Steven Poster ASC reminisces about trade events he has attended, learning and being inspired along the way, and looks ahead to one of his highlights in the industry calendar, Cine Gear Expo. 

Many years ago, in a far-off land called Chicago, in the cold of winter, I was a young man who was struggling to establish a career when a friend invited me to a convention called PMA, Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show. He told me that I could see every new camera and lens that had been invented over the last year in the basement of the Conrad Hilton Hotel and especially every new accessory. My friend told me I could meet the people who sell this equipment and even some who invented the tools we were about to learn how to use. 

Walking the aisles of the show, I was like a cartoon character kid with stars in my eyes. And then I came to a small booth with a man and woman standing behind the counter. It was Nat and Helen Tiffen. At that moment we somehow connected on a very familiar level. Nat and Helen treated me like one of their son’s and I became family, and a devoted Tiffen customer.  

That relationship has lasted even after Nat and Helen left us. And Steve Tiffen took over as the steward of a company that has expanded to seven product lines, not limited to filter and image manipulation. They are even the manufacturer of the entire Steadicam system and continuing to help the inventor and developer of Steadicam, Garrett Brown, with all of the many models and brilliant accessories like the Volt stabilizer. They finally received a Scientific and Technical Oscar recently for the development of that tool and for the continuing work Garrett Brown has done inventing and designing for the entire Steadicam line. Now Steve’s son, Andrew, is the leader of the company, carrying on as the third generation that has continued to put the best and most varied line of dramatic glass diffusion and effect filtration in front of our lenses to create the style and look of so many of our great cinematographers and the movies they make. 

Since that time, I became addicted to going to these equipment showcases all over the world. You can say that I am a fan of these kinds of events. So many developments and articles have come out of these showcases. For instance, in 2003 I had recently become President of the International Cinematographers Guild. At that time, you could almost taste the changes coming in new technology. So, I planned to go to IBC in Amsterdam and I got Board permission to take Michael Chambliss, our newly hired technology guru, with me to investigate what was coming. As we were walking through one of the halls at the RAI Convention Centre where the cinema technology was being exhibited, we passed by a mesh cage about the size of a small room with two small flying quadrupeds doing coordinated dances in the air. The movements were so sharp and consistent that Michael and I looked to each other and both had the same thought, “They are going to put cameras on these things?” 

When we got home, Michael and I started lobbying for Union jurisdiction for these cute little flying toys. Little did we know at the time that it would take over 12 years to secure the jurisdiction for our members in Local 600. We went into a long and bitter arbitration to make all the studios understand that this was camera’s work. Our Union finally succeeded last year in securing that jurisdiction for our members. 

Gear galore 

Next we have Cine Gear Expo’s 2025 version of probably the largest and most successful tools and techniques exhibition. Like BSC Expo that you enjoy in the UK and Micro Salon in France, Cine Gear is a family affair. Even though it grows ever year, there is still a warm and friendly vibe of seeing old friends and crew members you have worked with over the years. Last year the Expo was over 16,000 visitors strong.  

This year, the expanded show will take place at Universal Studios on The New York Back Lot and Courthouse Square outside, and inside on four stages. There are already over 250 exhibitors and that number is growing every day. 

The ASC and ICG local 600 have events and presentations all weekend. The I.A.T.S.E. and all the craft locals participate. There are big barbecues and after parties and always too many people to see. 

Since 1998, when the show was officially launched as Cine Gear Expo, many of us have watched and participated in its growth in size and relevance until it has become the event of the season. It has remained an important weekend in many of our lives. 

Can you tell that I’m looking forward to the Expo this year? It signals the kickoff of the summer season. And there is no season I like better than summer!