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Here at Global we have used Calling All Crew every week, as we source freelance crews for various sporting and studio events in Sydney.  By knowing the strength of the personnel she has on her books, she has always offered appropriate crews for these events.
 
Maria Karambelas has always been contactable, reliable, pleasant and professional in her dealings with us.  
 
Many of the freelance people on her books ask that bookings be made directly with Maria, as this frees up their time to work (and not answer phone calls).  We keep in constant contact with Maria so she can check her people across our many jobs, ensuring people turn up on time every time.
 
Lisa Fenley
Resource Unit Administrator
Global Television PTY LTD
02 9886 33420407 277 088

Mark Bonnici
Outside Broadcast Manager
CUTTING EDGE
Brisbane - Sydney - Gold Coast, Australia
ph: + 61 7 3013 6222
fax: + 61 7 3013 6299

“If in doubt – call Maria.  She’ll get you sorted”

Candace McMillan
CUTTING EDGE - Outside Broadcast
Direct #02 9317 6607 / Mob# 0402 795 002 

Michael Healey
Senior Studio Cameraman

Re: Calling all Crew

To Whom It May Concern:

Need H.E.L.P then call C.A.C not N.R.M.A.

 As the senior cameraman at Channel Seven’s Martin Place news studios in Sydney I rely heavily on Maria’s company, Calling All Crew, and the service that she provides.

Our news studios at Seven are emtremely busy and rely heavily on a broad spectrum of freelance technicians. I quite often have up to twenty shifts per week that need to be covered by freelance cameramen. The ability to be able to access Maria’s website to view the availability of crew definitely makes my job easier. Being able to view crew availability, book crew and then receive fast, efficient confirmation by either phone or email is fantastic.

News production is quite often urgent and that’s exactly how Maria treats all of my bookings; with the utmost urgency, and for that I am extremely grateful. 

Channel Seven has also aired a number of outside broadcasts over the years, both locally and interstate. So whether it be The Melbourne Cup, The AFL Grand Final, Sunrise at Seaworld or Dreamworld , Maria has been able to contribute by providing highly-skilled cameramen Australia-wide, quickly and at most times with short notice.

 I have personally known Maria now for more than twenty years. Her passion for the Film and T.V industry remains as strong as ever. She has a great team who she values and works tirelessly for. She is an absolute delight and I will continue to make use of her services for as long as she decides to remain in the business.

Yours truly,
Michael Healey
Senior Studio Cameraman
7 News
Sydney

The help and support you as CALLING ALL CREW offer to my colleagues and I at Gearhouse Broadcast is invaluable. 

We really appreciate the way you take our crewing problems and swiftly turn them into solutions.

There is a reason you have survived running the Sydney Freelance open market for so long, there are so many occasions when I have looked to you for a position to fill and you have come straight back to me with a Freelancer that will fill the brief.

Second to this the people on your books tend to have the best manners and be the most responsive crew I deal with.  More times than not I will receive a follow up email from someone I know is on your books thanking me for the booking etc.  These little things don’t go unnoticed.

It’s a please to deal with you and your Crew Maria! 

Kind regards, 
Cheyne Fox 

Your PA/ Talent Wranglers were amazing!!! All of them brilliant, professional, calm and happy! Loved spending the day with them.

Rose was a complete stand out and took over getting the contestants in order, set up with paperwork and challenge attire... just a trooper!

All of them worked non stop and when we had a few quiet patches were asking for more work... they were really great.

Thank you for organising such an awesome team and I really hope to get them on board for more work asap.

Love,
Sky

 I have been using Calling all Crew for the past 14 years. My primary source of crew comes from CAC and as always, I get all the crew I need. For The OB Group, this is my ‘one stop shop’ for all my crewing needs. I highly recommend CAC and enjoy our long term relationship.

 Colin Rothenberg
Managing Director
OB Group
0412 619 757
www.obgroup.com.au

I have had the pleasure of dealing with Maria and Calling All Crew for almost 15 years. I have worked for a few different Television Broadcast companies during that time and have at times, heavily relied on Maria, and her knowledge of the industry and her crew.

I have always been incredibly happy with the crew recommended by Maria and I know that anyone that comes through CAC are professional in their approach to the job at hand.

I have formed very long lasting working relationships with many of Maria’s Crew, some of which we still engage on a regular basis today at Global Television as we did some 14 years ago.

I would have no hesitation in recommending CAC to anyone that needed Television crews in Australia.

Kind regards

Mandy Hexter

National Crewing Manager
Global Television P/L
02 9690 8071
www.globaltv.com.au

Where would we be without Maria and Calling All Crew?  We would not be in
Top Gear.  We'd be Totally Wild needing Rescue (by) Special Ops!

Maria is an indefatigable supporter of those in the television production
industry and, now with her trainee section, those who want to be in the
television production industry.  She knows what's going on, knows what will
work and always has a solution to a crewing dilemma.  

