This Week's AWAD describes "people who are essential to the movie-making business".

"stuntman" is today's word [Day 5]. Pls scroll down.

Day 1 is:

grip (grip) noun

A general assistant on a movie set responsible for handling production equipment, such as setting up and moving camera dollies, lighting, etc. The head grip is called the key grip.

[From English grip since the task required firmly holding bulky material.]

Today's Word "grip" is a short, punchy word, like "fist".

It's still another great word for limerick lovers, much like the string Anu gave us last week only this one is from "English grip", which is not a foreign word, except on this side of the Atlantic. [If you feel a limerick coming on, give it a go at Of Troy's new limerick thread on "Wordplay and Fun" - "Join in".]

BTW there must be dozens of names for things or actions which mirror the physical activity associated with them, not just a "grip" for a carrying bag, but a "kick-back" for a bribe.

Or, how about "digital computers" which require input from our fingers or "digits". Ten fingers if you're a "touch" typist, or just one finger. It's still "digital". :)

And I wonder if there is any connection between the word "grip" and "gripe". When you clench your fist too hard for too long, you can't loosen your grip. Happens to sailors clenching the "sheet rope" all the time. It hurts to let go. Same thing with a gripe.

Looks like there is a connection. Here's an extract for "gripe" from Merriam-Webster Online:

"Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grIpan; akin to Old High German grIfan to grasp, Lithuanian grieb"