PREMIERE LOS ANGELES PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT & CAMERA RENTALS FOR PROFESSIONAL FILMMAKERS

Ever since Jack Birns and Cliff Sawyer opened shop in Hollywood in 1954, filmmakers of every stripe from all over the world come to us for solutions to their creative desires and technical support needs.
Equipment rentals, sales, and optics manufacturing were the bedrock of Birns & Sawyer and it is still true to this day.  Building on the tradition of steadfast service and enduring customer relationships, we are proud and excited to now offer new products and services in the fields of broadcast and services in the fields of broadcast system integration. lens repair, and education with the same standard of excellence and attention to detail.
Employee-owned and staffed with knowledgeable and passionate individuals, many of whom are filmmakers themselves, there’s no denying that we are truly here to help you tell your story because we’ve been there ourselves.
With offices in the US, Canada and Asia, we believe in an inclusive approach to making the latest cinematic tools, services, and broadcast integration systems accessible with ease, efficiency, and reliability so that you are empowered to do your best visual storytelling, no matter the budget, format, or screen size. 
Today we exist for the filmmaker because we love films, we love making films, and we love helping others make their films a reality. We want to be a part of your production so you can be a part of our history.
 

 

Mari Acevedo

Shaping Birns and Sawyer New Narrative
In a pivotal moment in the company's history of 70 years, Mari led the transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2019, empowering the dedicated team that contributed to the company's success. The subsequent year marked another historic milestone as Mari Acevedo assumed the position of CEO, becoming the first female leader in the company's impressive 66th-year history. In 2023, she spearheaded Birns and Sawyer's initiative to lead a filmmaker grant, specifically aimed at supporting aspiring filmmakers from underserved communities. Her visionary leadership culminated in the successful launch of the inaugural FilAm Creative Film Festival, drawing thousands of attendees—an exceptional achievement for a first-year festival in the competitive Los Angeles landscape. Notably, Mari Acevedo stands as one of only two women CEOs owned business out of 87 rental houses in Southern California and she is the sole female AAPI leader among them. Under Mari's leadership, Birns & Sawyer embraced a new chapter, venturing into film production with its first feature film projects in 2024. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mari is a fierce advocate for gender balance in the film and entertainment industries. Her dedication to equality, manifested through outreach programs, networking initiatives, and advocacy efforts, is an inspiration to all. As Mari continues to shape the narrative of Birns & Sawyer and the industry at large, her unwavering commitment to innovation, diversity, and empowerment stands as a testament to her role as a transformative force in the world of filmmaking.