Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Wayne.
Camera Ambassador’s beginnings were humble and true. Owners Brandon Werlin and Erica Duffy uprooted themselves from San Francisco in June of 2013 and headed to Chicago. After conspiring with a small group of friends, they aimed to start a mixed media focus artist collective.
While pooling resources to launch the collective, and researching the equipment they would need to get started, they realized the price of renting equipment was far too expensive for people working on passion projects. After seeing the overinflated rentals market, the decision was made to purchase a RED camera rather than renting. After using the camera for the collective, they began casually renting the camera out to film makers in Chicago. Slowly, but surely, they acquired more camera equipment that they would rent out of their Roscoe Village home.
Eventually they saw an opening in the market, and that opening was the artists. With the belief that there is much great beauty to made in this world, there shouldn’t be needless gatekeepers. This led Werlin and Duffy to start a company that was focused on the creation of art and the passionate people behind the projects. It was the ultimate goal to get great equipment into the hands of those capable and brilliant minds who otherwise would be forced to user lesser quality tools, or go broke renting them.
Since then, we’ve held firm to that goal have contributed to the creation of a wealth of films and a business we can proudly stand behind with conviction.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Show me a smooth road to starting a business, and I’ll show you someone leaving out the gritty detail! In all seriousness, it has been an adventurous road. We’ve had highs and lows, just like every other business, but we’ve been very fortunate have built such a strong team that not only supports each other, but is consistently pushing the company forward.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Camera Ambassador – what should we know?
Camera Ambassador is a full-service Camera Rental house based in Chicago, Il. We specialize in renting the best camera equipment in the world. We are an arts focused company that is driven to help people create their passion by offering them the tools to get it done. We have some of the most competitive and artist friendly rates in the country and are always willing to help out with clients who have tight budgets, as many independent film makers often do. Additionally, we offer an additional world of customer service, working with clients on all levels of film making. We are often involved with pre-production, members of the film crew, as well as many other facets of film making.
At the end of the day, what sets us apart is that we are artists working with and for artists. When someone comes to Camera Ambassador to check out equipment, the transactional nature is just the tip of the iceberg. It is our goal to have every client feel like a part of our community, and to know that we are invested in their project and passions, not just their business. We want all film makers to feel welcome and at home, because that’s what Camera Ambassador is, a home for film makers.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The single most important characteristic for our success is community. The love of film, the love of film making, and the love of community is paramount to our success. As I mentioned, we didn’t start this business to become moguls in the film industry. We began this company because we saw that some of the most talented and driven people in the industry weren’t making the work that they dreamed of, and we weren’t either because access to the tools felt exclusive and too expensive.
Ultimately, we love creating, we love collaborating, and we love the fact that we get to see others make great things, and add something beautiful to this world. Most people don’t really think about what that world really means, community. They use it, but often overlook the fact that community broken down is “Common Unity.” When it’s all said and done, the common unity of people is what changes this world and makes it great, and we’re just trying to do our part!
Pricing:
- Arri Alexa Mini for $500/day
- Hawk C-Series Anamorphic Lenses for $675/day
- Kowa Prominar Anamorphic Lenses for $450/day
Contact Info:
- Address: 2425 W 14th St.,
Suite B - Website: www.CameraAmbassador.com
- Phone: 7737916522
- Email: rentals@cameraambassador.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameraambassador/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cameraambassadorrentals
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CamerAmbassador?lang=en
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/camera-ambassador-rentals-chicago
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
