Building a Reputation and a Company

When Ben Yee arrived at Xavier University, he wasn't planning on a career in the movie business. A theology major, Yee envisioned becoming a teacher. He took just two Electronic Media production classes while at Xavier — more out of curiosity than career planning — but those classes opened a door he never expected.

Nearly three decades later, filmmakers from across the country are knocking on the door of The Camera Department, the company Yee co-founded just six years after his college graduation.  

Headquartered in Cincinnati with an office in Northern Kentucky, and locations in Pittsburgh and Wilmington, NC, the business has earned a reputation as one of the Midwest's premier motion picture camera rental houses, supplying equipment for feature films, television series, commercials and streaming productions. 

“I met Ben when I came to Cincinnati in 2017 to shoot Emilio Estevez’s The Public,” recalled acclaimed cinematographer Juanmi  Azpiroz.

“His professionalism and knowledge of the business convinced me to source the gear locally, and we’ve been working together ever since.”

“Theology taught me critical thinking," Yee said. "I wouldn't change my major. If anything, I would have added another one. Those classes challenged me in ways that still help me today.”

Yee credits Xavier with giving him more than an education. Financial aid made attending the university possible, and two production courses taught by Greg Ganger and David Smith introduced him to the technical side of filmmaking. An internship with a Cincinnati-area camera rental company soon followed, and what began as a college job quickly became a career. 

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By his mid-20s, Yee and his business partner, Mal Connett, believed they could build something of their own.

"We had good reputations in the industry," he said. "We were in growth mode for a long time.”

Growth required more than long hours—it demanded an unwavering commitment to quality.  The Camera Department rents professional camera systems, lenses and support equipment used on everything from regional commercials to major motion pictures. Every piece of equipment is meticulously maintained, tested and prepared before it leaves the shop.

"We have high standards, and our gear reflects that," Yee said. "Clients all over the globe have chosen us for their equipment needs for this exact reason.” 

That reputation has become the company's greatest asset.

"In my experience, The Camera Department is the best rental company I have ever used," said Bob Igoe, founder and co-owner of I&Eye Productions in Cincinnati. "You never have to worry about the quality or condition of the gear, and they always take the time to walk you through the technical aspects. Ben has set a high standard that all of us in Cincinnati have come to expect from our vendors.”

Karri O'Reilly, producer and owner of Karrioco, would have to agree. 

“The Camera Department is an amazing and critical resource for filmmakers and productions in the entire region, not just Cincinnati.  Ben and I have worked on numerous features and dozens of commercial together over the years.

“Through Ben's work as a leader of the community of film professionals it is a vital hub for information, training, and support.  Ben’s advocacy for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit and the Kentucky Motion Picture Incentive Program has helped attract and keep millions of dollars in motion picture jobs in the region.” 

As production in the region expanded, so did The Camera Department, evolving into a four city operation,  with Pittsburgh PA and Wilmington NC extending its ability to serve everything from last-minute commercials to major television and film productions.

The company has supplied equipment for productions including The Public, the Hulu series A League of Their Own, and morae recent projects such as Hershey and The Mastermind.   Its Pittsburgh operation now supports productions filming throughout western Pennsylvania, including work on the television series Mayor of Kingstown. 

Its presence in Wilmington NC gives The Camera Department a foothold in North Carolina's active production market.  Having operations in multiple cities allows The Camera Department to be closer to productions, respond more quickly and compete for work across a much larger geographic area.

While cameras have evolved from 35mm film to sophisticated digital systems, Yee says one thing has remained constant: filmmakers want equipment they can trust.

"It's a very capital-intensive business," he said. "The equipment is expensive, but our clients depend on it working perfectly every time.”

The Camera Department hosted its first 3-day intensive cinematography masterclass at its Cincinnati location in early 2026.  Azpiroz and gaffer Russ Faust led the inaugural event. 

Xavier’s DIFT program sponsored Senior Teaching Professor Kyle Howland’s participation in the class.

 “I was just a sponge, collecting all I could from everyone around me who had so much more knowledge.   I am grateful for Ben, Mal, and the rest of The Camera Department team for supporting the production community. “

Away from the business, Yee describes himself simply: "I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm a small business  owner. I'm an entrepreneur.”

He and his wife, Heather, met at Xavier. Together they have raised two children while building a business that often demanded 90-hour work weeks during the early years. 

“Our son and daughter are very different in personality and interests, but it’s so fun to watch them grow into themselves and be comfortable with their paths as young adults.”

Looking back, Yee encourages today's Xavier students to embrace the opportunities college provides.

"Have fun," he said. "Be intellectually curious. Explore different subjects. Figure out why things work the way they do. And work hard."

It's advice he unknowingly followed himself.

A theology major who wandered into two production classes became the owner of a company whose cameras help tell stories seen by audiences around the world.  For Ben Yee, the unexpected path turned out to be exactly the right one.