IN A LAND full of rental houses run by men, BiANCA HALPERN owns and operates, with her incredible staff, BECiNE – the only woman-owned camera rental house in Los Angeles.
We had the opportunity to sit down with the Brazil-born cinematographer-turned-business-owner to discuss plants in the workspace, being a woman (and mother) in film, and Opti-Glides.
Armed with ten years of experience in the industry, Bianca is no stranger to the “buddy-buddy” system that seems to operate the patriarchal film industry in Hollywood. It’s difficult for an emerging rental house to get the bigger contracts, as the bigger projects tend to stick with their pals at the established rental houses. Fortunately, times are changing rapidly, but not fast enough. There are a lot of newfound opportunities for certified Women Business Owners, but since Bianca is a visa-holder (not a citizen), she does not qualify for these opportunities.
Originally a cinematographer based in Brazil, she noticed early on that her male counterparts were always shooting with better lenses and better budgets overall. In 2017, she moved to the US and vowed to offer to other women-in-film the gear she wished she had, like being offered the opportunity to use great lenses and oftentimes sliding scale budgets for up-and-coming filmmakers.
“As a woman, you’re almost taught not to ask for favours. It can make you feel afraid to ask questions. I want to foster an environment where you can ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS without fear of feeling inferior. I want to create a safe space for all people. Not just women.”
On the BECiNE website, they proudly emphasize that over 50% of their staff is comprised of women and non-binary individuals (we love). When asked about this, Bianca simply states,
“I evolved with the times, but really I evolved with the people I work with.”
One of the more intriguing factors that BECiNE has to offer is its Childcare center located in the facility itself. After becoming a mother, Bianca realized how difficult it was to prep for shoots, or make films in general, with a child. It seemed nearly impossible. Many DP’s have to make a choice between their career and their family, and Bianca wanted to ease that dichotomy for not only herself but all parents in film that choose to work at BECiNE.
Bianca prides herself on her homey, warm space. She avoids the standard cold, corporate feel of rental houses in favour of an open-concept layout decorated with plants and places to sit and talk, maybe have a coffee. We also love.
Bianca was introduced to MYT in 2017, and says she wanted an Opti-Glide system before she even had any clients! Thankfully, dreams do come true, as long as you’re determined.
BECiNE houses two 24 “footer” Opti-Glides. When asked why she chose the 24-footer in such a large space, Bianca says she might want to have it as a double track soon. Exciting!
Bianca raves about the Opti-Glide, claiming the most valuable aspects are the system’s precision, the organization and cleanliness it offers, and the revolutionary options and configurations possible. “The hand crank and keyboard with the motor are the best features,” says Bianca. We think so too.