If you're looking for television work or seeking the right team to crew a
production call Maria at Calling All Crew.  She has Insight and you won't be
Lost!

Cheers Maria,

Pip


Pip Gordon
Production Services Manager
SBS Broadcast Operations
ph: (02) 9430 3624
m: 0417 064 402
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I would like to thank Calling All Crew and especially, Maria, for being such a supportive and proactive partner in our shoot requirements. Locating the right people for a 2 city shoot and also problem solving when it was not feasible for us to do so long distance from Hong Kong. I am glad I found them and am sure to use them again. Looking forward to a long and harmonious working relationship. I would like to add that I developed a personal & easy rapport with Maria that made my job so much easier :) Hope to meet Maria in person some day soon !

Tina Das Chowdhury
Sponsorship & Promotions Production Manager
Ad Sales
Turner Entertainment Networks Asia

 Channel Nine has been using Calling All Crew's service since it's inception in 1990.  A lot of our crew requirements come via the freelance network and Maria has a thorough understanding of what our needs and requirements are.  One of the standout qualities of CAC is the speedy response and the quality of the crew.

Maria is a god send. As the ATC’s coordinator and at most times PA to the AV and Broadcasting Department one of my core jobs is to roster the team for raceday productions and outside broadcast.

At times when I thought I have sent Maria the impossible task finding a cable hand or camera operator at the 11^th hour  (because someone has fallen ill, misadventure or simply where extra crew was requested with little or no notice)- Maria was able to work her magic.

Her unfaltering aptitude to pick the perfect person for the role in a unique industry is beyond impressive.  I have placed my trust in Maria and she was able to share her contacts with me.   I hope I have done her proud by facilitating the growth and development of one of her cable hands into a budding and promising camera operator.

Maria- The words “thank you” is just not enough.

Ly Tran

Broadcast & Audio Visual Coordinator

RedMax Entertainment has used the services of Calling All Crew for quite a few years.  

The reasons are simple – they always have the right answers, the right people and great SERVICE.  You just can’t ask for much more, but if you cap that off with their positive friendly attitude, then you can see why we have continually gone back to CAC year after year – and will continue to do so.”

Murray Lomax
executive producer

 
RedMax Entertainment Pty Ltd
PO Box 109 Chadstone Centre
Chadstone, Victoria  3148   AUSTRALIA
Ph:     61 (0)3 9888 1746
Web: www.redmax.com.au

 Thank you Calling All Crew for your great work with our shoot in Sydney. You were extremely responsive to our requests and the process was easy and streamline. I can’t thank you enough for all your help and hard work and I look forward to working with you again very soon.

Have a great day and thanks again.

Kind regards,

Dave

Shani Hatton
Supervising Production Manager
Gearhouse Broadcast
02 9313 3110

I have known Maria and her team at Calling All Crew for over 15 years.  She is an integral part of the Australian Film and Television Industry, and is passionate about what she does to the nth degree..

Having worked in both Commercial Television and independent productions, the skill of Maria to pick the right person for the right job is impeccable.  As a Production Manager, I like to source the best and most dependable crew and CAC help facilitate this every time. 

Maria’s continuing enthusiasm is refreshing, and her ongoing support for her ‘crew’ is heartfelt.  Her 24/7 dependability helps ease the stress of a last minute production change, which is the industry norm.    

I thank Maria and CAC for being such a great help, friendly, enthusiastic and easy to work with.  What would we do without you?

Shani Hatton

Dear Maria,
Just wanted to send you a big THANK YOU for the help you gave me today and also over all the past five or so years!!!! You really are the best! Thank you Thank you Thank you. The guys have been in contact with me and I will be meeting up with them next week. Yay!
Fabulous to have that load off my shoulders!
Cheers,
Sky

Sky Di Pietro
Production Manager
NETWORK MEDIA

The best place to find someone for your project is through a recommendation you trust. I can trust Maria to find me the best available person on the day. The service at Calling All Crew is impeccable. I just tell Maria what I want and she comes back to me with it all sorted. She doesn’t even groan when I move shoot dates on her over and over again. She still keeps up the friendly and efficient service.

Kelda Murray

SHOOTING STAR PICTURE COMPANY
www.shootingstar.com.au
Suite 60, Upper Deck
Jones Bay Wharf
Pyrmont NSW 2009        
Ph: (612) 9660 6969

Maria is always so pleasant and professional to deal with. Over the past 10 years Maria has gone above and beyond to help Big Picture find exceptional Crew members for corporate and Live Music events. We have been able to form long lasting relationships with Freelancer’s provided by Maria and will continue to use these services in the future.

Calling all crew always provide great professional crew, even on very short notice.

Calling all crew are an absolute asset to the industry and their services are highly recommended.  

Many thanks,

Big Picture Australia