Introduction to Otto Nemenz International, Inc.

By Peter Caranicas
Only a handful of camera rental companies can claim to have done business with the motion picture industry’s top cinematographers and filmmakers. And only a few can boast of being in integral part of the Hollywood landscape for a quarter century.
Able to make both of those claims is Otto Nemenz International, Inc., now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Founded in 1979 by Otto Nemenz, the company has been involved in some of the most storied film projects of the past 25 years—not to mention TV shows, commercials and music videos.
The company—located at 870 N. Vine Street in Hollywood and surrounded by the giants of the motion picture and television industry—specializes in the rental and maintenance of over 175 film cameras and accessories. The inventory includes the ARRI 535 A&B systems, the ARRI SR 3 system in 16 mm/Super 16 mm format, and the newest addition, Moviecam Compact and Moviecam SL.
The company’s philosophy is to stay one step ahead of everyone else, keep up with the latest technology, and make the top equipment available to the top filmmakers. The facility itself, designed and built to high standards and specifications, handles all the repair, maintenance, design and rental of its extensive inventory. Its customer service department, with its comprehensive knowledge of all types of camera equipment, provides customers with service that is universally praised.
And last but not least, Otto Nemenz International is known for the loyalty of its employees. A handful have been with the company from almost the very beginning, and about half—including technicians, supervisors and rental managers—have been around for a dozen years or more. “People like the way Otto runs the business,” one employee said recently. “He’s a tremendous administrator and a great human being.”