DFW FILM COMMUNITY MEETUP
DFW Filmmaker Meetup with Cooke Optics at Shine Cine Camera Rental
A free afternoon gathering for cinematographers and film professionals in Dallas–Fort Worth — featuring lens demos, a live podcast conversation, lunch, and networking.
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Shine Cine Camera Rental, DFW Admission: Free — 60 spots only
A Gathering for Working Filmmakers
This isn't a sales event. It's a creative meetup built around the craft of lensing — designed for cinematographers, directors of photography, and film professionals across the Dallas–Fort Worth area who want to connect, learn, and get their hands on some serious glass.
Shine Cine Camera Rental and Cooke Optics — one of the most storied lens makers in cinema history — are coming together for an afternoon of honest conversation, hands-on demos, great food, and iced coffee.
Schedule — May 9, 2025
12:00 PM — Doors open 12:00–1:30 PM — Lunch served, demo time, and open networking 1:30–3:00 PM — Live podcast discussion and Q&A: the history and future of lensing, featuring Chris D'Anna, General Manager of Cooke Optics Burbank, in conversation with host Will Willer 3:00–4:00 PM — Final lens demos and networking
Featured Speakers
Chris D'Anna — General Manager, Cooke Optics Burbank Chris brings decades of industry knowledge to a candid conversation about where lensing has been and where it's going. The discussion closes with an open Q&A — submit your questions in advance if you'd like them addressed.
Will Willer — Shine Cine Camera Rental, Host and Moderator
Hands-On Lens Demos: Cooke Glass Including the Panchro 65/i Large Format Primes
Cooke is bringing choice lens sets for attendees to handle and test, including the brand-new Cooke Panchro 65/i large format primes. The lenses will be rigged to show the full image circle on a Fujifilm Eterna 55, courtesy of Texas Film Gear — giving cinematographers a real working look at large format performance in a no-pressure environment.
Reserve Your Spot — Free Admission, Limited to 60 Attendees
Space is capped at 100 people to keep the demo experience worthwhile. Admission is free, but registration is required.