Cinelease

What Cinelease does

Cinelease is the leading US provider of lighting and grip equipment rentals to film and television production companies, founded in 1977 in Hollywood, California and operating today as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zello following its August 2025 acquisition from Herc Rentals (Herc Holdings). The company's core service is renting lighting, grip, rigging, expendables, and customizable truck packages to productions, supplemented by a Cinelease Studios division that owns and manages purpose-built soundstages across the US (including a 70,000 sq ft facility at Caven Point in Jersey City, NJ) and a Cinelease Canada operation spanning Vancouver, Toronto, and Winnipeg. Cinelease holds exclusive North American rental rights to premium technologies including LRX Lighting's precision remote-control robotic systems and the Cineo Quantum120 high-output LED, and it offers a patented ModTruss rigging platform.

Revenue is generated through usage-based equipment rental fees and studio space bookings under quote-based pricing, with billing tied to project duration, location, and equipment mix. The customer base is concentrated in enterprise-tier film and television production — Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Disney, Peacock, FX, Showtime, Lionsgate — across a portfolio exceeding 50 named productions. In 2026 the company extended its scope with the launch of Cinelease Portables, a dedicated division providing on-site infrastructure (portable restrooms, location trailers, fencing, barricades, and site support) for film, TV, live events, and large-scale job sites. Cinelease distributes directly to productions through 10+ US states and three Canadian provinces, maintains founding-membership standing in industry coalitions (Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, Screen Alliance of New Jersey), and executes go-to-market through enterprise field sales, film-festival sponsorships, and partnerships with the American Society of Cinematographers and IATSE unions.

Name

Cinelease

Legal name

Cinelease LLC

Website

https://www.cinelease.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cinelease is a US-based equipment rental and studio operator founded in 1977, providing lighting, grip, rigging, expendables, and stage facilities to film and television production companies across North America. It holds exclusive rental rights to LRX and Cineo premium lighting technologies and serves major streamers and studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film & Television Production Equipment Rental

NAICS

Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532490), General Rental Centers (532310)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting & Power Rentals (Uplighting, Generators, Distribution) (HSACAFAE), Industrial Power & Energy Equipment Rental/Leasing (Generators, Light Towers, Compressors) (TLABAFAG)

Keywords

• Lighting equipment rental
• Grip equipment rental
• Film production services
• Studio space rental
• Rigging and expendables

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Cinelease generates revenue through renting lighting equipment, grip equipment, rigging solutions, expendables, and portable infrastructure to film and television production companies. Rental services include customizable truck packages for production transportation needs.
2. Studio Space Rental: Revenue from providing studio stages, offices, and support spaces for film and television productions through their Cinelease Studios division.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cinelease rents lighting and grip equipment to film and television productions, operating the largest US lighting rental inventory with all major manufactured brands and specialty items. The company complements equipment rental with ModTruss-based rigging, expendables sourcing, customizable truck packages, a network of owned-and-operated studio facilities (Cinelease Studios), studio management services, and an integrated Cinelease Portables division providing portable restrooms, trailers, fencing, and site support.

Product overview

Cinelease is a comprehensive film and entertainment production support platform offering a unified portfolio of equipment rentals and studio services. The core offering centers on lighting and grip equipment rentals—the company's foundation since 1977—with complementary rigging services using ModTruss systems, expendables sourcing, and truck package logistics. The platform extends through Cinelease Studios, a network of owned and operated studio facilities across North America (including locations in California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Canada), plus studio management services. The 2026 launch of Cinelease Portables added essential on-site infrastructure (restrooms, trailers, fencing, barricades) as an integrated division. Cinelease holds exclusive rental rights to premium lighting products including LRX robotic lighting systems and the Cineo Quantum120. The company operates as a single integrated platform providing production companies access to equipment, studios, and operational support through one trusted partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LRX Lighting: Large format robotic lighting systems; Cinelease is the exclusive carrier of LRX lighting known for precision remote control positioning.
• Cinelease Studios
• Cinelease Portables
• Cinelease Canada

