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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Travel Out/ Pick Up Your Camera?

A while back the topic of instructional videos was discussed. This is a great way for RED to "walk through" the basics with a large number of people. This could be packaged as a DVD or better yet be posted online for instant accessibility. And the best part is that RED could sub-contract the making of "each chapter" to one of the fine local filmmakers in the community, requiring little of their important time. I disagreed with Stuart that this needed to be a fancy or high-tech production. I think it need only be simple, straightforward information: how to setup the camera, how to work the menu, Redcine overview, etc.

I think the goal should be to get any and all potential Red-users up to speed as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is especially important for renters, camera assistants, freelance camera ops, etc. Hell, I'd probably even buy a video Ipod to rent out with the camera just so video instructions were instantly available in an emergency.
 
It's not like the owner of Panavision comes down to hold your hand when your at the facilities putting your camera package choosing lenses and such.
 
Billy, I'm not asking for the owner to be there.
But yes, there are many employees at Panavision and CSC and Clairmont and other rental houses (as are there many employees at Panasonic and Sony and their dealers) who ARE there to hold your hand while you prep a rental package, as well as purchase a personal package.
So again, I think it's a reasonable request.
Cheers,
Harry
 
boo hoo!! I want to meet Jim dammit! end of story. I don't care about spoon feeding, or hand holding. Jim makes rockin sunglasses, ( I used to race mountain bikes in the day with his eyewear on protecting my face while I flew up and down the track in the US nationals) and he is making the best camera in the world.

I just want to say "Hi" and thanks for being who you are.


cause you FING ROCK!
;)
 
I'm completely surprised at the number of folks who don't think it's important for RED to offer each purchaser some orientation and accessory purchase "face" time. The "only a staff of 14" argument won't hold, because the moment that assembly line fires up, the moment that cameras 12-100 start to go out, that staff number HAS to rise. Let's see... 1500 cameras in the field by the end of October and probably an equal number of new deposits in the wings... yeah, we're talking a hundred employees or so.

As to renting Panavision and Arri and expecting people to know about the cameras... well, there's decades of camera training and culture behind these brands and most working pros can load a mag or know a thing or two...

Finally, there's something else... Obin was close to it... all us reservation holders have taken a journey with the RED team. Some would even say that it was against all odds. Laying your hands on those shiny aluminum and carbon fiber parts and building your own package is well, a sort of "climax" to the whole process. I want that release, dammit! Just having FEDEX show up with a couple boxes ain't good enough for some... :)
 
Jim what you are requesting is industry standard support on any new high end camera equipment. In fact ARRI, Sony, Panasonic and others hold traveling training seminars often in many cities across US and Canada. RED users willing to travel to their office to attend a training camera seminar is not only good for RED but would be a cheaper option then what other camera companies do. In my opinion RED not offering something like this would be a big mistake.
 
BTW,
I'm sure the reason that someone from Red has not yet chimed in is that they've been up for 98 hours straight putting the finishing touches on everything for NAB...
Cheers,
Harry
 
sure thing

sure thing

harryclark said:
Hey Wigby, since you're in Brooklyn and I'm in NYC as well and you have a lower reservation # than me, maybe you could let me see yours before I get mine?
;)
Harry
Click to expand...

sure thing harryclark. i was one of the first to get delivery on the hvx200 and firestore back about a year ago. i had some curious dp friends come over and check it out. they even helped me with some firewire communications errors i was getting so i can attest to the value of a hands-on run through.

let's keep in touch.
 
harryclark said:
Billy, I'm not asking for the owner to be there.
But yes, there are many employees at Panavision and CSC and Clairmont and other rental houses (as are there many employees at Panasonic and Sony and their dealers) who ARE there to hold your hand while you prep a rental package, as well as purchase a personal package.
So again, I think it's a reasonable request.
Cheers,
Harry
Click to expand...

