Sometimes I wonder whether we reach everyone that COULD be our customer or not. If you're a still photographer and you've never rented from us i have to ask "WHY NOT"! We carry a full line of many of the things that you need every day and we have resources to get you many of the other things that we don't have. I guarantee that you'll love the service you get here and you'll like the price too! Check out what it would cost to have one of our talented pool of freelnace technicians bring a truck out to your next job. I'll bet it's a LOT less than you think and you'll be getting an expert with the gear along for the job as well. We can be your photo lighting rental source as well as we do film lighting rental and video lighting rental. Did I mention that we're the only place in town that has Black/White Foamcore IN STOCK, a full line of expendables (tape,gel,diffusion), production support items (heaters, tables, chairs, tents), and new equipment for sale as well? We're truly evolving into a one-stop-shop for everything you need! Come by and see us any time.
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Go here to see pictures and demos of our new Triolet http://www.chimeralighting.com/dspProduct.asp?productid=299
Do you need to rig a car to shoot from the hood? Do you need to shoot from the side of the door with gear that is shooting at a fast pace? Well we have the gear for you!
Come check out our rigging gear for cars. We have rigged regular cars, race cars, and even multi million dollar cars. Here is a picture of what we could do for your next rigging project.
Yes, we have done it!! Film and Video lighting rental is now on Facebook. This will give us the opportunity to give you, our clients and friends quick updates to those who become a fan. Please log onto your Facebook page and Search Hammer Lighting & Grip, click "Become a Fan" and you are in!!
We will be able to give you the latest updates on new gear, as well as linking our blog to our page as well. You will also get the opportunity to see some of our work with the pictures and videos that I will be uploading.
We will be able to give you the latest updates on new gear, as well as linking our blog to our page as well. You will also get the opportunity to see some of our work with the pictures and videos that I will be uploading.
Your favorite (if we're not, we should be) Indiana Lighting and Grip Rental facility has been hard at work cross training. No, we aren't triatheletes. No, we haven't made any shoe commercials lately. We're teaching each other. Alyssa Davis, our Office Manager, got to go on a shoot last week as part of our cross-training program. She's trying to make your lighting and grip rental experience a good one by learning more each day about the gear that we use. As many of you know, you can look at grip trucks every day and see grip equipment and lights hanging around the shop but until you see them in use you can't fully grasp their application. Seeing a camera dolly set up in some of the funkiest configurations helps tie together those seemingly odd requests from Key Grips. Seeing a studio full of lights helps define their application. So, we take Alyssa along. She gets a break from the offfice. Someone else learns to do her job (so they can fill in if she misses a day and so that they better understand the challenges that she faces), and she gets to see what we face in the field every day. Hopefully the next time you call to talk to Alyssa you'll get a taste of what we're doing here in the Midwest, that we're trying to be knowledgable about each others' work, and that we have the capacity to handle your every question with talent and speed.
Everyone here is rooting for the Colts to win the Superbowl this Sunday. We've had the pleasure of being part of (providing lighting and grip equipment for) a couple of commercials that will air during the Superbowl and several web and TV ads that pertain to it as well. Because of those pesky Non-disclosure agreements I can't give away any hints that would blow my cover but rest assured that we had a part in your Superbowl experience! We got to work with several Colts players and some other well known Indianapolis area atheltes as well as a couple stars that arent from Indy. Tune in On Sunday!
Hello Everyone!!!! So, I had the best opportunity come up last week. As you know I mostly sit in my office answering phone calls, putting orders in etc...... So Derek asked if I wanted to actually go on a shoot for the day. I said of course!!!! I'm always hearing the stories about different jobs, all the hard work they do, how these lights work for what project that is currently going on.
Yesterday was my day............ Call time was noon, location Stage 80, a webisodes spot for the Superbowl 2010. Of course the Indianapolis Colts are in the Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints. So we got to work with a great football player. I had the opportunity to see our Kino Flos and Tungsten lights and our 3 Ton Grip Truck in action. I learned alot about what lights work on this project. We had our 150w Dedo Light kit on this job as well. I have to say those are small lights but they do get the job done right when you just need that extra touch. I loved the opportunity I had on this shoot and I hope to do it again in the future!!
