2022 marks a year of record accomplishments for Cinelease - all of which could not have been possible without the 45 years of hard work and dedication that led to them. It’s time we step back and appreciate what a privilege it is to work for a company that has become ingrained in the fabric of filmmaking over the course of nearly half a century.
As most of you know I began my journey at Cinelease in September of 1990. I started out as a driver back when the company had about 15 employees across accounting, the rental office, warehouse, and drivers.
Fast forward to 2022, we have over 250 employees working out of 12 different locations across the United States, and an additional two in our new venture into Canada. In July we opened the doors of our first Canadian warehouse in Vancouver, followed by a Toronto location in September. This is not only a huge step for Cinelease, but for our Canadian clients who previously relied on advanced shipments to fulfill their needs, and now have easy, quick access to our amazing lineup of products which now includes LRX Lighting.
As a well respected Canadian company in its own right, LRX along with Herc helped streamline our arrival in Canada thanks to their established presence and existing local relationships. We’re proud to now stand beside them north of the border.
And how about Cinelease Studios? Headed by the leadership of Gannon Murphy, our studio division is growing by leaps and bounds and has only scratched the surface of its possibilities. Throughout 2022 alone, Cinelease Studios opened a sixth location in Decatur, Georgia and purchased a seventh studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Both locations will be serviced by our existing nearby Cinelease teams.
These monumental steps for Cinelease Studios were wholly dependent upon the pristine reputation the division has earned by providing an unmatched filmmaking experience to its clients across the country.
Thank you to our team members who have been here since the beginning, those who have earned their Hollywood Stars, and those who’ve been an integral part of our expansion into Canada. We wouldn’t be where we are today without each and every one of you.
CHRIS ROGERS
LA
Cinelease’s first studio-owned property in Albuquerque, New Mexico will bring the area’s filmmakers exceptional in-house production services, similar to that of the six other studios it runs across the country.
A leading U.S. supplier of lighting and grip equipment and studio space is setting up shop in the Hollywood North hot spot of Burnaby. It’s the first presence for Cinelease in B.C., which has been in operation since 1977.
In July, Cinelease opened its first Canadian lighting and grip warehouse location in Vancouver. The warehouse is conveniently located near studios, stages, and shooting locations in one of North America’s most popular filming destinations. Industry professionals in the area now have easy access to best-in-quality lighting and grip equipment, including LRX’s innovative robotic technology.
September brought the opening of Cinelease’s second permanent Canadian location, this one planned to supply Toronto’s industry.
Cinelease will fill a gap in the Toronto entertainment market that’s grown in recent years as local content production has soared, yet access to premium support equipment has stagnated. The area’s filmmakers will now have access to topof-the-line gear never before available in the area.
In August, Cinelease Studios announced the rebranding of New Mexico’s iconic I-25 Studios to Cinelease Studios - Albuquerque. Albuquerque’s industry professionals will now have the opportunity to experience the white glove service emblematic of the Cinelease Studios brand.
Cinelease and Herc Entertainment Services have joined forces with Santa Clarita-based LA North Studios. LA North offers cost-effective studio space within Los Angeles’ 30-Mile Zone, creating a new, robust filmmaking experience for creatives looking for an alternative to downtown LA.
Cinelease has become the exclusive lighting and grip provider of Dark Horse Studios. Dark Horse is North Carolina’s newest film studio, and has raised the bar of what Wilmington offers, providing filmmakers an experience they cannot find anywhere else.
October brought the announcement of Cinelease’s partnership with Boston’s Marina Studios. Cinelease has been working with the like-minded studio since it opened its doors in 2021 and will now be the exclusive provider of lighting and grip equipment for Marina’s clients.
To close out the year, Cinelease announced a new partnership with Oklahoma’s leading film studio, Prairie Surf. With a 1.3 million square foot location and a broad suite of on-site services, Prairie Surf has attracted projects from the nation’s top production companies and streaming services. Through the partnership, Cinelease will now become the exclusive provider of lighting and grip, allowing it to gain a foothold in Oklahoma City’s emerging filmmaking community.
In November, Athena Studios held a grand opening ceremony for a new facility dedicated to the students of the University of Georgia, where aspiring filmmakers can take their first steps into the industry and gain exposure to real world experience at a film studio. Cinelease, Cinelease Studios, and HES are proud partners of Athena and are looking to see the new talent that emerges.
In support of equity on set, Cinelease donated lighting and grip packages to Women in Film in May, marking the fourth year Cinelease has contributed to the program in which women and non-binary creatives work with mentors across two weekends to create short films for WIF Shorts Lab supported by Google.
