Little SNEEK PEAK @ The 15 day red epic shoot in UZBEKISTAN

[jake blackstone]

Aaa... You're not a saint so don't be preaching like you're the doer of all good. Question yourself before questioning others. Avi is a big boy, he can figure out whats right and wrong on his own.

What are you talking about???
You're accusing me of something, you're a big boy. Stop with the innuendoes and just spill it out...

[Yousuf Abbasi]

What are you talking about???
You're accusing me of something, you're a big boy, spill it out...

LOL.. No, you misunderstood. All i'm saying is youre sounding like a superhero trying to bring justice to the world. And theres better places to start than Avi's post about his music video.

[jake blackstone]

LOL.. No, you misunderstood. All i'm saying is youre sounding like a superhero trying to bring justice to the world. And theres better places to start than Avi's post about his music video.

Yes, I did misunderstand:-)
But I don't believe there should be any place, reduser included, where despicable characters could be promoted and celebrated. But I could be wrong...

[Avi Cohen]

In life all I can do is my best :)

Thank you all for your time, I know how busy things can be.

[Scott Jenson]

Jake and Avi, interesting conversation guys, you have excellent points.

-The production team clearly had a blast, great to see that.
-What would I do in Avi's situation? Would I help create a music video starring a dictator's daughter? Like Avi said, there are a ton of variables that go into it. I'm sure Avi thought it through well, and made a solid decision.

Thanks Jake for bringing info to those that had no clue (me). Thanks Avi for posting your project.

[Andy Roberts]

Jake, I do find it terribly ironic that you have such a strong stand against a murderous dictator, but the moment I click on your demo reel, I'm immediately blasted with the image of a mostly nude woman. So in your eyes a dictator is wrong and shouldn't be supported, yet the "art" you produce contributes in ways, however small, to the worldwide epidemics of sex slave trade, rape, adultery and the overall degradation of women. In YOUR mind it is art. In God's mind, it is just as evil as murder.... Jesus equates hatred to murder and lust to adultery. (Matt 5-7, respected by most world religions) On the one hand, I agree with you... I wouldn't do work for a dictator's family. BUT I also would NOT work on the the images you do either because it serves a dictator of another kind, the dictator of lust and sex. And more people are hurt, genuinely HURT, in who they are as people, by those kinds of images, than will ever be hurt by some eastern European dictator. I know the crowd is small that believes this, but it is true nonetheless. Murder hurts people immediately. Lust and adultery hurt people over the long haul. Broken families, broken relationships. And lust is fed by the entertainment and advertising industries. So the man who cheats on his wife and destroys his family MIGHT have started down that path looking at images that you helped make look as sensual as possible. We all have choices to make. If I were you, I'd choose not to work for THAT dictator.

[Alex Kornreich]

Haha Avi, I'll bet you didn't expect the thread to head in this direction!

...because it serves a dictator of another kind, the dictator of lust and sex

Most comical line I've ever read on Reduser, and if you've spent any time on this site, there's quite a few...

And Andy, please do not EVER bring religion into a conversation here on Reduser. This is a camera and cinematography forum, not your own personal pulpit. No one wants to hear you preach.

Furthermore, you have no right to insult Jake's choices and work, as you've displayed none of your own. More arm-chair criticism from guys who bought a camera and think that puts them in the position to insult other people. Take a look at my site. According to you I serve the dictator of lust and sex, too. Right?

This is the BTS for the lovely and talented Uzbek artist Googoosha and a little taste of her song round run.

Sorry Avi, but she seems neither lovely (according to her bio) nor talented (according to all of her music...).

Also, I personally wouldn't publicize this too much. You worked for a bloodthirsty dictator's daughter, who herself has proven to be an awful person. If producers find out, that's verrryyy bad for business. An ASC DP once told me the following about how good producers and directors hire DP's, though less so operators (which is what I do): "You don't get hired for the work you do, you get hired for the work you don't do." While somewhat convoluted, the point is clear. Be picky about your projects, or else you'll end up working on bad shows for your whole career.

[jake blackstone]

Jake, I do find it terribly ironic that you have such a strong stand against a murderous dictator, but the moment I click on your demo reel, I'm immediately blasted with the image of a mostly nude woman. So in your eyes a dictator is wrong and shouldn't be supported, yet the "art" you produce contributes in ways, however small, to the worldwide epidemics of sex slave trade, rape, adultery and the overall degradation of women. In YOUR mind it is art. In God's mind, it is just as evil as murder.... Jesus equates hatred to murder and lust to adultery. (Matt 5-7, respected by most world religions) On the one hand, I agree with you... I wouldn't do work for a dictator's family. BUT I also would NOT work on the the images you do either because it serves a dictator of another kind, the dictator of lust and sex. And more people are hurt, genuinely HURT, in who they are as people, by those kinds of images, than will ever be hurt by some eastern European dictator. I know the crowd is small that believes this, but it is true nonetheless. Murder hurts people immediately. Lust and adultery hurt people over the long haul. Broken families, broken relationships. And lust is fed by the entertainment and advertising industries. So the man who cheats on his wife and destroys his family MIGHT have started down that path looking at images that you helped make look as sensual as possible. We all have choices to make. If I were you, I'd choose not to work for THAT dictator.

Not sure what's worse- tolerating murderous behavior or religious intolerance

[Joe G.]

So I guess we should all work for murderous dictator's because that's where the money is? And if anyone points out that reality, they're the real murderers? Yeah okay. Keep on with that line of argument.

I'm outta here.

[Avi Cohen]

Sorry Avi, but she seems neither lovely (according to her bio) nor talented (according to all of her music...).

Also, I personally wouldn't publicize this too much. You worked for a bloodthirsty dictator's daughter, who herself has proven to be an awful person. If producers find out, that's verrryyy bad for business. An ASC DP once told me the following about how good producers and directors hire DP's, though less so operators (which is what I do): "You don't get hired for the work you do, you get hired for the work you don't do." While somewhat convoluted, the point is clear. Be picky about your projects, or else you'll end up working on bad shows for your whole career.

I'd like to think Im a stand up guy, with humility, empathy and... hmm...

Well, again, Im not sure how many more times I can say it, but life, film, the creation of art for a living, and international politics... aren't quite as blue and white ;) as a wikipedia page... There's a million variables in every situation, and Im not in a hurry to hide or sweep under the rug projects or decisions in life I made as an adult male, worked hard on, and am excited to see flourish. After all, I went there to shoot a "music video" not a "guide to oppression, how to video". I read, every ounce of material on the country positive and negative, had many conference calls with the production team abroad made the decisions I did. Flew there saw every inch of the country and its people, rich to pour first hand, never felt out of integrity wile I was there for a minute and would not only do it all over again, but would excitedly post it here again, if I had the chance. :)