Aliesha Staples (right) demonstrates the action needed to operate a gimballed camera to AWA Transmedia Studios camera operator and ideaschool graduate Floyd Pepper (left) and current screen production student Skylah Rewi.
EIT screen production graduate Aliesha Staples has developed and runs a successful niche business hiring out filming equipment, mainly to industry professionals.
Returning to New Zealand after more than five years overseas, Aliesha set up her own Auckland-based production company, Staples Productions. However, the venture has largely evolved into a rental business, supplying filming equipment and training people in its use.
Formerly from Taradale, the ex-Napier Girls’ High School student says hers is the only New Zealand company hiring out such specialised gear without an operator – “we will teach you how to use it and you can take it with you.”
With customer education an important part of the business, she holds free workshops – lessons using gimbals such as the Freefly MoVI, an innovative camera stablising gimbal relatively new to this country.
Working In South Africa for two years as a video editor and camera operator, Aliesha trained in the use of gimbals, which, she says, offer a new way of shooting.
“They really are redefining camera movement.”
A crossbar with bike-like handles supports the camera on a 3axis stabliser which can be handled by one or more operators and used as handheld or mounted on moving vehicles such as cars, drones, helicopters and other aircraft without sacrificing stability. The effect is fluid, as though the camera has been fixed on wheels or a dolly.
“Attaching camera systems to equipment such as a jib or tracking dolly takes time and man power whereas the Freefly MoVI is lightweight and easy to set up, which keeps costs down.”
Aliesha says a big part of her fell in love with the technology – “I’m a technology geek when it comes to this stuff.”
Researching the market before launching her business, she found that although she was an experienced operator, she wasn’t able to hire the gimbal system locally without having to hire the company’s own operator too.
“That’s an additional cost for anyone wanting to use the equipment. For me, it’s an increased risk hiring gimbals out without an operator but that hasn’t proved a problem. I’ve only had the expected issue of wear and tear.”
Aliesha had just turned 26 when she established Staples Productions.
“It was scary but I knew it could work because of my experience in South Africa and in USA.”
Her background also included three years working on the world’s biggest cruise ships, plying the coasts of South America, North America, Asia, South-East Asia, the Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia – “everywhere but Europe, doing all the company’s online videos and promotional videos”.
She missed family and friends while overseas and feels settled living back in her homeland.
“There are no safety issues here like those in South Africa and New Zealand has a film industry that has started to fight back from previously tough years.”
Aliesha, who completed her Diploma in Screen Production in 2007, recently returned to EIT’s ideaschool to hold a workshop for the students.
Programme coordinator Claire McCormick says her former student is one of many graduates who continue to give back to the two-year diploma programme.