Equipment

Film and Video Studies students have access to a variety of cameras, lighting and sound equipment to fit a variety of projects and bring their stories to the screen.

Equipment Cage

The Film and Video Studies Equipment Cage is located in the Art & Design Building, Room AB 1008.

The Equipment Cage provides faculty and students in the Film and Video Studies program with camera, lighting, and sound equipment rentals for use both inside the classroom and outside with student productions both on and off campus.

The Cage is also a resource where students can come to learn, practice, and train on the same production equipment used by professionals around the world. Its processes reflect those of a professional rental house, and it is staffed by students under the supervision of working professionals that provide peer-to-peer support in preparing their all-student filmmakers for production.

Eligibility: Students must be working on an assignment in an approved Film and Video Studies production course OR must be working on supervised research assignments by a member of the Film and Video Studies faculty.

Student Employment: Students interested in Film and Video production from around the University are welcome to apply for a role in our equipment cage. Hiring typically occurs at the beginning of a semester and is aimed at filling shifts that are unable to be staffed by current student staff. We are always looking for students with a variety of experiences and backgrounds that are interested in supporting their peers first and foremost. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to email filmcage@gmu.edu for more information.

Contact

The Equipment Cage is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday. 

Additional training, consultation and support from the professional technical staff is always available by appointment. Please email filmcage@gmu.edu to schedule.

For all equipment reservations, and to confirm availability, please contact us at:

Email: filmcage@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-3907
 

Reservations

The Equipment Cage operates by appointment on a first-come, first-served rental system.

In order to best support every student, equipment reservations are required to be submitted in advance. We encourage all students to reserve equipment as early in advance as possible, but All reservations are required no less than 24 hours in advance. 

Equipment quantities and availability will vary. Certain restrictions may be placed on equipment of a certain value, or based on limitations of inventory. 

A full list of production equipment, along with all the necessary paperwork required to submit a request, can be found on Canvas > Courses > Film and Video Studies Majors Undergraduate > Modules > Equipment Cage.

If you have any questions, please see a member of the Equipment Cage Staff.

Equipment Policies

• Student Borrowers must be enrolled in a FAVS production course and completing a required assignment of a FAVS class. OR working in the capacity as a research assistant working under the supervision of a member of the FAVS faculty, must be conducting an approved research project supervised a member of the FAVS faculty, or they must be completing work on behalf of / or in support of the FAVS department and supervised by a member of the FAVS staff.
• Students enrolled in Senior Project (FAVS 499) receive priority for equipment checkout.
• All requests are on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Equipment must be properly checked and tested before being checked out and upon return.
• Borrower accepts responsibility for safe, timely, and undamaged return of equipment. They are also responsible for the replacement and/or repair of damaged equipment.
• Borrower is responsible for scheduling pick up/drop off times with the Film and Video Studies Student Assistants.
• Failure to return equipment may result in action by the Dean of Students or the University Police. Borrowers will be responsible for any legal fees and costs associated with such action.
• Email to request equipment or arrange in person at the Film and Video Studies Equipment Checkout Cage.

Late / Damage Fees

Equipment not returned on time without prior notice, will be assessed a late fee of $5/hour for every hour the cage is open.

Equipment that is damaged, lost, stolen, or is returned in an usable condition may be assessed a Damage Fee. The fee is based on replacement or repair value of the item and may be assessed up to the insurance deductible of $1000. 

Additional Resources

Campus Resources
STAR lab
Student Video Center
For those enrolled in a COMM production class, equipment may be checked out from the Student Video Center. Video equipment is also available through the STAR Lab, for those who are not eligible for or when equipment checkout is not available through Film at George Mason or COMM. Please contact them directly for available equipment and reservations.

Local Rental Houses
DC Camera
Red Star DC (Camera and Lighting Rental)
https://www.seriousgrip.com

Online / Peer- to Peer Rentals
https://www.borrowlenses.com
https://magnanimousrentals.com
https://www.sharegrid.com/dcbaltimore/rent
https://kitsplit.com

Other Vendors
https://barbizon.com (G&E Expendables)
https://insuremyequipment.com
https://colorlab.com

Student Discount Programs
https://www.filmtools.com/more/student-store.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/eduAdvantage.jsp
https://www.adorama.com/g/edu