GEAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SERVICES
to tempt you. All backed up by excellent customer service.
Four brand-new awards this year aren’t about hardware or software, but the professional services that keep the industry going – and offer incredible value to filmmakers. Our new categories honour those who provide exemplary service. Two of the categories are for retailers. These are so often the main point of contact for a filmmaker seeking a range of equipment, the best advice and after-sales service. It quickly became obvious that the best retailers – whether specialising in new or used equipment – offer technical know-how, loan schemes, rental services and are a direct link to manufacturers. The winners will come as no surprise, as they are the biggest and best in the industry. CVP has taken our best retailer specialising in new equipment, while MPB wins the class for best in used. Mega-retailer CVP does so much more than just stocking lots of equipment at great prices. It is staffed by experts in their fields, and offers incredible try-before- you-buy services at its branches. From Arri to Z Cam, and everything in between, CVP has loads of new and used kit, and rental equipment
HIRE HERO! The best rental company award went to Hireacamera
Retailer of the year (new equipment) CVP
CVP also offers lots of events and training courses – in real life as well as online. It’s a high-end service centre and stocks spare parts, too. If you are after some new equipment, CVP is the place. The readers of Pro Moviemaker should know. For used equipment, MPB is the biggest – and clearly our award- winner. The company stocks lots of cameras and lenses, from current models to previous-generation – all fully tested and backed by warranty. They offer easy part-exchange, or will buy your old kit for cash. It’s the best way for a budget-conscious filmmaker to upgrade with zero hassle – all while saving money. When it comes to rental houses, many are full-size rental services that can offer you all the kit and grip to make a Hollywood film or two. And for many independent filmmaking production companies, that’s often just too much. But the winner of our rental category is a
Retailer of the year (used equipment) MPB Rental houses Hireacamera Training/education London Film Academy
accessories you’ll require to go with them. They always seem to have hard-to-find cameras and lenses in stock to rent, and you can book with an easy online ordering system. The kit is always delivered ready to go – fully tested and charged. It’s very affordable, too, which is why so many Pro Moviemaker readers have voted it as the best for rental. The final new category is for education and training service providers, and the winner is the London Film Academy. From humble beginnings as a boutique film school in 2001, the Academy is now internationally recognised as an innovative training company, offering more than simply an education in film. With a hands-on approach to making movies, the courses have produced world-class filmmakers who thrive in problem-solving. That’s why so many graduates get instant work in the industry. And it has been recognised here.
firm totally focused on hiring out kit to small and mid-size productions – Hireacamera. The firm specialises in mirrorless, DSLR and cinema cameras, plus the lenses and
SUPER SHOPS! The winning retailers CVP and MPB both offer great prices and incredible service
“Retailers are so often themain point of contact for a filmmaker”
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