We had the good fortune of connecting with Rolando Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rolando, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

My initial thought for starting Camera Kitchen Rentals was to provide a service that hasn’t been professionally established in this region of California. Most northern California productions have to pick up film equipment rentals in the bay area which is a two-hour venture from Sacramento on a good day. Another alternative is to source it themself from local independent filmmakers. This logistical nightmare is detrimental to many producers coming into this region to film any sort of project. There is not a single business in Sacramento that provides camera, lighting, grip or production supplies rentals. I’m here to change that.

In addition, we also felt there was a need for an educational component for upcoming filmmakers to benefit from workshops and events led by industry professionals to help build a pathway to the Bay area and Los Angeles film industries. We plan on organizing workshops with professionals that focus on cinematography, lighting, grip sound and many more film-related subjects.

My experience working for camera rental houses in Los Angeles such as Keslow Camera and Stray Angel Films for seven years has given me insider knowledge on how to serve the Sacramento film community best through a rental house.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

What sets Camera Kitchen apart from other rental houses is that we are uniquely positioned to service all of the Sacramento regions. We will provide the latest industry-standard camera equipment from camera manufacturers such Arri, Red, Sony and Panasonic. We will be punching way above our weight class and we can not wait to get started.

We got where we are today with the help and support of close friends and my partner Hilary Thompson. This rental house idea has been in incubators for years before gaining the amount of momentum we have today. While in the incubation process, we’ve had many challenges. One of the biggest challenges was finding the time to focus on building. This lack of dedication had obvious signs of becoming stagnant and becoming dis-attached. We overcome these challenges by continuously keeping each other in check and re-evaluating how we need to pivot. There was a point where I had to strategically deny work and create the time to build this new business. The biggest lesson that was taken away from this journey was needing the necessary ability to adapt and change.

I want people to take away from us that we are an incubation chamber that is designed to help filmmakers grow by providing educational workshops and the best equipment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Sacramento was recently declared by Forbes Magazine as the best city to live in California. I can completely agree with that statement and this comes from a person that travels a lot and frequently. There are numerous local coffee shops, very good restaurants and activities to do during the day and at night. The perfect day in Sacramento consists of waking up and going for a brisk morning run to the Tower Bridge and enjoying the river waterfront. Then walking over to my favorite coffee shop, Camellia Coffee roasters. I would then jump on an electric scooter head over to the Midtown market and shop around enough to gain an appetite. Soon after I would cruise over to Taqueria Maya’s and order the best Mexican food in town. After demolishing a plate full of tacos, I would head over to the Der Biergarten to enjoy authentic German brews. Next, I would end the day with an independent movie at the historic Tower Theater on Broadway blvd.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Along my journey, countless people and organizations have significantly impacted my trajectory as a professional, creative and personal. The individual that sticks out the most is Martin Ramirez. Martin and his family have been intertwined with my family for a long time. Our fathers were best friends and grew up in the same small rancho in Guanajuato, Mexico called Las Jicamas. However, since Martin was a little older and my family relocated from the city we grew up in, Greenfield California our connection didn’t begin to kindle until much later.

It wasn’t until Martin was working on a documentary that our paths finally crossed more than 15 years later. Ever since we worked together on his project, Martin has been a pillar of moral, professional and mentor support. Martin was one of the main reasons why I moved to Sacramento after working in Los Angeles. His drive and ability to network opened me up to operate in different capacities. These qualities helped me tremendously while operating my production company Polarlight Productions.  I’m grateful for the guidance, mentorship and friendship we continue to have.

Website: www.camerakitchenrentals.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/camerakitchenrentals?igshid=NmQ2ZmYxZjA=

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