Join new PERG Manager Mark Wofford for a General Membership Meeting! Get to know our new leader and look at the roadmap we've created to keep our industry moving forward. We'll discuss messaging for our Support Your Local Rental House Campaign and brief you on our latest initiatives. Come with questions, leave with answers! We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions about PERG please feel free to email Mark Wofford at mark.wofford@esta.org.
The AICP and PERG are delighted to once again celebrate the New York production community with an evening of fine cuisine and camaraderie. Join us on Wednesday, October 14th at Barbizon Lighting located at 643 11th Ave, New York, NY 10036. The evening is made possible by our sponsors as a way of saying thank you for your business. Sponsors: (Annual) Applied Entertainment & Sports, ARRI, NFP, Sony, Taylor & Talyor Associates, Inc., (Event) EGI Pro, Need Financial, Otto Nemenz, Panavision, TCS and Wits End.
PERG's annual Rental House Breakfast once again proved to be one of the highlights of the Cine Gear weekend. Held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Smoke House in Universal City, Los Angeles, the event welcomed 110 attendees for two hours of networking, camaraderie, and a hearty breakfast before the start of the busy trade show day.
The breakfast brought together an impressive cross-section of rental company leadership from across North America and beyond. Representatives traveled from Oregon, Texas, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, while international participation included guests from the Netherlands. Many of PERG's valued vendor partners also attended before heading over to their booths at the Cine Gear Expo.
Guests enjoyed a full breakfast while taking advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, strengthen business relationships, and catch up with old friends. For many attendees, the breakfast has become a cherished tradition and an important kickoff to the Cine Gear weekend.
This year, the gathering also provided an opportunity to honor the memory of John Schrimpf, a legendary figure in the rental community and longtime head of Panavision Dallas. June 6 would have been John's birthday, and coincidentally was also the day of his Celebration of Life service in Dallas. A special table was set aside for friends and colleagues to share memories and stories about John and the many ways he influenced careers throughout the industry. PERG thanks everyone who contributed photographs to the tribute slideshow, which served as a fitting remembrance of a man whose impact reached far beyond Texas.
At the conclusion of the breakfast, PERG took the opportunity to update the rental community on an important initiative currently underway. Over the past year, PERG has begun engaging directly with producers regarding equipment sourcing practices. At the AICP Town Hall meeting on March 12, PERG raised what many view as an existential question for the rental industry: whether rental companies can continue to provide the level of professional support and service that productions have long depended upon under evolving sourcing models.
The message emphasizes the value that rental companies provide—expertise, depth of inventory, facilities, service and maintenance, proper insurance, contracts, and business practices, testing, and round-the-clock support—that many in the production community have come to take for granted. Encouragingly, PERG's efforts have already proven effective in influencing production company policies and raising awareness among producers. (For additional background, see the April edition of PERG News.)
Mark Wofford delivered the update to attendees. Mark, who led PC&E in Atlanta for more than twenty years and served for many years on both the PERG Council and the ESTA Board of Directors, emphasized that PERG is now in a position to bring this message beyond the commercial production world and to television and feature producers as well.
The event was a tremendous success and reflected the strength, professionalism, and fellowship that define the rental community. PERG extends its sincere thanks to this year's sponsors—Applied Entertainment and Sports, ARRI, NFP, Sony, Taylor & Taylor Associates, CFG, Litegear, and Rental Works—for helping make the breakfast possible.
Most of all, thanks to everyone who attended. It was a wonderful gathering, and a reminder that while our industry continues to evolve, the relationships and shared commitment that have sustained the rental community for decades remain stronger than ever.
On Tuesday, April 28 over 160 members of the AICP and PERG celebrated in Los Angeles at the annual co-hosted Spring Mixer. The event, which was held at Versatile Stages near Culver City in Los Angeles, brings together Executive Producers, Heads of Production, producers, and production staff from some of the finest commercial production companies in the world to rave it up with the leadership teams from rental companies that support their productions. Bianca Halpern (Otto Nemenz) enthused, “This event is a unique opportunity where production companies can meet their vendors and vice versa. Camaraderie is formed and virtual relationships become real!” The annual event has become a welcome opportunity to relax and strengthen personal relationships between production, vendors, and professional services companies that are the behind-the-scenes backbone to production.
