’t budge an inch even though it got hit. Speaks to the rigidity of mounts like these and also to the precautions and safety measures you need to take to secure your rig in case an accident like this does happen while filming.

Any modifications done to the vehicle for a hard mount require a pre-inspection and approval from production to make sure you’ll maintain their insurance requirements. Modifications are usually handled in conjunction with stunts and your picture vehicle department and must not be done with approval and qualified persons.

The skeleton of a hostess tray shot rigged up with some Modulus-X truss

Pros:

• Most structurally sound

• Can be set up for more rig versatility and adjustment

• Great for rough road conditions

Cons:

• Takes longer to rig & de-rig

• Requires more grip gear

Use Cases:

• Suction cups aren’t an option

• You need total rig stability

• Traversal over rough terrain

Do Not Use When:

• No hard point mounting options are readily available without proper prior approval for modifications

• Underbody vehicle road clearance is an issue

Side profile shot rigged off a hard mount from the hood

Key Takeaways

A hostess tray is a versatile piece of equipment that provides a fast mounting option but may be cumbersome to carry all the time in your truck. Suction cups are usually a standard part of any rigging kit but don’t provide the same structural integrity as a hard mount. All these different options exist for various scenarios and I keep them all in my playbook. Shooting the proper rigging method all depends on your shoot needs and shooting conditions.

As always, safety must be a priority. Don’t construct a rig you aren’t completely confident will be safe and secure. Learning car rigging under other qualified grips is a great way to gain experience and build confidence.

• Three main methods for hostess tray shots: hostess tray mounts, suction cups, and hard mounts

• Hostess trays offer quick setup and easy adjustments but are limited to their footprint

• Suction cups provide flexibility but require frequent pressure checks and aren't suitable for rough terrain

• Hard mounts offer the most stability but take longer to set up and require more expertise

• Safety considerations are crucial - including closed streets, driver visibility, and proper redundancy measures

• Choice of method depends on factors like driving conditions, vehicle type, and shot requirements