Professional Motion Picture Equipment

Rental - Sales - Service

About SMS Productions

SMS hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM Central Time.

When entering SMS, you are immediately greeted by Man-Sung or Helena, co-owners of SMS. It's not unusual for clients to stop by just to chat over a cup of coffee. And, of course, one cannot resist sticking a hand in the candy bowl.

As one glances around, eyes immediately focus in on our camera room. It's filled with all models from Aaton and Arriflex to Bolex, CP and Eclair. The high speed cameras always draw people's attention and our unusual items are real conversation starters.

After getting past the rows of cameras, lenses, Chrosziel matte boxes and numerous other accessories, we pass support and end up at the expendables (gaffers' and camera tape, lens tissue, Dust-Off canned air, wipes, eye cups, lens accessories and cleaning items, the Arri logo line of shirts, hats, gloves, mugs, wind breakers and mag-lites, editing supplies and other items too numerous to mention). Following on the heels of the expendables, we encounter numerous shelves of new Tiffen filters and a row of cabinets filled to the bursting point with rental filters.

Head back to the main area, take another turn down the hall and you reach the lighting and grip room. Stacked high with lighting kits and fixtures (Lowel, Arri, LTM, Cine 60, Sachtler and much more), we can barely make out the rows of 'C' stands, flags, apple boxes, sound blankets, a wide variety of clamps, in addition to the other items that go into making a production take shape.

Oh, we forgot to mention the sound equipment. Various recorders complimented by Sennheiser long and short shotgun mics plus lavalier mics take center stage playing an integral part of our sound inventory. Later, we head downstairs, where film editing is still alive and well. Steenbeck and Kern flatbeds along with all of the accessories remind us of the golden age of film.

When someone steps into the SMS facility for the first time, we often hear "I'm in heaven." This statement gives us great pride as we try to assist everyone who steps through our door as well as make it a pleasant experience for everyone involved.

Man-Sung's passion for collecting antique equipment is evident. You'll always see items displayed around the SMS facility. (Actually many still photographers call upon him for use of his antiques in their print ads.)

While taking care of our clients is our #1 commitment, Man-Sung and Helena still find time to participate in many organizations, serve as board members for others and produce (features, a foreign TV mini-series, educational pieces and documentary material). The mini-TV series was the second most successful series overseas. SMS also assisted an overseas news agency in producing a story on the economic development of Chicago. This program won the grand prize in the "One Hour News Special" category.

SMS also specializes in assisting young filmmakers with independent films. For the past several years, SMS has given a yearly "Cinematography Award" to a qualified Columbia School senior or graduate student who excelled in the area of cinematography. This award consists of $2,500 in rental as well as a cash completion payment of $500 to assist in paying those post production bills. SMS has always been part of the internship program and assists students from Columbia, University of Illinois - Chicago, etc. in gaining hands-on experience.

In order to keep up with the latest trends as well as seek out new products to add to the SMS inventory (sales and rental), Man-Sung and Helena attend NAB and ShowBiz Expo. The list of products and services offered by SMS continues to grow. One of the greatest strengths SMS can offer a client is a staff who is not just working 9 to 5, but a staff that is dedicated to filmmaking. Man-Sung's career has taken him from engineering to cinematography. He not only understands the technical workings of the cameras and lenses, he understands what the cinematographer is trying to accomplish. In many cases, he had to redesign equipment to fit the needs of the cinematographer.

Man-Sung recently took part in the City of Chicago's Principal for a Day Program and found it a most rewarding experience. He was assigned to an elementary school on the far Southeast side of Chicago. He found the students to be bright, disciplined and full of energy and curiosity. He is also encouraging the school board to set up film classes for elementary children. High schools and colleges offer film classes. Why not elementary schools? The time to start appreciating the fine art of filmmaking is when you're young. He will, of course, lend his full support to this endeavor.

Additionally, SMS has set up a film school. The school provides a hands-on experience at an advanced level to people who want to improve their skills as filmmakers. A mentoring environment created by seasoned professionals using state-of-the-art equipment provides a setting, that, through examples and creative problem solving, improves each person's approach to the many processes that filmmaking requires.

Each day brings new challenges for our clients and SMS. We will continue to meet those challenges.

Man-Sung Son

Experience

1998-Present National Academy of the Moving Image Chicago, IL
Founder and Executive Director

• Organizes Professional Post Grad Level of Film Classes
• Promotes Education through Seminars and Workshops

1996-2004 Ikehoman Productions, Inc. Chicago, IL
Co-Founder and Producer

• Produced 35mm action feature film

1984-Present SMS Productions, Inc. Chicago, IL
President

• Sales and Rental of Professional Motion Picture Equipment
• Production: Features, Educational Material, Documentaries

1978-1981 Midwest Korean Television Chicago, IL
Founder and Producer

• Weekly One Hour Program - WCIU-TV
• Producer and Director

1968-1984 Behrend's Inc. Chicago, IL
Manager: Camera and Optical Department

• Responsible for all new acquisitions
• Responsible for quality control on existing equipment
• Provided all technical data for print material, journals, lectures, etc.
• High Speed Cinematographer
• Production Consultant

Production Services Provided

Professional Activities

Social Service Organizations

Awards

• Gold Award - "Common Enemy"
• Best of Festival - "Jin Joo" (Sports Category)
• Illinois Arts Council Grant
• Illinois Chairman's Grant
• City Arts Grant
• Society of American Culture (Los Angeles, CA) - Open Dialogue
  Selected to Represent the State of Illinois
• Who's Who Registry
• 25+ Social and Professional Service Awards

Teaching Experience

Education

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