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7 2 W o r l d w i d e
Volker Bahnemann:
The Steady Hand
Behind ARRI Inc.
After 48 years with ARRI, Volker Bahnemann, President and CEO of ARRI Inc.
and ARRI/CSC is stepping down, ending a prolific career that helped shape
this imaging technology company into the largest and most reputable motion
picture equipment manufacturer in the world. Volker has been with ARRI Inc.
since its inception and in his 32 years as CEO, he has not only contributed
and witnessed the organization’s growth but also the production industry’s
technical and artistic evolution.
Volker Bahnemann on
CINEMATOGRAPHER STYLE
Volker’s career at ARRI actually began even
earlier, with an apprenticeship at Arnold &
Richter in Munich. It was not for a love of
movies or fine engineering, but because of
the company’s close location to his home that
guided his decision as a 16 year old. This
choice would change the company forever.
After this three-and-a-half year apprenticeship
and another year of specialized service
training, Volker decided to leave Arnold &
Richter for another industry in Mexico. But
when Paul Klingenstein needed technical
support for his expanding business as
distributor for Arriflex equipment in the
United States he contacted Volker and soon,
the young man headed to New York to start
his new job as camera service technician.
It goes to the credit of Paul Kingenstein in
recognizing and awakening Volker’s potential
to turn this job into a career.
Volker was promoted to Service Manager
and, in 1972 became Vice President, Marketing
for ARRI’s expanding product line.
Although ARRI cameras and equipment had
always been very popular with European
Volker Bahnemann and Jon Fauer
filmmakers, Hollywood, with its different
crew structure and production approach
had not embraced this equipment for other
than second unit, handheld and documentary
work. Volker realized that in order for ARRI
cameras to become a standard production
tool, the equipment needed to adapt to the
specific demands of American crews.
Volker also recognized that ARRI needed to
establish a stronger product identity. Having
engaged a talented art director, he began to
co-write the copy for ARRI’s advertising,
which he continued to do throughout his
career.
He worked closely with cinematographers
and crew who put ARRI equipment through
the paces. Spending many a night on set,
occasionally even loading magazines, he
listened to their needs, knowing that this
feedback would result in the improvement
and refinement of ARRI’s equipment. Many
of these artists realized Volker was an ally
to their craft and in 1974, he became the
youngest associated member of the American
Society of Cinematographers.