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COMPANY FOCUS: PRO MOTION
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Pro Motion is a broadcast equipment hire company specialising in both HD & SD shooting kits and post production equipment. They have a wide client base ranging from new media companies right through to broadcasters. Set up a year ago by Duncan Martin and Miles Standish, former colleagues at one of London's largest hire companies, Pro Motion currently employs five people with plans to strengthen the team this year with some big signings.
What has been your biggest job so far?
An HD promotional shoot for McLaren at a test track in Valencia. We supplied them with two Sony F900 camcorders and a wide range of prime and long lenses. The shoot went extremely well, which was down to careful preparation of the equipment as well as meaningful interaction with the client from the start to finish. As a company we are very keen to be at the forefront of this type of work, as it fits our profile extremely well.
How has the nature of your business changed over the years?
In recent months we have seen an increasing demand for HD kit, including cameras and post production equipment. Companies have just started to embrace the technology and, dare I say it, even get a bit excited by it! Consequently the demand has started to reduce the rental costs for them.
What makes your company different from the competition? How do you maintain your edge?
In one word: service. We pride ourselves on being approachable and helpful and are building our business on the back of this. Recently we hosted a workshop with one of our clients to bring them up to speed on the Sony DSR 450wsp camera, which enabled them to do a two-camera shoot for the Queens 80th birthday celebrations.
In your time trading, what have been the most significant industry changes you have witnessed?
Definitely the progression from standard- to high-definition acquisition and edit. Increasingly we're finding ourselves in an advisory position in situations like a production company's first HD shoot or a facility's first HD edit.
What potential industry developments of the next 12-24 months are of most concern to you?
We are certainly following the progression of tapeless technology and monitoring its uptake. Whether that becomes another avenue we look to go down or not remains to be seen.
What does technology mean to your business?
Everything. Its development is one of the fundamental reasons that companies hire equipment: they don't want the financial burden of a new piece of kit until it is a proven format or until they have enough demand to buy it themselves.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would offer to someone starting up in your line of business today?
In the hire industry, you just can't have every bit of kit, subsequently you can't do every hire. As with all businesses if you treat your clients and your peers with respect you won't go far wrong.
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