ROUND TABLE
an emissions reduction of 40% by 2030. We’re a member of ASPEC and sustainability is an agenda point at every meeting, providing the opportunity to share ideas and practices. We also recently took part in The Fuel Project, decarbonising transport and mobile power for the film and TV industry. In addition to these commitments, we’re constantly exploring further carbon emissions reduction and sustainability initiatives. Sustainability is a shared responsibility, so we aim to educate and involve all of our teams in these efforts. DEF: What advice would you give to filmmakers when choosing a rental partner and building a productive, collaborative relationship? JA: Choose a partner, not just a price. Look for experience, transparency and a team that genuinely understands production pressures. The best rental relationships are built on trust – on both sides. Be open about your creative goals and constraints, and expect the same openness in return. The earlier we’re involved, the more value we can add. That’s where CameraOne excels – supporting from pre-production to wrap, not just delivering a kit list. JB: Prioritise partnership and quality product over price. A rental company that understands your production’s unique pressures and actively works to ease them is worth far more than just a competitive rate. The best working relationships are built on openness and mutual respect. Be transparent about your needs and limitations early on, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. When we know the full picture, we can offer smarter, more tailored support. Whether that’s advising on kit choices, suggesting time-saving set-ups or handling unexpected changes. Look
for a team that communicates clearly, acts quickly and treats your project like it matters – because it does. When your rental partner sees themselves as part of your crew, and not just as a vendor, that’s when the magic happens. JC: My advice to filmmakers is to treat your rental partner as part of your core team – not just as a vendor. At Universal, we like to engage early, ask the right questions and offer solutions tailored to the specific production – not just a standard package. A good partner will find efficiencies, flag up potential issues before they become problems and scale along with you as needs evolve. Also, productions shouldn’t be afraid to share their constraints – whether creative, logistical or financial. The more transparent the relationship, the better the support. The productions that get the most out of us are those that view the relationship as a true collaboration from prep through to wrap. This is the same collaboration process we use with all our clients, whether internal, such as the two Wicked features, Bridget Jones : Mad about the Boy , or external projects with television and streaming clients. BB: The production kit rental industry faces serious challenges, but companies that adapt can thrive. Success depends on strong client relationships, specialised equipment, expanded services and agility. Production companies must also value and support rental businesses rather than exploit them; without these essential providers, the entire industry risks decline. The message is simple: evolve and collaborate to survive – or risk becoming another casualty in this rapidly changing landscape. Filmmakers and production companies can greatly benefit from developing a solid relationship with a rental company, as winning a major
FULL PACKAGE Beyond the inventory, CameraOne offers support and expertise
production one day can allow the rental company to offer a mates’ rates deal the next day. For production companies too, rental services are much more likely to take a favourable view on speculatively lending equipment for a pilot production if they have confidence that, on their next major production, they’ll be retained as the primary choice for equipment supplier. DE: Try not to think of them as just a hardware supplier. They’re there to talk through your options, and might even have kit in stock that you hadn’t considered yet. Drop in for a coffee now and then to catch up and build a relationship with the rental company. They’re often not looking to make money on every conversation, but are genuinely interested in supporting you. DH: I would suggest choosing a rental partner with proven expertise and experience in supporting the kinds of productions you work on now, and want to work on in the future. So their list of credits will be indicative, and you can also ask other filmmakers about their experiences. The most fundamental thing is choosing someone you can trust. Equipment rental should be a collaboration, much more than a simple transaction. Ultimately, you’ll be dealing with a team of people, so go out and speak to those people; try to get a sense of the culture or DNA of the team. And – as the question states – this is a relationship, so it goes both ways;
TREAT YOUR rental partner AS PART OF YOUR CORE TEAM”
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