Miller Camera Support prepares to kick off its 60th anniversary celebration at the 2014 NAB Show (Booth C9520). The Australian-owned camera support equipment company will toast its success by commemorating its professional progression throughout the years in supplying the film and television industry with revolutionary high-end tripods and fluid heads.
“Since Miller’s launch 60 years prior, the company has delivered more than 100,000 tripods and fluid heads, acquired several patents, and won numerous awards for its exceptional quality and design,” says Gus Harilaou, Regional Manager for the Americas, Miller Camera Support, LLC. “At Miller, we strive to continuously improve the way in which cameramen capture imagery through our innovations. We look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary at NAB and cannot wait to see what the next 60 years has in store, as we continue to evolve with the changing times and influence the film and television industries with our solutions.”
A family-founded company, Miller skyrocketed into a globally recognized brand shortly after father Eric Miller and his son, Bob, developed and patented the first fluid action head in 1946, which they designed to create smooth pans and tilts when shooting film in the field. Since its inception in 1954, Miller has been a pioneer in camera technology, revolutionizing film and television by granting operators the freedom to shoot creatively and obtain shots once deemed unattainable. Less than one decade later, the Miller Fluid Head made headlines when the New York Times reported that the company was on the cusp of technological innovation. By 1958, Miller was exporting the heads worldwide, including the first tripod to Hollywood, and forever changing the landscape of cinematography.
To support the fluid heads, Miller also began manufacturing polished wooden tripods composed from a fine New Guinean hardwood that is known for its strength, fine grain and workability. Notorious for their resiliency and incredible functionality, there are still original wooden Miller tripods in existence today. With the release of the first portable video camera in the mid 1970s, Miller quickly transitioned from a company predominantly focused in the manufacturing of film fluid heads and tripods into one specializing in products for electronic news gathering (ENG). Throughout the years, Miller has supplied many major broadcast networks around the world with its Arrow system and, more recently, its Skyline system. Continuously expanding its outreach, Miller is also breaking ground into sports and feature film productions. Its systems are currently in use worldwide by more than 265 television networks across the globe, including the BBC, CBC Canada, CCTV China, NBC USA, and ABC Australia.
Key Milestones
1946 The world’s first fluid head patented
1954 Miller commence commercial operations in Clement St Factory, Rushcutters Bay
1958 Miller export the first tripod to Hollywood
1965 Light professional fluid head released, setting new standards for ENG
1980 30/50 fluid heads with counterbalance systems released
1992 DS 75mm fluid heads launched globally
1997 Arrow head range released
2003 Solo tripod series launched
2012 Skyline 70 range released
2013 Air released for DSLR users
2014 Cineline 70 released for feature films
Miller will be hosting a series of 60th anniversary celebrations worldwide throughout the year in major markets, including China, France, North America, the U.K. and Australia. Known to be the brand with “the right feel,” Miller will also be releasing new, limited special edition LP ’54 Classic tripods, built by hand as they were when first introduced, from remaining components left after the last production run of the Light Professional (LP), in celebration of its company’s 60th anniversary.
NAB attendees will be invited to collect their free Miller 60th Year anniversary camera plate locking key ring from Miller’s booth at NAB.
Please see Miller Tripods for more information about their 60th anniversary.