Sean French and Michael Dos Santos, partners in Versatile stages, transformed the photo studio space with Mayan art and festive Cinco de Mayo decorations. Guests tucked into delicious tacos and clowned in the photo booth (https://gobeyondthebooth.com/). Paul Royalty (Litegear and PERG Council Member) assumed the role of master of ceremonies. Before beginning the drawing of raffle prizes, he spoke to the assembled group about the role of the AICP and PERG in strengthening the production infrastructure with important initiatives like the AICP/PERG Terms & Conditions, the recent AICP Town Hall with PERG, and events like this one. His words advanced PERG’s 2026 theme, “Support Your Local Rental House,” which was the branded message displayed on pins, pens, and display screens at the event.
Some terrific raffle prizes—Dodgers tickets, dinner at Musso and Franks, cheese and wine gift bags, even lighting products-- were presented by PERG and AICP associate members: Inner Circle (distributor of Astera in the US), Need Financial Services, Otto Nemenz, Sher Gelb, Chubb, and California Rent-a-Car.
The event was sponsored by PERG’s annual sponsors Applied Entertainment and Sports, Arri, NFP, Sony, and Taylor & Taylor and by event sponsors Bloom Hochberg & Co., California Rent-a-Car, Chubb, Roll Credits, Sher Gelb, Tiger Group, and Versatile Stages. In addition, Band Pro bought the beer, and liquor was sponsored by Hendricks Gin.
Now on YouTube!
PERG's April 9, 2026 EWI Coffee Break focused on one of the most critical—and often overlooked—elements of rental house operations: inventory management. For this panel discussion on smart and efficient inventory practices, PERG welcomed three experienced rental house professionals: Chris Cottone of ARRI Rental, Alex Will of Daufenbach Camera, and Nick McKay of Keslow Camera.
The panelists emphasized that effective inventory systems are essential to understanding what equipment is available, where it is located, and how it is being utilized. As rental businesses grow, manual tracking methods quickly become inadequate, making specialized inventory software indispensable for maximizing efficiency and profitability. The discussion underscored that inventory management affects every department in a rental house and has a direct impact on the customer experience.
Maintaining accurate service histories for equipment, particularly high-value assets, was identified as another key priority. Nick McKay noted that detailed records not only support insurance claims but also help rental companies meet—and exceed—client expectations. The panel also stressed the importance of standardized naming conventions. Chris Cottone described the challenges of maintaining consistency across a global organization and explained that using technical product names rather than industry slang helps ensure that items remain easily searchable and universally understood.
Drawing on Daufenbach Camera's experience with a database transition, Alex Will explained how the company used the opportunity to refine item descriptions, providing greater insight into equipment utilization, maintenance requirements, and profitability. All three panelists agreed that extensive employee training in naming standards and data entry practices is essential to maintaining efficient workflows across departments.
The conversation also explored the benefits and challenges of barcoding equipment. While barcode systems improve tracking and operational efficiency, panelists noted that decisions about which items to barcode depend on factors such as equipment value, the need for service histories, and the practical ability to scan individual items. Chris and Nick shared lessons learned from managing barcodes on lenses and camera packages, emphasizing the importance of consistent barcode placement, regular maintenance, and employee training to address worn or missing labels.
Joining the discussion near the conclusion of the Coffee Break, Melissa Guzman of Rental Works highlighted features designed to maintain accurate records and protect against data loss. Bo Srisamutngam of Rental Tracker discussed safeguards built into inventory management software, including audit trails that document changes to item names and pricing, helping companies reduce errors and maintain accountability.
PERG's EWI Coffee Breaks are an important component of the Equitable Workforce Initiative, providing participants with broader exposure to rental house operations and expanding upon the hands-on training they receive at their member companies. In addition to supporting EWI candidates, these sessions offer valuable technical and operational training resources for the entire PERG membership as companies continue to develop and onboard new employees.
All PERG Coffee Breaks are available for viewing on the ESTA YouTube channel.
Want to learn more about PERG's Equitable Workforce Initiative (EWI)?
NAB Show booth C6325
As production workflows continue to blur the lines between broadcast, live events, sports, and digital content, rental companies are under pressure to stock equipment that delivers maximum versatility, high utilization rates, and strong ROI. At NAB Show 2026, Fujifilm is introducing new FUJINON Lenses designed specifically for this shift.
