About VMI
Download the 11 page VMI Facilities brochure (1.4MB).
Established in 1979, VMI are one of the success stories of the new generation of Digital facilities companies and are today a major supplier of HD Camcorder equipment in the UK. VMI specialise in supplying quality HD and broadcast camera and grip equipment for drama, feature and documentary productions.
VMI operate out of 3 London offices: the North London office is the main equipment prep area which includes camera test rooms; HD post production is located at West Digital in Shepherds Bush and the Soho office provides a cafe (called 16mm) and 16 seat HD screening room theatre and client hospitality area.
VMI also has a specialist HD film unit specifically set up to provide support for feature films. This department includes assessing film finance subsidies to part defer charges for camera hire, post production and screening facilities. Over the last 3 years, VMI have been involved in the production of more than 46 feature films and has taken an investment in several of these projects.
VMI was set-up in 1979 by the founder, Jeff Bassett as a company converting early Phillips VCR machines to run in long-play mode and evolved to be an HD camera rental house for documentaries, dramas a features over the next 25 years. Today it is run by Barry Bassett and Kevin Oaten.
VMI are also an environmentally aware company and has taken great strides to reduce its impact on the environment - see Environment
VMI, leading the way in HD.
Download the 11 page VMI Facilities brochure (1.4MB).
Barry Bassett
Barry Bassett. Managing Director of VMI; 20 years experience of Broadcast hire running VMI and managing key clients, projects and pretty much , “whatever else needs doing!” Barry delivers most of the VMI events and presentations, writes widely and has spoken at the Edinburgh Festival, Broadcast Live Show, HD Show and Production Show in London, the EMIT show in Frankfurt and many others besides.
Barry has a Maths degree from Keele University and an MBA from London Imperial College.
A passionate cyclist, film watcher, cricketer, chef and family man besides – "I am just pretty much passionate about everything – especially HD"
Kevin Oaten
Kevin Oaten, Operations Director of VMI with 25 years experience of Film and Broadcast Television. Kevin has held senior positions at ARRI GB and VFG before joining VMI as Operations Director in 2005. Trained at ARRI and Zeiss in Germany as a lens engineer, he has a considerable knowledge about lenses!
He has extensively rationalised the rental fleet and replace all of the flight cases to uniform aluminium and firmly put his stamp on the company.
A passionate drummer with a wicked acerbic wit, Kevin helps to keep all of the promises that the rental desk makes.
Jeff Bassett
Jeff Bassett founded the original company, Videomania Ltd in 1979 having pioneered converting Phillips VCR Machines to long play. The company was set up selling originally consumer video machines and then professional video machines before setting up the rental department in the late 1980s.
His hobbies included playing the accordion and also running. He retired in late 2007 and died suddenly on 20 February 2008 from Heart Disease leaving his loving wife and 2 children.
There is an electronic memorial site where well-wishers can read and post messages of remembrance.