How to Rent in L.A.

[Jacobo Martinez]

Hi. I will travel to LA to cine gear but afterwards I have a 2 day shoot. I own a Red Epic dragon in NICARAGUA but costumes are so bad here that even to take the camera out the country becomes expensive because they tax you ( I already payed taxes when it arrived )!!! So my best bet is Renting in LA. The thing is that I have read in two places ( EVS RENTAL and Samy's Camera Rental ) that i need a deposit with my credit card for the full amount of the equipment! So that would meen that renting any profesional camera package i would need at least $50k credit card!! I have no insurance, doesn't exist here in Nicaragua.
So is there another good rental company in the LA area with more flexible Terms?
My second question would be if there is an option of insurance similar to rental car companies where you can get insurance for the days you rent it?
Third question is if there are other alternatives to rent other than traditional rental companies?

thanks in advance.

 

[Morgan Ryan]

There are a lot of DPs in LA that are owner/operator. The rates are very decent. You can start there.

 

[Jacobo Martinez]

Thanks. Does anyone have experience using SHAREGRID?

 

[Marcus Friedlander]

I've used sharegrid a bunch.

It's a great service for getting specific accessories, but I wouldn't recommend getting a whole camera package through there because you will be more limited on options. But if you have no other options then it'll be fine.

You would be better off going through one of the small camera rental houses in LA (if you google "camera rental house LA" a ton will come up.) and getting a short term production service insurance policy, that'll cover your two day production. Then, use that insurance policy to rent out your gear from a proper rental house.

With the right insurance, and the right rental house, you won't have to place a 100% deposit, maybe only a 10 or 25 percent deposit, plus it'll get you access to the gear you actually want instead of just what you can find.

 

[Michael Flotron]

Thanks. Does anyone have experience using SHAREGRID?

I've been using Sharegrid for about the past year or so both as an owner and a renter. I've generally had a good experience with it. As a renter, I would just be sure to take the time and do a full inspection of the gear when picking it up. I've encountered missing items before that were just forgotten in the case.

As far as insurance goes, they do have a couple different options for short-term rental insurance that would absolutely apply to your situation. It doesn't require a CC deposit.

#shamelessplug I have my Epic-W and a basic accessory kit listed there if you're interested. ( https://losangeles.sharegrid.com/en/people/locomotionpictures ) There are many other users here listing there as well with great packages/prices.

 

[Michael Hastings]

Jacob:
I'm located in Florida but will be attending Cinegear. I have a Scarlet-W package that I could bring to cinegear and rent you at a good rate and I'm sure we could work out a way to do the insurance. There are insurance places that do daily insurance and/or I have insurance that I may be able to get you covered under. I will be flying out from LA on Tuesday after cinegear but I have a brother and several nieces and nephews in Manhattan Beach that you could return it to or you could leave it with the rental house I work with in Miami if you happen to be going back through MIA. The rental house is in the same block as the RED Miami Store.

I am also supposed to be getting my Epic-W next week so that is a possibility as well.

 

[Jason beaumont]

Your best bet is just highering a DP that owns a RED for the day. Even if you wanted to DP yourself I'm sure they wouldn't mind. I saw adds in rental forum for as low as 400$/ day in LA.