Visions of Light, Joe Farris’ equipment rental and crewing company in Carol Stream, has expanded into lighting and grip rentals, providing camera, lighting, grip, sound and crews under a single roof.
The expansion came about to give its mostly corporate and sports clientele “a more customized and complete inventory,” says Farris, a DP / gaffer for the past 20 years. “We’re a one-stop source for gear rental with a comprehensive inventory all under one roof.”
He estimates his inventory at $1 million.
The new lighting division offers two state-of-the-art van packages. Farris designed and built them on the new Ford Van Transit platform that provides the space needed for an extensive package in a smaller, more mobile, city-friendly vehicle.
The larger of the two packages, the new 2.5 ton Ford Transit 350, is preloaded with HMIs, Kino Flos, LEG and tungsten units. “It’s our equivalent to a 3-to n grip truck, with more of what you need and what you don’t,” says Farris. “The van is loaded with a 1,300-lb. cantilevered lift gate for easy loading and unloading.”
The compact Ford Transit 1.5-ton package includes grip, electric and a small tungsten package. “We designed it with plenty of open space to accommodate additional custom lighting, camera or audio packages.”
Vision of Light’s clients are “a good mix of everything all over the board as we don’t specialize. We might supply a large corporate shoot for United Airlines one day and one for Fox Sports or a commercial the next day,” says Farris.
Located in Carol Stream, Visions of Light is owned and operated by Farris and his wife, Megan Ferris, the company’s production manager. Phone, 630/306-8244.