See what’s new from Fujifilm — built with rental performance in mind – Live at NAB Show booth C6325:
The new FUJINON UA94x8.7BESM 4K broadcast zoom (in development) fills a key gap in rental fleets, positioned between the widely used UA70x and UA107x. It delivers long reach, premium image quality, and a proprietary image stabilization system that improves operability during zoom and focus—helping crews work faster and more efficiently in live environments.
Also debuting is FUJINON UA22x4.8BERD, the next evolution of one of the most consistently rented compact zooms in the market: UA18x5.5. Building on the success of the UA18x, this new model offers expanded focal range while maintaining the size, weight, and flexibility that make it a go-to for multi-use productions. Shipping is expected to begin by the end of April 2026.
For information about Fujifilm at NAB
If you have been following the Koerner Camera Instagram feed—or really almost any lens manufacturer's Instagram--you’ll know that March 19th through March 21st lens techs, lens vendors, and lens enthusiasts from all up and down the west coast, from all over the U.S., and from at least two other continents, descended on Portland, Oregon for the Pacific Northwest Lens Summit 2026. The event comprises a one-day sprint of lens tech training covering technical procedures from nine vendors and lens service companies, followed by two days of lens trade show featuring 42 optics vendors, and highlighted with seminars covering a range of topics that anyone in cinema-related professions is likely to find fascinating.
The event, which has now been held six times in Portland and twice in London, has grown out of its original home and Koerner Camera’s Portland facility. This year it occupied the Smith Memorial Student Union on the Portland State University campus. On both days, more than 450 guests attended the trade show, including DPs, AC’s, and production people from the local production community, as well as many coming from much further away.
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| 42 optics vendors filled the exhibition floor in the Portland State student union. |
The show holds a unique place among film-related trade events. It is enjoyed and valued by veteran DPs and technicians while also being accessible to filmmakers at every level. “Bill Bennet [ASC] told me it was the best trade show he’d ever been to,” says Michael Koerner, “and I think he goes to all of them.” Sally Spaderna (Koerner Camera and PERG council member) relates “I gave a tour to a group of young film students - totally green. They didn’t know a whole lot about lenses, but they got to see everything from the giant HAWK anamorphics to filters you inject glitter into (from Kahn Optics), and they had a great time.” The size of the event enables vendors to spend the time they need to with attendees. “It's a great opportunity for all the vendors to hear feedback from their clients.”
Camera rental companies from Los Angeles to Boston from New York to Dallas sent lens technicians for the training sessions, 57 technicians and trainers in all, 20 of them from PERG member companies. Sessions included ANGENIEUX - Optimo service, ATLAS - Mercury service, LEITZ - Summilux-C service, ZEISS - Nano Prime, Supreme Prime & Master Prime service, COOKE - Anamorphic service & SP3, TRUE LENS SERVICE - Vega to Vega65, Mamiya non-speedboosted to speedboosted, TLS floating element system, IB/E / BLACKWING7 - Tribe7 lens service, the K70 and OTool calibration systems, SIGMA - High Speed Cine Prime service, and ZERØ OPTIK intro and advanced service.
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| Lens technicians and trainers celebrate after their day-long lens intensive. |
About the tech training, Koerner says, “The most valuable part of the lens tech training isn’t the procedures they learn; it’s meeting other people. There is a lens tech Discord group that Kari Fouts helps run (Kari is Koerner’s Head Lens Tech) that has many, many lens techs on it. [At the Lens Summit] and they just get to see each other face to face. We had lens techs here from Mexico, South America, Polina came out from Warsaw. Polina is the Head Lens Technician at ATM Systems, and this is the third time she’s come to Lens Summit. They are all vetted lens techs—it’s not like some DP or AC who wants to learn about lenses. This training is primarily for lens techs that work at rental houses.”
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| Lens tech training session with Simon Sommer teaching ZEISS - Nano Prime, Supreme Prime & Master Prime service. |
The seminars provided during the trade show were engaging to a wider audience. Lens Selection 101 proved to be a topic of both breadth and depth. Bianca Halpern (Otto Nemenz, and PERG council member) hosted the session, which featured a discussion between cinematographer Bobby Bukowski (Arlington Rod (1999), Imperium (2016)), Megan Clark, Jasmine Karcey (both DPs originally from Portland), and camera operator Mande Whitaker. The discussion ranged from shooting with an iPhone to shooting with Fijifilm Premistas and vintage optics. The DPs discussed their thought process for choosing the equipment for a particular type of shoot and what they are looking for when deciding on lenses. Afterward, Spaderna reflected on how valuable it is for people at every level of experience to have access to a discussion of this caliber.
