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As I sat down to write this month's introduction piece I found myself feeling lonely as Bob and Linda were out of the country at IBC and then off to London on business, while Tyler and Pam were getting ready to leave for CineGear in New York. We all have a good time here and I realize that we must travel for business but I miss the fun times when they are absent. We are all blessed in that we love what we do and have a lot of fun doing it. I trust that our enthusiasm and passion is reflected in the quality of our products and the service that we provide.  We know that you have choices and very much appreciate your choosing Matthews for your equipment needs. |
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MSE Plays to Packed Houses at Two Big Trade Shows
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 IBC was amazing! There were over 50-thousand attendees...and boy, did that make for a crowded booth! AIRSTAR helped us garner attention with a special Matthews logo balloon. And, people couldn't get enough of MAX as he flew over the hall using the new K-Stacker loaded with two KinoFlo 4'x4' banks.
We saw many satisfied customers - and made a lot of new friends. In fact, we left most of our Expo stock in Europe as dealers, rental houses and end users all wanted to have the newest from MSE. We even left MAX behind in Amsterdam. He was adopted by STAM Lighting, one of the area's best-equipped rental houses. (Which carries over 90% Matthews by the way!)
A lot of the buzz during IBC was 3D, of course. However, everyone that stopped by to see us - new and old customers alike - had just about the same thing to say - "Without a well-produced product to transmit and deliver those video screens, 2D or 3D products are just very expensive paper weights!"
The New York Production community brought their energy to the first, and probably Bi-Annual, CineGear Expo NYC. Julianne and Karl, the forces behind CineGear, did themselves proud on this maiden voyage. There was a lot of new and interesting equipment to generate the buzz.
And, of course, Matthews was right there with their newest and best. We premiered the DC-Slider to the East Coast crowd. And even brought its new bigger brother, the Heavy Duty (HD) DC-Slider out for a show. Also new to the Matthews family - the cool Skyscraper stands. People kept looking up and up and up at these high rising, high weight-capacity, low loading, lightweight cranking stands.
What made CineGear so interesting was the combination of attendees. We talked to everyone from high-powered DPs and production technicians to local rental houes and production studio facilities. That showed us we were in the right place and the right time. And, you can be sure, in two years, when CineGear Expo NYC returns - Matthews will be there, with something new and different - of course! |
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 In 1983, Carlos Congote decided it was time to centralize movie production support in Bogota, Columbia. The film industry was growing and shooters needed to be able to get their hands on the best tools available - and know they would have personal support as well. Since then, Congo Films has become the sales and rental house for not only the local Columbia filmmaking community but also for major productions that have come to take advantage of the variety of landscape the country has to offer. "We pride ourselves on having everything needed, whether it's for a television show, University, independent producer or major feature," says Congote. "In addition to commonly used gear, we offer unique items from Milo Motion Control to anamorphic lenses and even Tyler Camera Systems, not to mention an array of lighting. And, of course, everything is supported by Matthews Studio Equipment," he adds.
"I first learned about Matthews when I was a student at Brooks Institute of Photography, in Santa Barbara," Congote recalls. "As Congo Films expanded into the market and began supplying larger clients and local production as well, there was no question. Matthews would best serve our people."
According to Congote and sales manager Judith Roa, it's 100% MSE all the way. 'The MSE products are unique," says Roa. "We see inventiveness and awareness of what the professional gaffers, key grip, lighting technicians, and so forth need. This is why the users can feel that someone things about them and the challenges of their job."
 "We average at least 12 rentals a day and 100% of them go out with MSE equipment," adds Congote. "Just about every single sale we make goes with MSE Grip," adds Roa.
With a potential market of 48 million people in the country , and major Hollywood productions coming in like Mental, a production from Fox Telecolombia and Los Caballeros las Prefieren Brutas from Sony, Congo fillms is really busy with big ticket shows. "And with the growing educational market as well," adds Carlos. "We just put together a large Matthews package for the Javeriana University, that made a great effort to give the students the best tools. It never stops. Thank heaven."
While Congo Films has everything from MSE dollies, booms, clamps and the other "little things" so key to a smooth production, MAX is also a key player for them. "Our customers ask for MAX mainly because of the safety that it provides in extreme shootings," Congote adds. "But, what we really can't do without or even keep in the house is their Tripod MT-1. It's widely used with a motion control head for the most interesting projects. A lot of our productions use it for special effects.
"Let's face, it, business would become msot difficult to handle without MSE around. We can't wait for the next new product they come up wtih to keep our production community on the cutting edge," says Congote. |
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DC-Slider's slid over the lava fields of Hawaii, danced up and around studios in Boston and Chicago, and provided smooth camera movement for everything from corporate and educational videos to major television productions. That's because people have learned that this unique, precision counter-balanced, multi-function, multi-angled camera platform gives the shooter smooth horizontal movement and functions as a mini-jib and a six-foot tower and more for cameras up to 22 pounts (10kg).
Well, we'd like to let you know, DC-Slider has been working out! Still a great multi-functional camera support, beefed up HD DC-Slider is ready for ALEXA and any of the other "Big Boys" out there.
Check out HD DC-Slider - It'll make your bigger shots better, more dynamic, and a lot easier to accomplish! |
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ROLLER STANDS...
Hi Stands, High Stands, Overhead Stands, Mombo Stands, Roller Stands are all pretty similar with one obvious difference...wheels (casters). In the old days very few Overhead Stands had wheels and the Grips would muscle these things around. The stands that did have wheels used a removable base that required assembly on set and were cumbersome to transport. The Matthews design has been copied by other manufacturers, but has become the standard for the past 30+years. Then, the industry wanted to get higher with the overheads and Butterflies and so the stands got bigger, hence the Mombo Stand - that's what it looked like when trying to reposition it, dancing the mambo.
The casters or wheels do add a convenient method for moving the Overheads around but are not preferred by everyone, as some Grips want a more stable non-movable base. All Matthews Overhead Stands, whether with or without wheels, use a heavy wall .120 tube at the top riser for strength and, if they come with casters, those casters are the very best that money can buy and made in Germany. They are non-marking and extremely durable...Anyone care to Mambo?
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