Harry, I didn't think you were looking for the owner to be there.
don't get me wrong, I agree with you.
I'm just saying, that there are people for that, (as there should be)
ie. the techs that work with you at Clairmont/Panavision/Arri etc.

best,

Billy-
 
Industry standard support

Industry standard support

I don't think the idea of showing up at the headquarters to pick up and get hands on explanation is industry standard support. Scheduled training classes is completely different than asking to show up and pick up your camera and have someone personally go through it with you - it's just not feasible or practical on a $20K purchase. (Which we all know is a bargain price - with not a lot of this type of extra overhead added in.) Try showing up at Pan or Sony headquarters in New Jersey to pick up your new XDCAM or HVX200 and see what happens.

I am sure as time goes on there will be scheduled training and maybe traveling seminars as well.

I am just like you - I'd like to show up, get a tour, shake Jim's hand, talk to the guys, etc., but since I am also a manufacturer I know that it is just too disruptive to your workflow and various personnel to have that happen regularly.

As far as the hands on accessory pickup - maybe they will be able to open a factory showroom. That probably needs to happen at their own pace.

I will say that shortly after NAB they need to make a serious upgrade to the website to show all of this stuff in much greater detail, all of the products, accessories, workflow issues, etc. - and no longer rely on REDUSER to be the main info source. I am sure they will do this but again we have to remember that at least as of a couple of weeks ago there was only 2 or 3 actual prototypes and only one was even painted.

Finally, Jim's right we have all been on a journey with RED and as such we want and maybe expect more of the close contact. Unfortunately with microbusinesses, the principals sincerely want to give more of that but the Catch-22 is that, while the desire is greater, there is even less ability to get that done than there is in a large organization.

Finner said:
Jim what you are requesting is industry standard support on any new high end camera equipment. In fact ARRI, Sony, Panasonic and others hold traveling training seminars often in many cities across US and Canada. RED users willing to travel to their office to attend a training camera seminar is not only good for RED but would be a cheaper option then what other camera companies do. In my opinion RED not offering something like this would be a big mistake.
Click to expand...
 
AquaVideoRed206 said:
Scheduled training classes is completely different than asking to show up and pick up your camera and have someone personally go through it with you - it's just not feasible or practical on a $20K purchase.
Click to expand...

Guess you never bought a car eh? :bleh: Just kidding.

Obviously, there is a serious economy of scale at work in an auto dealership. Its prolly not possible for this "personal pickup" to happen. I guarantee you that the reason we get a 20 thousand dollar 4k camera is because there aint 100 employees over at Red.
 
AquaVideoRed206 said:
I don't think the idea of showing up at the headquarters to pick up and get hands on explanation is industry standard support. Scheduled training classes is completely different than asking to show up and pick up your camera and have someone personally go through it with you
Click to expand...

A scheduled training class (1 every 1-2 weeks) is what I was refering to.
 
Oh, but I think there could be a hundred employees at RED... a staggered hire... first JJ and a small core, then 14 to get the proto, then more and more... if you have 1500 cameras in the field and another 1500 or more on deck for delivery... well, you're not doing that with 14 people...

Again, I can't stress enough that I'm not wanting to meet and lounge with the principals... they just need to have a room, and employee #23, who was hired for customer care (maybe one of our friends on this forum), who takes you through your scheduled 3 hour orientation and package prep. They judge demand for this service, and maybe double up with another employee, and later slim down... who knows?

People are still using other cameras and camera companies to say this isn't done... the RED isn't any other camera. Other than the PL mount, battery connections, and standard rail sizes it's pretty darn unique. Maybe it's very simple, maybe very user friendly, but the unique modular nature of the rails/cages/erector set almost demands a personal fit to your unique needs.

Makes me want to go back to playing with my main camera, the one with the Wedge in Filter design.... it had a colorful brouchure and, yes, a full sheet of fancy STICKERS! Just like RED.

Signing out... See you guys at NAB.
 
I agree with others who suggest a training DVD would be the most logical and cost effective teaching tool. Perhaps a web training video could be posted, say on this forum. Current camera users could post feedback about the video, which could be revised based on the feedback - pretty much how Red One was designed.
 
super 8

super 8

Super eight for that shallow - correction - deep depth of field


chuck colburn said:
That would be fun. I 've gotta a couple of Sylvania Sun Guns you can use.
Now all you have to decide is to shoot in double eight or Super eight.
Click to expand...
 
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