Yesterday was my day............ Call time was noon, location Stage 80, a webisodes spot for the Superbowl 2010. Of course the Indianapolis Colts are in the Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints. So we got to work with a great football player. I had the opportunity to see our Kino Flos and Tungsten lights and our 3 Ton Grip Truck in action. I learned alot about what lights work on this project. We had our 150w Dedo Light kit on this job as well. I have to say those are small lights but they do get the job done right when you just need that extra touch. I loved the opportunity I had on this shoot and I hope to do it again in the future!!
I can't believe its already the middle of January! We are looking for a good year ahead of us. We hope to have a new clientele that will swing thru Indiana all year long, plus all the local clients that we love to work with. I can't wait to see what exciting new projects will be coming up in the next year.
Also, at Hammer Lighting & Grip we are hoping to get some NEW gear in the future. So keep an eye on our websites and blogs for updates!
Also, at Hammer Lighting & Grip we are hoping to get some NEW gear in the future. So keep an eye on our websites and blogs for updates!
As you know I am more of the Office Manager than a Gaffer, Key Grip, or Grip that knows more about the technical aspects of an HMI Light. I was hanging out with some friends and they had asked what I do. Now, for most people I tell them I'm in the Lighting and Film industry and I'm the one who takes phone call, run estimates, invoicing etc.... They had asked, what type of lights do you use normally? I mentioned the infamous HMI Lights. So the question became, "What does HMI really mean"?
I looked it up on Wikipedia's website. So much information came up that I thought I would share a few pointers as to what HMI really means. There are so many facts about this light that even my boss was impressed!!!
I looked it up on Wikipedia's website. So much information came up that I thought I would share a few pointers as to what HMI really means. There are so many facts about this light that even my boss was impressed!!!
So HOW do you really pronounce HMI?? I think I will leave that up to you! Its a hard word to say but now you may know more than you would ever know about the HMI Lights.
Hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide, or HMI, is a mercury-halide gas discharge medium arc-length lamp with a multi-line emission spectrum. The "H" in HMI stands for hydrargyrum, Latin for mercury (Hg). An HMI lamp uses mercury vapour mixed with metal halides in a quartz-glass envelope, with two tungsten-coated electrodes of medium arc separation.
We have a varity of these HMI Lights right here at Hammer Lighting & Grip for your rental needs! Here is a picture of the Mole Richardson 1200 Par that we carry:
Mole Richardson 1200 Par HMI
The day has finally come! We are having a new phone system installed at Hammer Lighting and Grip today and it is brilliant! This will improve all aspects of communication at our lighting rental house. We will be a quicker and more efficient team. When you call, you'll be able to immediately connect with the person you need to speak with. You can go directly to Sean if you have a question about a piece of gear on a truck that he is loading for you. Or, you can hit Derek's extension if you have already been working with him about an upcoming job. Or, you can dial Alyssa if you need to schedule a truck or if you have questions about the type of insurance you need. Finally, you can punch my number to speak about purchasing new or used equipment. These extensions will ring us at our desk and on our cell phones simultaneously. Therefore, we will always be available for your lighting and grip rental needs!
"We're in the communications business right?" Words often heard when communications break down on set and it's somewhat true. "Well, for a bunch of people in the communcations business....", yet another phrase we often hear.
Over the last few weeks, Alyssa Davis, our office manager, and I, have been examining the way we communicate with our customers here at Hammer Lighting & Grip. In respect to economic conditions of the recent past we've been hobbling along on a 20 year old phone system that was in the building when I bought it. We've all recognized its limitations and have been frustrated by them. We both feel like we'd like for you, our lighting and grip customers, to be able to reach us faster and easier. So, now, 2 1/2 years later we're embarking on the journey to replace our whole phone system. We have partnered with Cincinnati Bell to set up a cutting-edge commucations platform that will help get you to a real person faster when you call for your next lighting rental need. In the coming weeks we'll be making dramatic changes. When you call us for your next generator rental, grip truck, or for one of our camera dollies you'll first hear an auto-attendant. That auto-attendant will allow you to select which of us you'd like to talk to. Your call will be routed to that person's desk and company mobile phone simutaneously making (317)547-4747 the only number you'll ever need to call. Forget everyone's mobile numbers, forget having to call back, this will be the easiest and fastest way for us to serve you! I'll be further updating here soon as we bring this exciting new system online!
