ROUND TABLE
wealth of experts here who are only too happy to make suggestions and help build the ideal kit list for any given project – in fact, we find it all the more satisfying when a project is a success and we were part of its inception. BB: Cultivate a relationship with a rental company – be helpful to them and they will be helpful to you in return! It is necessary to shop around to ensure that you are getting a good deal, but be fair – a race to the bottom doesn’t benefit anyone, and asking for too many variations just wastes everyone’s time. It is better to trust your regular provider to the point where you can share how much money you have and what your preferred equipment choices are, then see if they can put together a deal which works for everyone. MG: I would advise filmmakers to talk to their peers and do their own research on the rental company. Consider what’s important to you and the needs of your show. If the budget doesn’t stretch very far, consider if the company could be flexible to your needs. A knowledgeable technical team should be able to suggest relevant alternatives that still allow you to achieve the results you are expecting. Filmmakers should also consider the location they’ll be filming in and how this will impact overall logistics. Choose equipment companies which can provide support in that location and have local bases so you don’t incur large
transport costs. Be open to suggestions from the technical support teams and allow for contingencies and flexibility in your plan. Def: How do rental companies such as yours support training and education for filmmakers to ensure they can use specialised equipment? JA: For anyone looking to rent equipment from us, the best thing to do is see the equipment first-hand. We are always more than happy for filmmakers to come to our offices where we can show you the equipment. We’ll even make you a brew and share our finest cookies and brownies – something not to be missed! MP: Supporting skills, education and employment is an essential part of our sustainability strategy, Our Planet. We understand the importance of investing in local communities, which is why we work with key film and TV institutions and education providers to host a variety of workshops and training programmes. This not only nurtures and supports the industry’s talent pipeline, it addresses the skills gap and supports accessibility. We have developed partnerships with industry bodies and membership organisations, such as WFTV, and proudly sponsor its WFTV Fearless Leadership Programme for a second year running. Our collaboration with the Liverpool Film Office is focused on increasing training initiatives and supporting 1000 new entrants into the industry through surgeries and career open days. We also encourage and promote sustainability best practices across the industry – and with our customers and partners. Our experience and knowledge in this space ensures that filmmakers have access to specialised equipment and sustainable solutions customised to each individual production and location. BB: Ours is a highly technical industry, and helping our clients to master new equipment is necessary because there
are few opportunities for formal training. We periodically offer camera workshops on such equipment as Phantoms, gimbals and lighting, which are free of charge and useful for operators and DOPs. This isn’t always possible, so we allow crew to book our camera test rooms, receive some instruction and familiarise themselves with new equipment. Camera tests are crucial for ensuring crew have fully familiarised themselves with equipment on their job, especially when testing with equipment members of the crew may be supplying. Lens tests can be boring, but a recent VMI innovation to reinvent this concept was well received. In a break from tradition, VMI invited 40 camera department professionals to come and shoot their own tests across full-frame lenses from Cooke, Gecko, Tribe and Sigma on either a Sony VENICE or ARRI ALEXA Mini LF. We supplied camera kits and lenses, a studio, actor, grip and AC, and asked the DOPs to design the scenes and shoot them with all lenses provided. It was a fun experience – and everyone enjoyed working together and learning about the lenses!
LEARNING ON THE JOB To provide an entry point into the industry, VMI recently ran a six-week skills bootcamp (above)
36
DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM
Powered by FlippingBook