COMMITMENT TO A GREENER FUTURE If companies take proactive steps to adopt sustainable approaches—from innovations through to lifestyle choices—they will help create an eco-friendly industry, says VMI’s Barry Bassett. Let’s face it, we all hate companies who are guilty of greenwashing and can easily tell when they pretend that they are acting in a responsible, … Read more
VMI TV has been honoured with the West London Business SME Green Business of the Year award at the prestigious awards ceremony in Twickenham on 29 January 2025. This accolade, in the inaugural year of the category, recognises VMI’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and industry-wide environmental leadership. VMI’s sustainability journey was inspired by the Better Futures programme with … Read more
VMI has completed its third Carbon audit, which confirms that CO2 emissions have reduced for a 3rd year and are now at half of 2019 levels, two full years ahead of schedule from 213T CO2e to 121.4T CO2e, a reduction of 48.12% compared to the 2019 baseline and a 43% saving from 2021. Upon completion, VMI surveyed … Read more
In a break from traditional lens comparison shoots, VMI invited 40 camera department professionals to come and see some new FF lenses and help to create a ‘real world’ comparison video by taking part in a comparative shoot event, held in early March 2023. VMI provided actors, a 1st AC, grip and shooting kit with … Read more
GREEN LIGHT The UK declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is committed to reaching Net Zero by 2050. Crew members, studios, and rental companies discuss what is being done to reach that target in the film and TV industry. In 2011, BAFTA founded an initiative called albert to support the film and TV industry … Read more
VMI’s new in-person workshops allow visitors to get hands on with equipment and to talk about it underlines the value of in-person events. The team had a good reception to May’s Lighting Workshop held at West London College’s Studio in Ealing. The sold-out event was the first in a series that VMI is hosting to spread … Read more
MOVING WITH THE MARKET A selection of UK rental houses share perspectives on the ever-evolving sector, from the peak in activity following the production void through to popular gear, training, and encouraging new entrants to the industry. Much as the events of 2021 have hinted that there might be such a thing as too much … Read more
Ealing Business Pioneers grant to help fund running in-person courses to spread awareness of the benefits and advantages of the latest LED lighting technology. The grant will be used to promote high efficiency lighting technologies which can help to reduce power and energy toward climate sustainability goals. With this award VMI is launching a series … Read more
VMI have won two prestigious awards at the West London Business Awards. It is named Park Royal Business Company of the Year 2022 while MD Barry Bassett has won West London Business Leader of the Year. West London Business is the voice of business in North-West London, covering seven local authority areas. Its members commit to raise the … Read more
Barry Bassett, VMI’s managing director, released the following statement: “It is hard today for new entrants to enter the television production industry, since all of the major broadcasters’ traditional training programmes have been disbanded which used to train youngsters joining their ranks and turn them into camera operators, editors and producers. Mindful of this, we started the ‘internship’ scheme more than 10 years ago, to … Read more
Camera rental company VMI.TV has been crowned winner of the Heroes of Net Zero competition yesterday at a special awards ceremony hosted by Intuit at the COP26 international climate change summit in Glasgow. More than 160 businesses entered the competition, making a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2030, 20 years … Read more
Having pledged to commit to net zero emissions by 2030 on the Government Business Climate Hub back in June 2021, the Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy were so impressed with VMI’s climate reduction measures, that they have been shortlisted for the ‘Hero of Net Zero’ award to be presented at the COP26 … Read more
Tungsten is the most traditional form of TV/Film lighting still in use today, having replaced expensive and dangerous Carbon Arc fittings. In reality though, tungsten lighting fixtures ought to be called lighting heaters, since 96% of the energy used is output as heat, leaving only 4% to produce light. This makes them immensely inefficient and … Read more
VMI is starting to look at all aspects of the business processes and supplier LeMark suggested that their new gaffer tape was more environmentally friendly than the regular type. They advise that this new ‘environmentally focussed’ version is produced using an energy efficient manufacturing process to produce a high performance, professional matt gaffer tape which … Read more
This story has been shared with permission from VMI. – New British indie feature Tyger has finished filming with a Canon C500 II and SIGMA Classic Primes, a combination picked to enhance the emotional impact of an ex-soldier’s internal conflict. “SIGMA’s Classic Primes have a genuine ‘vintage’ quality which is rare in new lenses,” explains co-producer Robert Shannon. “You get … Read more
VMI has a new head of cameras starting this week on VMI’s camera floor in Acton, West London. Rosario is extremely well known in the industry, having worked during the past 30 years in such illustrious companies as Samuelsons, where he started his career, then later ARRI Media, Panavision and Take 2. Rosario joined VMI … Read more
More than 200 young hopefuls who initially lodged their interest in the new Camera Tech Apprenticeship programme, reduced in number to 100 after the first sift, 56 at the second sift and just 42 were invited to the activity and selection day event hosted at the London Screen Academy on Wednesday 21 July. In the … Read more
After several false starts, the Apprenticeship Standard Application Process is now formally open for applications and will close sometime in May 2021. Any companies wishing to signify their interest in taking on Camera Tech apprenticeships in August or any individuals wishing to be considered as a potential apprenticeship candidate, should register their interest with the … Read more
Back in 2019, VMI managing director, Barry Bassett, contacted the TV industry body ScreenSkills to investigate whether it might be possible to set up a formal apprenticeship standard for UK camera rental companies. The idea was that this programme would include a high level of training to enable school leavers to enter the industry and … Read more
The film and TV industry is a Catch-22 for many aspiring filmmakers but the challenges double for anyone wanting to break into the business from an underprivileged background. How can you attract the attention of producers, commissioners and agents without an initial credit or a leg up from film school? Closing that gap has been … Read more