Over a single weekend in August, 180 women and non-binary filmmakers came together to create six short films across New York City as part of the annual Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC). Cinelease proudly donated substantial equipment packages in support of the event that brings light to traditionally underrepresented groups in the entertainment industry. Opportunities like this open doors that can change the trajectory of aspiring female filmmakers and crew members’ careers.
Cinelease Studios was the top fundraiser for the 2022 Atlanta Walk to End Alzheimer’sraising more than $38,000 on top of its $15,000 sponsorship - and dozens of team members from Cinelease Studios, HES, and Cinelease came together to proudly walk along thousands in support of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The annual Herc Entertainment Services Invitational, held in early October was yet another successful gathering of HES staff and their top clients. Showing appreciation to clients - while also having fun outside the office - was a great way to gain trust and build relationships that will lead to a prosperous future.
Cinelease supports many diverse organizations including Women in Film, Women’s Weekend Film Challenge, American Film Institute, American Society of Cinematographers, Safety for Sarah, Alzheimer’s Association, and numerous others. Additionally, Cinelease supports many film organizations including Chicago International Film Festival, IATSE 479, New York Production Alliance, Piedmont Technical College, UCLA, AFI and others. Giving back to the film community is extremely vital part of Cinelease’s 45 year history.
Cinelease was a proud sponsor of the 2022 Sarah Jones Field Day held in October. The event raises awareness of Safety for Sarah and its mission to increase safety on set.
Cinelease was the proud sponsor of the Cinegear After Party at The ASC Clubhouse early this summer. We were happy to see so many amazing industry professionals having a great time at the beach-inspired event!
Cinelease has served the Film and Television Industry for over 40 years, since 1977. The company was established as a mom-andpop operation that quickly expanded into a nationwide company with multiple locations and is now owned by a Fortune 1000 company, Herc Rentals. Cinelease provides the highest level of service, best quality of products, and relentless support to their customers. Our rich history is due in part to our incredible team and leadership including Joe Ball, who has been instrumental in the Cinelease heritage and legacy.
Cinelease was born through the humble beginnings of a small lighting and grip company founded in the garage of a mom-andpop business, operating with eight employees.
The majority of film sets were served by heavy equipment painted bright orange or yellow because the equipment providers primarily served the construction industry. A pivotal moment was when Herc Rentals began tailoring their heavy equipment to directly serve the film and entertainment market. Herc Entertainment Services made a critical change to their inventory for the film, Back to the Future This was the first time a film was supplied with matte black heavy equipment for the production. Historically a gaffer was hired to tape up the bright orange Herc equipment so light wouldn’t get reflected on set.
Chris started as a driver with Cinelease, serving the set of Beverly Hills 90210. It didn’t take long for his talents and knowledge of the industry to enable him grow into a leadership role at Cinelease. His relationships and foresight have helped position Cinelease where it is today, as the gold standard for lighting and grip.
Serving 90210 represented a major pivotal moment for cinelease because rather than just serving movies, they began to service shows that had multiple seasons. This recurring work let to major growth of their business, inventory, and was a key growth strategy.
Acquiring the talented Joe Ball and bringing him onto the Cinelease team was a gamechanger for the company. With extensive connections within the industry, Cinelease was able to increase its client base and build new relationships and expand its network.
A historic earthquake disrupted business and led to a restructuring of the company.
Cinelease decided it was finally time to make a big leap forward by bringing on more staff, a sales team, and more gear and equipment.
Any Cinelease staff member that worked at the company for more than 20 years received an authentic Hollywood star - the same type that are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
“ When I joined Cinelease in 1995 I knew I joined a good company, but shortly after I felt I became part of a family.” - Ivan Rivas
Investing into its inventory of lighting and grip equipment, Cinelease expanded its operations from supplying a handful of television shows at a time to serving more than 30 shows during a single pilot season.
Cinelease’s inventory outgrew their space, pushing the company to relocate to where they are today, beneath their iconic sign that can be seen from miles away.
Herc Entertainment Services adds the iconic Industry name of Cinelease to their suite of services to help propel their Entertainment brand.
In the wake of a tragedy on set, a robust foundation was created: The Sarah Jones Foundation, also known as Safety for Sarah.
Historically, Hertz owned Herc Rentals, but in 2016 the two companies split, enabling Herc Rentals to become its own company. This critical moment paved the way for the future of Herc Rentals and Herc Entertainment Services, positioning it to become Cinelease’s parent company.
Cinelease combined their decades of lighting and grip experience with the heavy equipment and pro solutions from their new parent company Herc Entertainment Services, and began also offering purpose-built studio spaces for creatives to participate in a full service filmmaking experience.