Over the last few weeks, Alyssa Davis, our office manager, and I, have been examining the way we communicate with our customers here at Hammer Lighting & Grip. In respect to economic conditions of the recent past we've been hobbling along on a 20 year old phone system that was in the building when I bought it. We've all recognized its limitations and have been frustrated by them. We both feel like we'd like for you, our lighting and grip customers, to be able to reach us faster and easier. So, now, 2 1/2 years later we're embarking on the journey to replace our whole phone system. We have partnered with Cincinnati Bell to set up a cutting-edge commucations platform that will help get you to a real person faster when you call for your next lighting rental need. In the coming weeks we'll be making dramatic changes. When you call us for your next generator rental, grip truck, or for one of our camera dollies you'll first hear an auto-attendant. That auto-attendant will allow you to select which of us you'd like to talk to. Your call will be routed to that person's desk and company mobile phone simutaneously making (317)547-4747 the only number you'll ever need to call. Forget everyone's mobile numbers, forget having to call back, this will be the easiest and fastest way for us to serve you! I'll be further updating here soon as we bring this exciting new system online!
One of the necessary evils of operating a lighting and grip company is complying with the laws governing "heavy" trucks. I'll spend a total of more than 4 hours of my day today working on this one issue. I'm training two drivers today. Many people don't understand that almost any "commercial" truck (used in business) is required to comply with federal DOT regulations. Even pickup trucks and vans often qualify. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines and the potential for open-ended lawsuits should there be a traffic accident. This is why we cant let just anybody take a truck on their next rental. The freelancers that drive our trucks are trained professionals. They know how to drive a grip truck safely and how to comply with the regulations so that the truck can actually make it to the job. In Indiana we are the lighting a grip rental company that looks out for YOU. It's our job to know the laws, not yours. Just another added benefit you get from renting from the most buttoned up lighting and grip rental facility in the Midwest!
Its Fall !!! That means time to get your shoots in order for all those lovely fall colors! Our trees are starting to turn in Indiana we have some the the most unique places to shoot your commercials. Come visit us and we will help you with all your Lighting and truck needs!
If its getting too cold and you need a place to shoot inside. How about some of our wonderful Studios right here in Indiana.
www.stage80.com
www.dlimages.com
www.studiomidwest.com/studio_rental.htm
Prepare yourself for the 20 degree days by renting the winter essentials from your favorite Indiana Lighting and Grip Rental House! We have 10'x10' and 10'x20' EZ-Up tents available for you! When requested, they come with sides to keep that cold wind at bay. You could also keep warm with our portable heaters! They are 18,000 BTU heaters that are safe to use indoors and come with 16 ounce propane tanks. Each tank lasts 3 hours and is very easy to change.
If these heaters aren't enough for you, we also have the Salamander! This beast could melt the abominable snowman in seconds! It is a 155,000 BTU propane heater that will be sure to keep your clients and crew warm in any conditions!
We feel that as a Midwest lighting and grip company, we must provide the best options for keeping you warm in the winter! Don't forget the hot chocolate!
If these heaters aren't enough for you, we also have the Salamander! This beast could melt the abominable snowman in seconds! It is a 155,000 BTU propane heater that will be sure to keep your clients and crew warm in any conditions!
We feel that as a Midwest lighting and grip company, we must provide the best options for keeping you warm in the winter! Don't forget the hot chocolate!
