Let me first begin by saying up until this point, I've been a brand loyalist (maybe even an apologist at times).
When I moved from film and digital photography to filmmaking a few years ago, I chose to use the Red One for my first video (White Rabbits - Percussion Gun) and immediately fell in love with it. It had all of the post production options that I had grown to rely on in RAW photography, and just simply looked stunning. Sure it had some post-production hiccups with color-grading and editing, but in my mind, it was worth it.
After that I shot a number of shorts and music videos on the camera. When the time came to DP my first feature (You're Next, purchased by Lionsgate), I wanted to use the MX sensor. As a result, two bodies were sent to Red and upgraded and I was stunned at the image improvement.
Fast forward to today. It's more than 2 months after I placed my Scarlet order (November 10th) and still no news of when I'll be getting the camera. Not word one. Sure, the Bomb Squad Reps have been nice and all, but after sinking $12,000 in rentals on cameras that should have been the one I've purchased, I'm left with nothing more than a bitter taste in my mouth.
With 3 features and a few music videos around the corner what am I to do? Continue to burn money on rentals? Cross my fingers?
Unfortunately, I'm going to have to ship back all the camera support gear to Red (at yet another financial hit to me) and take a leap into a camera I'd prefer not to use.
Like most break-ups, it's difficult to do the thing you know is best. From where I'm standing it looks like I'm going to have to move on.
