Visions of Light’s Joe Farris took a major risk last summer when he decided to buy how own camera package. He got a $150,000 loan with the Small Business Administration just before Thanksgiving to buy a Panasonic HD camera package he’s touting as the most complete cinema-style HD package in Chicago.
“People who do well take risks and this is my risk,” Farris said of his SBA loan-backed purchase. “I’ve always owned gear and kept trading it up to bigger and better systems. I want to make films with creative people and good stories and I feel you have to have the right equipment to do it.”
Farris’ target clientle is the independent film community. “We have everything you need for the camera department on an independent film. Our gear is in mint condition, and we provide a lot of the extras you might not get from a rental house without paying more,” he said.
The package consists of a Panasonic VariCam AJ-HDC27F camera with an on-camera HD monitor and a full complement of filters, accessories, lights and grip gear, which Farris delivers to the set.
Visions’ rental rates are $1,000/day for the basic camera package, and $2250/day which includes Farris as camera operator, the complete package, and Visions’ van.
Farris inaugurated the package recently when he shot the trailer for “Bobo’s Revenge,” the upcoming feature by director Piotr Uzarowicz, a public relations expert at Edelman Worldwide. Earlier, Farris shot Uzarowicz’ action short “Jack Slash” that’s still in editing. He usually always works with gaffer Jeremy Christen, who freelances at Total Living Network.
Farris, 23, started Visions of Light ? a name he admits he appropriated from the title of a documentary on great cinematographers ? after he was one of many laid off from Total Living Network in 2000. He learned electronic imaging and editing at the Technical Center of DuPage while he was in high school.
After he graduated, “I pounded on doors and said I wanted to work, and I got hired by John Moran’s CommuniCorp as an editor. I worked for John on and off while I freelanced as a cameraman on commercials and features,” Farris said.
After TLN, where he was an assistant lighting director, he went back to freelancing, which included a grip/electric stint on “Road to Perdition” and “Stolen Summer” and three months at Roscor as an Avis system integrator and trainer.
Last September, Farris shot a feature thriller, “Unaware,” in Galena for Florida-based writer/director Mark Selz. Regular clients include TeamWorks Media and Square D. Past clients have included the History Channel, Sears, Levi’s, Pax TV, and VH1.
Reach Farris at 630/306-8244 or info@visionsoflightinc.com. See www.visionsoflightinc.com. ? by Ed M. Koziarski, edk@homesickblues.com