Products and services

• Lighting & Grip Equipment Rental The company's foundational service since 1977, providing the largest lighting rental inventory in the US with all major manufactured brands and specialty items, serving film and television productions across North America.
• Rigging Services Rigging services built on ModTruss products that can be joined into any shape or configuration to make temporary and permanent structures, with a patented clover and bolt hole pattern that eliminates custom cutting and welding and is 100% reusable and reconfigurable after production.
• Expendables Sourcing and supply of hard-to-find expendable products serving all departments from Grip & Electric to Camera & Sound for film and television productions.
• Customizable Truck Packages Fully customizable truck packages tailored to production transportation needs, bundling lighting, grip, rigging, and expendables into mobile-ready loads.
• Cinelease Portables Dedicated division delivering essential on-site and location services for film, television, live events, and large-scale job sites, including portable restrooms, restroom and location trailers, fencing, barricades, plastics, and site support services.
• Cinelease Studios (Studio Space Rental) Network of owned and operated studio facilities across North America, including California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, and Canadian locations, providing stages, offices, and support spaces.
• Studio Management Services One Network Studios management providing studio bookings, scheduling, logistics, coordination, and day-to-day oversight for production companies in a flexible, cost-conscious environment.
• LRX Lighting (Exclusive Carrier) The industry's most advanced large-format robotic lighting system featuring precision remote control positioning technology that creates safer sets and easy-to-replicate dynamic setups, available exclusively through Cinelease in North America.
• Cineo Quantum120 (Exclusive Rental) Cineo and Cinelease co-branded brightest soft source LED light in the world, delivering 1,200 watts, 75,000 lumens, 96 CRI, and color tuning from 2,700-6,000K, available exclusively through Cinelease for rental in North America and Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 Emmy nominated series with 56 nominations in 2016 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZellocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Zello acquired Cinelease to power the next era of global film and TV production. The transaction marks Zello's expansion into new equipment rental markets and aims to expand Cinelease's market presence across North America.
• LRX LightingcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2022Exclusive carrier partnership for LRX Lighting, known for its precision remote control positioning technology. LRX creates safer sets and easy-to-replicate dynamic set ups through innovative balanced, remote control lighting systems.
• Cineo LightingcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive rental partnership for Cineo products including the Quantum120 (awarded Best of Show at IBC 2016), Quantum Studio, Quantum Ladder, Quantum II, and liquid-cooled Reflex R10.
• ModTrusscoreTechnology or IntegrationModTruss rigging products offered by Cinelease. Products feature patented clover and bolt hole pattern eliminating custom cutting and welding, 100% reusable and reconfigurable after production.
• Earth AngelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Earth Angel, a full-service sustainability agency dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of the entertainment industry. Announced April 2023.
• Herc Entertainment Services (Former Parent)minorOthersFormerly operated as part of Herc Holdings/Herc Rentals. Divested to Zello in August 2025 as Herc focused on general equipment rental following H&E acquisition.
• American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership including sponsorship of ASC Awards, ASC Open House events, ASC Student Heritage Awards, and various ASC workshops and educational programs.
• Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition (GSEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinelease is a founding member of GSEC. Gannon Murphy serves as General Manager and was elected Chair of the organization which represents all major Georgia film studios.
• Screen Alliance of New Jersey (SANJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinelease participates in SANJ with Gannon Murphy serving as President. The organization promotes New Jersey's film industry and tax credit programs.
• Sarah Jones Field Day / The Sarah Jones OpportunitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCinelease is a proud sponsor and supporter of safety on set initiatives and the Sarah Jones Opportunity internship program, in partnership with Netflix and other studios.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Panavision: Panavision is the most direct competitor to Cinelease, providing cameras, lenses, and lighting/grip rental to film and television productions globally. Both serve the same enterprise studios, streamers, and feature productions with overlapping equipment-rental and production-support offerings.
• ARRI Rental: ARRI Rental supplies camera, lighting, and grip equipment to feature films and high-end television worldwide. Comparable to Cinelease in serving premium scripted productions with high-end lighting technology and integrated production support.
• Keslow Camera: Keslow Camera provides camera, lighting, and grip rentals for film and television productions in the US. Directly comparable to Cinelease in serving major studios and streamers with a multi-location equipment-rental platform.
• Cinequipt: Cinequipt is a Minneapolis-based lighting, grip, and camera rental house serving film, television, and commercial productions. Comparable to Cinelease in offering project-based equipment rental with an emphasis on regional production hubs.
• Hollywood Lights: Hollywood Lights is a Pacific Northwest lighting and grip rental provider for film and television. Comparable to Cinelease in providing production-focused lighting/grip inventory and project delivery to regional productions.
• Hand-Held Films: Hand-Held Films specializes in camera and accessories rental for film and television productions, including lighting and grip support. Comparable to Cinelease as a specialty equipment rental house serving scripted and episodic content.

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): PRG is a global leader in event production with lighting, rigging, and video services for concerts, theater, and live events — and increasingly film. Broad incumbent with overlapping lighting and rigging inventory that competes with Cinelease in event-adjacent work.
• Solotech: Solotech is a major North American provider of audio, lighting, video, and rigging for live events and broadcast. Comparable to Cinelease as a large-scale lighting/rental platform serving adjacent entertainment and event markets.
• B&H Photo Video: B&H Photo Video is the dominant US retailer of photographic, lighting, and grip equipment. Adjacent incumbent to Cinelease — not a direct rental competitor — but its sales channel shapes production teams' equipment choices and competitive dynamics for new lighting technology.

Emerging players

• Quasar Science: Quasar Science is a manufacturer of professional LED lighting used on film and TV sets, often supplied via Cinelease and other rental houses. Comparable as an emerging technology player whose products Cinelease rents and which could eventually disintermediate parts of the rental value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinelease
• Instagraminstagram.com/cinelease
• Xx.com/cinelease_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/cinelease

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cinelease