Professional Motion Picture Equipment
Rental - Sales - Service

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SMS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
&
National Academy of the Moving Image

SMS Newsletter
Online Issue #16
July 9, 2000

A Special Thank You

SMS wants to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience during our move. It was a massive undertaking. Six days of just physical moving of equipment and several weeks of working amid construction. In fact, we are still working around construction. We even spent about a week and a half without communications. We know it was difficult for people to reach us by phone or fax and especially by email. However, we can finally say (we hope) that our communication system (phone, fax, computer) is fully operational.

SMS especially wants to take this time to thank our clients for volunteering to assist with the move. We could not have done it without your assistance - Bill Pivetta (Ohio), Greg Lavin (Wisconsin), Masahiro Sugano, Kevin Watson, Jae Rhee, Ike Isaac, Mr. Chong K. Kim, Jun Park, Wes France, Suk Kuen Kim and our son, Mike. These people really put in a full day assisting. A special thanks to Bill Pivetta for staying over all three days of the holiday weekend and to Greg Lavin for making the trip back and forth from Wisconsin each day. Everyone volunteered to assist and we are extremely grateful.

Rental Addition

SMS has taken delivery on a new Canon 11~165 T2.5 lens for the rental department. Combined with the new Angenieux 7~81, we have the finest optics for your Super 16 shoot. SMS is in the process of building the finest quality optics. Whether you shoot film, HDTV or digital, SMS will strive to provide the best quality optics.

Coming Soon!

SMS will take delivery (early September) on the new A-Minima camera. It is the smallest HD camcorder anywhere in Super 16. It is light and features the new ultra accurate AatonCode-II in- camera time recording, built in light meter and intervalometer (can shoot single frame) and is crystal at all speeds. "A-Minima is made to support Super 16 film origination, the economic way to record high definition material and to conserve it for the unforeseeable future in a world dominated by video with its limited dynamic range (8 to 10 bits vs 14 to 16 bits), so called high definition and questionable shelf life...not to mention the maze of DTV & HDTV standards."

A-Minima is especially geared to be the second camera on well endowed productions, but also the one and only camera in the hands of independent filmmakers, those who want to have access to their "complete works" throughout their career. Easy to load and lightweight (takes 200' loads) - definitely the camera of choice. It is also the ideal camera for those situations where a bigger camera would cause problems or need a crew. The A-Minima is the perfect little brother (or sister) to our XTR PROD. (Video Assist soon to be available for the A-Minima)

Century Precision Sales

SMS has also added a full line of Century Precision wide angle lenses for film & video.Stop in and take a look or check out our web site for more details.

Vacation

Effective Saturday, August 5 thru Sunday, August 13, SMS will be closed for vacation. Open for business as usual on Monday, August 14th. We appreciate your understanding as we let everyone at SMS take a much needed rest. Please try to plan accordingly. Thank you.

Tip of the Day

When cleaning your lens, be sure to clean the lens cap also. That way you avoid putting the dust and dirt right back on the cleaned lens. It is a simple thing, yet somehow we forget to do it.

By Popular Demand

By popular request, each month, starting with August, SMS will feature certain items (new and/or used) at ridiculously low prices. In order to take advantage of these specials, please check our web site each month for the listings. This is the opportunity to purchase those items that have been sitting on the wish list for years. One of the many August specials will be - batteries.

Camera Tape

SMS has expanded it's line of camera & gaffer's tape to include many different colors as well as the Permacel and Pro Gaff brands.

$15.75 each:

2" X 50 yds Black Permacel Professional Grade
2" X 50 yds White Permacel Professional Grade

$9.95 each:

1" X 50 yds White Permacel Professional Grade
1" X 50 yds Black Permacel Professional Grade
1" X 50 yds Yellow Permacel Professional
1" X 50 yds Grey Permacel Professional Grade
1" X 50 yds Red Permacel Professional Grade
1" X 50 yds Orange Permacel Professional

$6.99 each:

1" X 60 yds Purple Pro Gaff
1" X 60 yds Kodak Yellow Pro Gaff
1" X 60 yds Green Pro Gaff
1" X 60 yds Teal Pro Gaff

National Academy of the Moving Image

Summary

• Thank You
• Rental Addition - Canon 11~165
• Coming Soon to SMS! Aaton A-Minima
• VACATION SMS closed (one week) August 5 thru 13, 2000 Regular Business Hours Resume Monday, 8/14
• Tip of The Day - Clean The Lens Cap
• SMS is an authorized and stocking dealer for Century Precision Wide Angle Lenses for film & video
• Coming in August - Fantastic Monthly Specials - Check our web site each month in order to get the best deals around.
• Expanded Camera Tape Selection
• National Academy of the Moving Image Classes and Seminars will start again in the fall. Watch for listings.
• Have a Safe & Enjoyable Summer