Attendees were treated to an expert panel about rehoused vintage optics called The Legacy of Lenses. The panel was hosted by DP, Jay Holben, and featured Mark LaFleur (Old Fast Glass), Stephen Gelb (Lensworks), and Gavin Whitehurst (True Lens Service). Other seminars included deep dives like Conversation with a Master, hosted by David Heuring, featuring DP Bobby Bukowski; and Custom IMAX Lenses, in which Dan Kanes (Atlas Lenses) and Forrest Schultz described the fascinating story of developing these unique lenses for IMAX.
Another important topic for camera rental companies was Breaking the Lens Barrier: How Affordable Glass is Changing Cinema. The session was hosted by Jay Holben, and featured panelists Phil Holland (PHFX), Kenji Arai (NISI) Jeremy Lynn (DZO), Sean Ruggeri (LAOWA), and Dan Kanes (Atlas). There were fourteen seminars in all covering topics from Welcome to the Camera Department to Hawk Anamorphics and Hybrid Anamorphics.
While the Lens Summit is international, it is also a local Portland and regional community event. Oregon governor Tina Kotek opened the event on the second day, giving a short speech in support of the Oregon film industry. Koerner first got to know Kotek when she was speaker of the Oregon House, legislating for the film incentives. At the show, Koerner introduces her to a handful of the exhibitors to better acquaint her with the industry and its people. Paul Engstrom, (Zero Optik, part owner of Raw Camera) remarked “Governor Kotek, I go to NAB in Las Vegas, I haven’t seen the governor of Nevada there. I go to Cine Gear in Los Angeles and there’s no Gavin Newsom, but here in Oregon, at the Pacific Northwest Lens Summit, here you are!” She spent over two hours speaking with people at the show.
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| Michael Koerner with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. |
The governor was not the only guest luminary present. Caesar the No Drama Llama was also in attendance and available for petting. The Oregon therapy llama is known for attending protests and events to “spread joy, reduce tension, and offer free hugs.”
The event is not a money maker for Koerner. The Oregon Film office and the Portland Film and Events office both sponsored the event to get it off the ground. Nacho Film sponsored the Argentinian BBQ back at Koerner Camera’s office where it all began for a closing night party. Koerner is never sure if he is going to continue to do the event, as it is a huge undertaking for him and his staff. There are a host of volunteers who poured the heart into the Lens Summit—shout out to Erika Duffy (Camera Ambassador) who flew out from Chicago to help with administration. The event embodies the spirit that many rental companies celebrate—that of being an essential part of an ecosystem and a community.
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| Selfie bot and No Drama Llama. |
To close the day on Saturday, Seth Emmons (Leitz), decked out with a sparkly bowtie and jacket hosts a hilarious round of Lens Family Feud in which two teams (team spherical and team anamorphic) compete answering lens and film buff questions. The show featured the big board, a buzzer, and a great deal of good humor.
The AICP/PERG Spring Mixer is all about the professional rental companies that support productions in LA getting together with the commercial production companies who shoot the spots. We strongly encourage PERG members to come out for the event and help us make it a success. PERG and the AICP cohost the event every year. It is a great time, and we look forward to seeing our members and their staff at the event. Tuesday, April 28.
Watch for the invitation in your email. RSVP REQUIRED.
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The speakers for the event are long-time veterans of the rental industry. Mark Wofford has provided strategic leadership as an executive for 38 years. He is the former president and CEO of Production Consultants and Equipment in Atlanta, where he still serves on the board of directors. Mark is currently Owner of MFW Consulting, LLC. John Cini is former President and Co-founder of High Output in Boston, where he was at the helm for 40 years. He currently serves on the board of directors of Ansera. Both presenters have served the rental community as members of the PERG Council and on the ESTA Board of Directors representing rental companies.
Rental companies have long been under intense pressure. In the past year, seven rental companies have gone out of business in Los Angeles alone. The AICP Town Hall presentation aims to present a balanced view of the realities including a focus on the dangers of crowdsourcing production equipment, related safety concerns (see Lithium Battery Safety: What You Need to Know in this Newsletter), and other challenges.