In late 2021, Herc Entertainment Services purchased Dwight Crane and LRX - leaders in the heavy equipment and lighting industries in Canada. This acquisition expands the inventory of specialty lighting and grip equipment it can offer to clients in the United States, along with safety equipment and specialty assets specifically designed for the film and entertainment industry.
July brought the opening of Cinelease’s first permanent Canadian warehouse location. Eliminating the need for shipping between the U.S. and Canada, premium lighting and grip equipment is now more accessible to Canada’s filmmakers than ever before.
In August, Cinelease celebrated the acquisition of its first Cinelease Studios owned property located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque made a splash in the film and entertainment industry in 2008 with the debut of Breaking Bad, and has since become a leading destination for filmmaking in the United States. Paired with Cinelease’s nearly 15 years of experience in the local market, Cinelease Studios - Albuquerque offers filmmakers one more exclusive, all-in-one filmmaking experience emblematic of Cinelease Studios.
As of September, Cinelease has a bicoastal presence in Canada. The opening of its Toronto warehouse will fill a great need for support equipment in the local filmmaking community. As Toronto’s film industry has exponentially grown over the past several decades, the supply of lighting and grip gear hasn’t.
In 2022, Cinelease built new relationships with some of the nation’s top emerging studios by becoming the exclusive lighting and grip provider for Dark Horse Studios, Marina Studios, Athena Studios, and Prairie Surf Studios, and entering into a joint venture with LA North Studios, to provide lighting and grip services to two of its five studio locations.
This year marks Cinelease’s 45th anniversary! It’s a proud moment to have served the industry and grown from humble beginnings of a mom-and-pop shop to being owned by a Fortune 1000 company with 14 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Amidst all the changes one thing has remained the same: a culture of being a family-oriented business with a strong sense of community. The Cinelease team is more than just co-workers, it’s a family that loves to serve the filmmaking and entertainment industry.
Over the weekend, 180 female and non-binary creatives worked together to shoot SIX short films for the Women's Weekend Film Challenge! Take a peek behind the scenes . We love seeing filmmakers using Cinelease gear and can't wait to see the final cuts in Manhattan on August 25! #sponsoredbycinelease #cinelease #cineleasebts #womensweekendfilmchallenge
Last week we conducted a demonstration showcasing the newest @LRX_lighting products exclusively available for rent through Cinelease at all of our locations in North America. Swipe to see some #bts pics from the demo that showcase the innovative Fly Swatter Rotator. Not only is it easy to rig, but it makes sets safer because of the increased stability and load capacity the telehandler provides. The real #gamechanger is that it has two remotely controlled axes of rotation, fits any telehandler (rotational and fixed) and the onboard battery power allows for ultra-smooth motion and unparalleled mobility. It simply is the ultimate in flexibility, making it perfect for outdoor or challenging environments. All you need is the truss structure and rag of choice.
Now, with more than a dozen lighting and grip locations across the United States and Canada, we’re able to serve hundreds of productions every year. In 2021 we serviced Netflix productions like Is it Cake? and soon-to-be-released feature films like Creed III. We’ve also remained a mainstay on productions from streaming giants including Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Paramount Plus.
Cinelease Family, 2022 has been a great year of expansion for our company – not only in the U.S. with the success of our seven studio locations, but also across the border with the launch of our first two Canadian rental houses. Seeing the manifestation of our management’s ambitious vision has been nothing short of inspiring.
This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the backing of Herc Rentals, which enabled us to introduce Canada to “The Cinelease Way,” and the support of the entire team, from the highest levels of management to those keeping day to day operations running smoothly, to those who have stepped into new positions and took on new responsibilities.
Teamwork like this has always been a fundamental principle in our culture, and I felt it every day throughout my time working for Cinelease in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and every day since.
LRX’s pristine reputation and innovative minds have made a welcome addition to our team, and our combined efforts will be a game changer for filmmakers in the United States and Canada that will have greater access to LRX’s premium products as fabrication and distribution continue to increase.
Personally, it has been such a pleasure to learn from and work with so many members of our team, old and new, during this expansion and I hope to pass on the leadership skills I’ve learned through this process as we bring in new talent throughout Canada.
I personally want to thank everyone who’s been a part of Cinelease and supported the strides we’ve made this year. Each one of you has helped us rise to the occasion while maintaining our superior level of customer service. I am proud to be a part of the Cinelease team and very excited about the future of Cinelease and the possibilities our presence in Canada will bring.
RYAN M c LEOD Operations Manager Canada