One of the newest additions to the Hammer Lighting and Grip rental inventory is the Chimera Triolet Convertible Omni-Directional Light (Model #9950). It's one of the most versatile lights we have! It can be used with any Video Pro Chimera or the Pancake Lantern, if you choose, with a quick release speed ring. It comes with a 2-Pin adapter, a double contact bayonet adapter, a diffusion glass dome, and a medium household screw-in adapter. Point is, all of these accessories allow you to use this light with 1000w, 750w, 500w, 200w, or 150w bulbs!!
I've packed the light, all of the adapters, and 2 of each of these bulbs in one medium-sized Pelican case for your convenience. The only thing that's not included in this kit is a Chimera. You can pick that out when you call in your order to Alyssa at 317-547-4747!
Enjoy!
Many people don't know this but along with all of the other lighting and grip rental equipment we provide, we also have Motorola GP300 VHF radios available. As a Midwest lighting and grip rental company, we stock a good amount of these and their accessories. With the rental of this radio, you have the choice of headsets, ear buds, speaker mics, and holsters available for you at no extra cost! (Most lighting rental companies charge extra for this!)
Another item in our inventory that people often forget about is the bullhorn! Why is this item so obsolete now? Do you not need to get the attention of the crew anymore? Don't let some dazed and confused grip walk through the shot... use the bullhorn to announce "ROLLING!"
For questions about either of these items, call Hammer Lighting & Grip at (317) 547-4747!
Another item in our inventory that people often forget about is the bullhorn! Why is this item so obsolete now? Do you not need to get the attention of the crew anymore? Don't let some dazed and confused grip walk through the shot... use the bullhorn to announce "ROLLING!"
For questions about either of these items, call Hammer Lighting & Grip at (317) 547-4747!
Why am I not surprised... our cost for foamcore has risen once again! Since we last ordered it in May, it has gone up by $0.55 a sheet! It may not sound like much but when you order hundreds of sheets a year, it can add up quickly. Especially when the price increases each time you call!
Here at Hammer Lighting and Grip we take pride in our equipment by making sure it is as clean as it can be. I had the task to start working on the director chairs we own. The chairs have been thru several shoots in the past years. The seats end up getting worn, torn and just plan ugly! I ended up painting our one and only white chair to black. Also, I took the chair seats and dyed them black. They didn't exactly turn full black. The fabric was so thick it took a week to try and get them to turn black. They ended up turning to a navy blue. If you ask me they are a ton better than they were before. They are unique in their own way! I always want to make sure our equipment goes out to YOU in the best way possible.
Here are a few pictures of the updated director chairs.
Before Tall Director Chair..........
After Tall Director Chair.......
Dyed Black...(turned Navy blue)
Here are a few pictures of the updated director chairs.
Before Tall Director Chair..........
After Tall Director Chair.......
Dyed Black...(turned Navy blue)
The meaning of C-stand in the film production environment is used by the Grip department to accomplish various rigging and light modification task.
The name comes from the official term "Century stand", which in turn comes from the earliest days of filmmaking, when the sun was the only major source of lighting; reflectors were used to keep the light on actors. There are also other various ways to use the C-stand. Its primary purpose is to position various flags, color gels, bounce cards, and silks in front of light sources to block, direct, or modify the nature of the light. The production team also loves to use the stand to make wardrobe racks. We also like to use them for our Kino Flo's and the 1200 Par HMI .
One of my task for the last few days was to change the "O" rings. Which are a part of the stand not many know about. Its a rubber piece that sits between each section of the stand. After awhile they start to fall apart, crack and just fall off. It can be unsafe if not replaced. Trust me, I got my finger smash a few times and it hurt! Replacing these is just one more thing we like to do for you, so everything goes smoothly on your shoot.
OK, well it's not actually Earth Day nation wide... just for us here at Hammer Lighting & Grip! Derek purchased two Red Sunset Maples recently and we finally have time and a perfect day to plant them. They will go in front of the building and really look beautiful on the property. I can't wait until this fall when the leaves turn that great color!
Along with maintaining the grip trucks and lighting and grip equipment, we also like to spend time on our property. We have made many improvements to our lot over the last 2 years it's really looking great!
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