The weekly AICP Town Hall virtual meetings are well attended. As AICP general members include larger companies that tend to rent rather than own equipment, the AICP expects the audience will be receptive.
For this town hall, the AICP is extending an invitation to all PERG members to attend in addition to AICP associate members and general members. PERG encourages its members to participate. Please watch for an invitation in your email in the coming weeks.
The PERG meeting at NAB is a unique opportunity share face-to-face with rental colleagues and equipment manufacturers away from the bustling crowd at the booths. This year’s meeting will be held at Cine Central, which is located along the West wall of Central Hall. Watch for invitations coming to your email box soon!
Thanks to our sponsors who make events like this possible: Applied Entertainment and Sports, Sony, NFP, Taylor & Taylor, and Fujifilm
Upcoming PERG Events
PERG General Membership Meeting at NAB, April 20
AICP/PERG Cinco de Mayo Event, Los Angeles, April 29
PERG Rental House Breakfast at Cine Gear, June 6
Filmscape Chicago, June 27-28
PERG and the AICP are looking forward to once again bringing the New York production community together for an Oktoberfest-themed party on October 30 at ARRI Rental’s facility in Long Island City.
The annual event is a fantastic opportunity for people who do business together daily to actually see each other face to face, enjoy great food and drink, and nurture the personal relationships that make work a pleasure – leadership personnel and staff members from production, rental, and professional services companies from around the New York area and as far away as Boston and DC enjoy this event.
Please watch for invitations in your inbox and RSVP to attend. For photos from previous Oktoberfests, and other past PERG events, please visit our online archive.
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| Understand Your Legal Liability, June 2025 |
a) Claim against the equipment rental house:
i) Did the Rental House put a defective product out on rental?ii) Was the product defective when it left the Rental House’s possession?iii) Was the product used by the customer in a reasonably foreseeable manner?iv) Did a third party suffer harm because of the defective product? IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RENTAL HOUSE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE OWNER OF THE DEFECTIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
b) Claim against the production company:
i) Did the production company receive equipment in good working condition?ii) Did the equipment get damaged after it left the rental house?iii) Was the equipment misused by the production company?iv) Did the equipment damage or misuse of the equipment cause injury or damage to a third party?
a) Manufacturing or maintenance defectsb) Design defectsc) Failure to Warn or Instructd) Misuse/negligent use of equipment
a) There should be a rental terms and conditions agreement between the rental house and production, the rental house and sub-rental house(s), and the rental house and third-party owners.b) The terms and conditions agreement should at the very least contain the following provisions: risk of loss of the equipment, insurance requirements, indemnification provision, disclaimer of liability for production downtime, extra expense, production overages or consequential loss, inspection and testing and limited representations or warranties.c) The indemnification provision should require that the party responsible for placing defective equipment out on rental agree to indemnify and defend the innocent party.d) The rental terms and conditions and rental terms and conditions addendum needs to be signed by all parties.
a) When a summons and complaint is received and forwarded to an insurance carrier:
i) The claims adjuster will verify who is insured and coverage.ii) Depending on the fact pattern they might hire a cause and origin investigator.iii) Engage legal counsel.iv) Have the summons and complaint answered by counsel.v) Tender the claim to those carriers/parties legally or contractually liable to defend and settle the matter.
b) Clarification of any misconceptions:
i) A Third-Party Owner will not be covered by the rental house liability insurance policy for claims brought against their company for claims arising from defective equipment that they supplied for the rental. The rental house policyholder cannot extend the benefits of their policy to another individual or business to cover their negligence or failure to maintain the equipment.ii) It is possible for a rental house to be liable for injuries caused by a defective product even though that business did not own the defective product. The business is the deep pockets and the only company with liability insurance or assets.
a) Thorough product testing and maintenance procedures to ensure the safety of the product.b) Warning labels in conspicuous easy to see places on the product.c) Stay current on industry regulations and compliance standards.d) Maintain accurate procurement and maintenance records.e) Promptly address customer complaints and reports of defective products.f) Transfer of risk to a third party.
a) Agree to adhere to ESTA's Code of Conduct.b) Carry the appropriate insurance coverages.c) Offer product maintenance, repair and support.d) Are committed to the highest quality customer service.e) Keep up to date on the latest standards and regulations.f) Maintain commercial premises with regular business hours, inventory, and staff to assist you.
