RayFrisby
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
- Messages
- 202
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 16
- Location
- Ireland / UK
- Website
- www.40ft.ie
16 pages on this thread...and I just discovered it. I must have been asleep at the wheel
Bear with me as we rewind back to mid-2005:
I leaped onto a yet-to-be-created Red train way back in mid-2005, when Jim shared with me his dream for a new camera system. At that time I believe just Ted, me, and possibly a very few others knew the details of Jim's dream for what eventually became Red. I had already known Jim since 1985 from my sports TV work, and Oakley's involvement with the sports industry. That day in mid-2005 was a deep catharsis and turning point for me. What I heard from Jim that day radically changed the entire direction of my career, and my passion for my work - and I dare say since then Red has deeply enhanced the careers of thousands of others in this industry, including those of you who've posted on this thread.
People do business with other people they like and trust. I liked Jim and trusted him fully - thus the move on my part to support Jim and his new vision was really a no-brainer for me. Somehow I was placed in a position to be one of the earliest supporters of Jim and Red. I fully embraced that - and I believe most of you would have if you'd have been in my shoes way back then. To be clear though - those of us who adopted Red before and shortly after the formation of Red put our careers and reputations right on the line. Risk and return are inseparably connected - we risked a lot, but the returns for that risk have been phenomenal.
I was just really fortunate to be on the invited team of industry people who met at Oakley headquarters on December 14, 2005 to brainstorm ideas for what would become Red one. I was also way fortunate to get the chance to publish the first interview with Jim about Red (Studio Monthly, 4/06), and most of the other early magazine articles about Red.
The uncanny vision, endless tenacity, tireless passion, and remarkable team building skills of Jim laid the cornerstone and foundation for everything which became Red. Many business people have built new successful companies - but very few have combined Jim's rare mix of attributes. Its one thing to have a vision for something - but quite another to bring it to a reality on such a grand scale.
The Red Team that Jim built has great breadth, depth, tenacity, goals, and a never-ending sense of "family". Jim's vision for Red would never have been realized without such a dedicated team being formed, and then their many long years of full commitment since then. I know them all - and they each have my deepest respect.
The other early Red supporters also have my deepest respect. We share the common bond of knowing that we recognized the potential of Jim's dream to the point where we put our time, talents, and money into the effort. Its one thing to "talk the talk", but quite another to "walk the walk".
All you members here on Red User also have my deepest respect. Everyone's contributions are important here. Many of you members have contributed untold hours to moderating, explaining, mentoring, and supporting this community. Without your support there would be no Red company, much less their products. Red is a company built by the people of the world - not just Jim and Red Team.
Thanks for this "Thanks" thread Jim! The cool thing is that I know the deep gratitude you and Red Team have expressed for your supporters, contributors, and customers is absolutely sincere. We feel appreciated and respected...
One last thought. Yes, the seeds of Red were planted back in 2005 (and earlier than that in Jim's dreams), but in a real sense Red is still in an embryonic state. If we think that we as a community have already come a long way, consider for a moment that its really just a drop in the bucket to where all of this is headed. It won't be without some more growing pains along the way - but nothing of any real value is ever achieved easily.
Thanks Jim, thanks Red Team, thanks Red User members, thanks to everyone in the world who shares in the ongoing vision of Red. Thank you for all the insight and kind words. We're all in this together...
Great Post Steve ! It's good to take a step back and be thankful. I joined Red User in 2006. I had just returned to college as a mature student, and remember reading about this crazy idea for a camera.
I had just bought a HVX and wished I had the 1,000 dollar deposit for a Red One. I was so tempted I nearly sold my HVX.
What attracted me most was the ambition, and the feeling that this was a company who wanted to do something new, simply because they loved doing it.
I think Jarred had just come on board at the time and I had know of him through DVX User so I thought this must be something worthwhile.
In the history of digital film this must be the only time so many people directly contributed to the realization of a product. Every post, argument, compliment, debate over the smallest detail made the camera what it is today. Those early adopters, their feedback, testing, their eureka moments, and enthusiasm to be part of something unique has made all the difference.
Thanks to all you guys and of course Jim and the team.
One thing that strikes me when looking at REDUser is how global the community is. It's great that everybody is encouraged to contribute, and more importantly learn from those who have gone before them. For me this is the greatest thing about REDUser.
Finally, if since 2006 I have not clocked up many posts, it wasn't because I had nothing to say, it was simply because I was so busy learning.
Thank you all.
