Anyone got a line on a Z1, lighting, location manager/fixer in Istanbul?

Istanbul is the biggest centre of film, TV and Commercial production in Turkey, think LA in the USA, Toronto in Canada, so istanbul is for Turkey. There are loads of good rental houses and production companies there, but it's also a little like the wild west as companies go in and out of business very quickly and there are cowboy/fly by night operations there.

Another thing is you might find that people who have such kit are operators/lighting directors themselves and will rent themselves our as crew and bring the equipment along with them. My wife (Turkish herself) rented an XL1 from one company and basically had to hire a "technician" (who was basically little more than an intern) as well, though prices as they are in Turkey it wasn't much, and she had someone to carry the box and tripod!

You might try Filma-Cass (http://www.filmacass.com.tr) one old and established company - if they can't help you they probably can send you to someone who can.

Full disclosure, I haven't worked in Turkey for a couple of years, so I don't know how far HDV has penetrated, but I'm sure the kit is there. I know there's been a lot of investment in HDCAM kit there amongst the Prod Cos, but we'll see.

Lighting wise, in my experience Orion are a good company. (http://www.orionist.com/eng/)

Dylan, thanks indeed for the referrals. Will follow up with them.

Now, for one good location manager/fixer...

SB

I was in Cappodocia (middle of Turkey) earlier this year. I happened upon an Israeli film crew using two Z1s. Boy, were they (the cameras) beaten up! Looked as if they were 3 years old rather than 3 months, so beware rented equipment. The crew said the Z1 was the first cam to replace their trusted DVX100As, and they were delighted with them.

tom.

Ooh Cappadocia is one nice place...