Carl Rock

Director, Grip Department

In 2007 Carl Rock was promoted from Department Head to Director of Grip and Craft Services, Universal Operations Group.  He has led the department since 1983.  Rock was also a key team member in the opening of New Mexico Lighting and Grip Company in 2007.  He and his team received the NBC Universal- President’s Award for this achievement.

Rock started with Universal Studios in 1971, working as a warehouseman with Decca Records.  He worked in the warehouse for one year and then was promoted to a Salesman where was responsible for Orange County, San Diego and all the Tower Record Stores.  Decca became MCA Records in 1973.  MCA Records started the Million Dollar Club where any salesman that sold more than one million dollars worth of product would be part of the club. Rock was part of that club the first year.  The next year they started a two million dollar club and he was part of that club the first year ranking number five in the United States.

In 1976 Rock left MCA Records and joined the Universal Studios Grip Department.  He worked his way through the ranks as a Rigging Key Grip, Production Best Boy, Sub-Foreman and Foreman on the night shift.  In 1983 Rock was promoted to Department Head.