Professional Motion Picture Equipment
Rental - Sales - Service
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SMS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
&
National Academy of the Moving Image
SMS Newsletter
Online Issue #6
September, 1999
Welcome to our first edition of the SMS and NAMI electronic newsletter. We hope you will enjoy reading our newsletters as we will endeavor to bring you updates on what SMS and NAMI are doing as well as the latest information being released by the manufacturers and other industry leaders. Future issues will also include a special technical question and answer column.
The summer was fairly quiet for most of the industry. However, things sure perked up in September. Rental orders started pouring in with sales and service definitely taking a turn upward. We find that many individuals are now buying through various channels other than reliable equipment dealers. Therefore, we are finding more and more camera packages coming to us for repair.
September Used Sales
Looking at the biggest sales items for September, we found well maintained used cameras and lenses are still high on the filmmaker's "wish list". All cameras and lenses sold by SMS are delivered in a clean proper working state. We stand behind our equipment.
September New Sales
Additionally, new equipment and accessories were definitely a priority on many lists. Some of our biggest sellers this month were the Lowel lighting kits. Whether you're shooting video or film, you have to know how to light properly. Lighting correctly has a major impact on getting your vision on tape or film. Based on activity this month, more and more people must be discovering how important lighting is to a project.
Another major seller was the KATA line. Super items this past few weeks have been the Banana bags, Maze bags and the CCC-10 bag which is the bag all of you XL-1 and equivalent camera owners have flipped over. My personal favorite is the Rally Shoulder Satchel. It is great for someone like me who carries work back and forth. On the light nights, I can close it up to hold a small amount of paperwork or computer. On the weekends, I can open it to hold the huge weekend load of paperwork. Those clients who have tried a KATA bag have come back to purchase more. KATA offers a bag for almost every purpose.
Please Handle Gently!
The sad thing we have noticed this month is the way people are treating their lenses. Adding Tiffen filters, matte boxes, and numerous other sophisticated lens accessories are all well and good. Yet failing to clean the lens properly results in scratching, smears, etc. Grabbing a piece of your shirt or using your sleeve is definitely a no-no. (Buttons, snaps and zippers do not make for good lens partners.) That cloth shirt you enjoy wearing may be too rough for your expensive lens. Please clean your lens carefully! Your lens was a big investment and taking proper care of it should be a major concern. We offer a lens cleaning kit consisting of Rosco Liquid Lens Cleaner, Rosco Tissue and a Mikors Cleaning Cloth for $7.25. For a very small investment, you can clean your lens safely.
New Young Filmmakers
We have also spent a considerable amount of time assisting new young filmmakers. Helping them achieve their goal is our goal. With more and more avenues of distribution becoming available, a finished project is a seen project.
Your email is important to us! We get a lot of e-mail. We try to give a quick, personalized response to every inquiry. If you e-mailed us and did not get a personalized response, please try again. We have had cases where our answers have come back with a message stating that it could not be delivered. Then we are at a loss in terms of responding unless your address is on file with us. If you did not get a response, please try again. Also, check to be sure your return e-mail address is correct. There have also been a couple of cases where we did not receive the original message. We do not want to miss anyone's e-mail, so please follow through. In some special cases, investigation may be in order. If so, we will notify you that we are working on your inquiry. Also, if we ask you for your address, it means we must respond by mail with brochures, etc. If you do not supply this information, we cannot follow up. Your assistance in getting the best information possible to your attention is greatly appreciated.
National Academy of the Moving Image (NAMI)
Classes are going strong. We had a full class for Learning Film Techniques Even Though You're Shooting Video and several individuals who were unable to get into that class have requested that we repeat it.
Next up are Advanced Cinematography and Lighting, Camera Assistant, Props and Set Decoration, and Advanced Directing. Anyone interested in these classes can contact Helena at 312-738-0747 or smsprod@sbcglobal.net. The closing date for registering for Advanced Cinematography and Lighting is Oct. 4th.
Digital Editing
In order to further assist independent filmmakers, we have added a Media 100 editing suite capable of handling most film and video formats (regular 8, super 8, 16mm, Beta SP, ¾", ½", and mini DV). We offer no marble floors or counters, just quality work at budget conscious rates. Even if you own an editing system of your own, you can save precious hours by rendering with us.
It's That Time Again!
Do we or don't we move? That is the million-dollar question.
We have moved three times during the SMS lifetime so we know that every move has been more strenuous and taken much longer. SMS has been at this location for nine years and we keep accumulating more and more equipment. Anyone who has watched us grow over the last fifteen years knows what I'm referring to. We know how difficult it is to move, yet we are coming apart at the seams. Well, after many discussions, we believe it might be in our best interest to try to condense rather than pushing out the walls. We need room for newer equipment and accessories as well as more NAMI class room space. Therefore, we are emptying our storage rooms and making way for classrooms. We have also added the Media 100 and Digital Graphics rooms. Therefore, our lack of space is your golden opportunity. We need to sell a lot of the items that were kept in those rooms. Watch our electronic newsletters for great bargains on equipment and accessories - new and used. As we move things around, we will continuously list remarkable sales opportunities.
Suggestions and Remarks!
If you have any areas of concern you would like us to address in the electronic newsletters, please feel free to contact us. We enjoy hearing from you and will give your suggestions and remarks our undivided attention.
P.S. -- XL-1 owners - in addition to the KATA camera cases, we have other accessories and a good price on 60 minute cassettes.
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