Panther (company)
The Panther GmbH is a film technology company headquartered in Oberhaching, Munich, professional camera cranes and dollies developed and produced. For the world's first ever built electro- mechanical camera dolly, the "Great Panther", the company's founder Erich Fitz won the Oscar in 1990 in the field of science and development.
History
The Panther GmbH was founded in 1986 by Erich Fitz and specialized in the manufacture, sale and distribution of film equipment. 1990 pulled the Panther GmbH together with its subsidiary HTG GmbH, which was founded in 1988, to Oberhaching near Munich.
In 1991, two more rental locations were opened in Prague and Hamburg. In 1999, Erich Fitz decided due to the strong expansion, to build its own building to house all areas of Panther and HTG. The new building was occupied in January 2001.
On the Cinec in Munich committed Panther 2008, the 25th anniversary of Panther dollies and presented the 1000th electro- mechanical dolly, which was built for the occasion in a golden version.
In 2010 developed the Panther Tristar and opened another Filmgeräteverleih, the " Panther Rental Berlin". A year later the family business Fitz precipitated a strategic decision and ended the rental shop because you no longer wanted to be with his clients in the competition. " Panther Rental Prague" was sold to ARRI. 2012 Panther Rental locations in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin were sold to a subsidiary of the Bavaria Studios & Production Services to implement the strategic decision of 2011 consistently.
Andreas Fitz, son of the founder Erich Fitz bought in 2012 by his family, the remaining company shares and thus became the sole shareholder. The company is now focused on the development and sales of dollies and cranes.
Products
The company produces film cranes, dollies, remote controlled pan and tilt devices for cameras, tripods and scaffolding systems for cameras.
Over the years, Panther has obtained rights for various products and in-house developments:
- Lieneare column guide
- Combi wheel
- Camera crane
- " Crab Steer " steering gear
- Folding Dolly
- Fluid Head
- Film lens
- Transport system for camera crane
- Pedestal
- High-Low Turnstile
- Dolly platform system
Panther Price
Since 1999, the company Panther GmbH awards at the " International Festival of Film Schools " in Munich, the " Panther Prize " for young talent. For a number of nominated short films, the jury of Panther seeks out the best film. At the award ceremony, the director of the film selected will receive a certificate and a voucher for a loan of original Panther devices for the next production.