Showrunnr and Set Logic are transforming the equipment planning process with a solution offering department heads a smarter way to manage kit.
Configuring production equipment orders correctly, tracking changes, and securing accurate quotes was never simple — and it’s only grown harder as equipment grows more complex and budgets compress. Relying on static, isolated tools risks costly delays when things change.
Lighting is particularly challenging. On major shows, crews can number over a hundred, with thousands of lighting fixtures in play.
“These are the puzzles that keep me up at night,” says Len Levine, the veteran gaffer known for his work on the Avatar sequels: The Way of Water, and the upcoming Fire and Ash.
That challenge inspired Levine and cinematographer/gaffer Mark Farney (Free Guy, Old, Destroyer) to create Set Logic — a nextgen solution that gives department heads a smarter way to manage equipment. Drawing on decades of experience, the application digitises lighting orders for clarity, accuracy, speed, and shareability.
“It’s our job to translate the director’s and cinematographer’s vision into reality, but the process hasn’t always kept pace with the speed of production,” Levine explains. “We built Set Logic so that small cues on wattage and mounting specs instantly inform stand, hardware, cable, and generator needs—making the gear list faster, more accurate, and more appropriate. With a full accessory library and customisable units, there’s really nothing else like it.”
With Set Logic, gaffers, best boys, and DPs can map kit requirements in real time — complete with versions and shareable layouts — reducing emails and phone calls.
Connected planning
While Levine and Farney were building Set Logic to tackle equipment challenges, a Santa Monica–based team was scaling Showrunnr — a comprehensive production planning platform already trusted by leading studios and suppliers. Founded by Sean Cooney (Warner Bros., Legendary, Netflix), AFI-trained filmmaker and entrepreneur Pia Saengswang, and product leader Manu Warikoo (MediaOcean), Showrunnr closes the gap between planning and execution by connecting productions directly to crews, suppliers, and services that bring them to life.
Now, through an exclusive partnership with Set Logic, Showrunnr is bringing equipment rental into the connected future of planning and procurement.
“Too often, we have to re-type the same details into different systems — duplication that slows everyone down,” says Cooney. “With Showrunnr and Set Logic, those silos start to come down. For the first time, productions can plan with real-time access to crew, equipment, and vendors they need — in a connected workflow that frees people to create.”
The partnership was catalysed by The MBS Group, one of the world’s largest stage and equipment providers. “It was obvious these two systems belonged together,” says Jason Hariton (Paramount, Universal, Netflix) now MBS chief studio and real estate strategy officer. “By aligning Set Logic with Showrunnr’s planning environment, you get a workflow broader than either tool alone.”
“The dream is connected planning,” adds Cooney. “We’re excited to see the transformative benefits of bringing productions, crews, and suppliers together with less time lost to paperwork.”
Feedback from gaffers, manufacturers, and suppliers has been strong — including members of the ASC, Gaffers Salon, ICLS, and Asociación Mexicana de Cinematografía (AMC)
“Production is changing faster than ever,” says Saengswang. “Global teams and tighter budgets make staying ahead harder than ever. Together, Showrunnr and Set Logic connect talent and technology to help drive storytelling forward.”
Looking forward, both teams see this as the start of something bigger. Equipment is only part of the puzzle. Production teams all rely on coordination. By tying Set Logic’s focus into Showrunnr’s larger ecosystem, the companies aim to create a platform where department heads spend less time chasing paperwork and more bringing stories to life.
And for cinematographers, gaffers, and best boys, the promise is simple: fewer emails, fewer double-booked lamps, and more time doing what they do best.
Words: Adrian Pennington
