Bend filmmaker’s invention gets ‘kickstart’

Three years ago, Bend resident Zeke Kamm decided that he wanted a camera jib, a system that acts as an arm for cameras and provides stable video and an appealing look.

He had a problem though: Most of the jibs on the market were too expensive and wouldn’t be able to fit on a plane.

Rather than wait around for someone else to make one, Kamm invented one.

“I wanted to basically scale down professional-quality gear that I had used when I was making films in Hollywood, but to work and be compact for the modern, smaller film cameras” said Kamm, CEO of Nice Industries.

“I know that I’ve wanted this product for three years — and nobody else made it,” Kamm said.

Once Kamm came up with his reinvented jib, he had one more problem. He needed money — money he didn’t have.

Rather than stop there, he put his idea on www.kickstarter.com, a Website devoted to helping entrepreneurs raise capital for their products.

People pledge a certain amount of money and in return get discounted goods from the company they pledged to.

Kickstarter has been in the headlines for months because of having users with ideas ranging from iPhone watches, to movies, to game consoles.

Some ideas raise millions of dollars. while others fall short of their goal. However, Kamm says he’s an optimist, and even thought his camera jib had the potential to raise up to $2 million.

When Kamm posted his jib, he asked for a mere $20,000. What he raised was a lot more. In a matter of weeks, his jib raised over $200,000 in pledges and got national attention when companies such as CNET and TechCrunch published articles about his camera accessory.

While Kamm’s jib is still in the prototype phase, he says that the jib should begin shipping to customers in August, barring unforeseen circumstances. Kamm says now that he has raised enough money, he also will be able to make more products which he already has in mind.

For more about his invention, visit: www.TheTravelJib.com or www.nice-industries.com