Procam snaps up Take 2's camera rental business

The deal includes Take 2’s camera and grip inventory, the company’s camera and grip staff and the Take 2 brand. Sister company Take 2 Lighting is not part of the acquisition and will be rebranded.

It will give Procam a greater presence in the drama and features rental sector; Take 2’s credits include Stan Lee’s Lucky Man and The Tunnel, both for Sky, as well as the forthcoming series of Peaky Blinders for the BBC. Its film credits include The King’s Speech, The Imitation Game, and Paddington.

Procam added that deal was part of its efforts to expand in the US; in March last year it acquired Hot Cam New York, which has subsequently been rebranded Procam New York.

Procam group chief executive John Brennan said: “[Take 2] is a well-established brand and its highly-respected team now have the additional infrastructure and resources to move the company forward to the next stage, at home and abroad.

“Procam has successfully taken root in New York, and following the recent extension of tax credits enabling cost-efficient filming in California, we’re looking at taking the Take 2 brand to the US west coast.”

Procam said there would be an “immediate” recruitment drive and that it would finance “substantial” investment in new camera equipment for Take 2, which currently includes Arri, Red, Sony and high-speed Phantom cameras as well as lenses, cranes, jibs, remote heads and dollies. Take 2 also operates a digital post production lab and grading suite.

Take 2 and True Lens Services, which was bought by Procam at the end of 2014, are now set to collaborate on the development of a new lens family supporting 4K, 6K and 8K high-resolution sensors for release at the end of the year, the company said.

Take 2 director Vince Wild added: “The acquisition by the Procam Group brings many advantages to Take 2 and our clients can rest assured it is very much business as usual.

“The combined knowledge of the two companies will benefit producers working in all genres of production. Across the group, they can access the widest range of cameras, lenses and production equipment in the rental market, as well as the latest and greatest technology as it is released.

“With features and TV dramas being shot in multiple locations throughout the UK, Procam’s regional presence is also of significant added value to Take 2’s clientele.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.