Camera Naming Protocols

[Miguel Gallagher]

For those that have a bit of time I thought I would start a new somewhat light-hearted thread that is about naming cameras. This seems to be something that started and is predominantly with RED cameras. Hopefully this hasn't been brought up before.

Anyway, what do you call your camera and why? I have a name for my Scarlet (even though I really want to actually name her Scarlet) that I kinda keep to myself. Does it fall into the same category as people who name their cars? It certainly makes more sense to me to name a camera than a car but I am fairly certain I am biased.

Thoughts, opinions?

 

[Christian Jadot]

I named my camera "Bea" after Bea Arthur, well because she is hot. Maybe I like Deadpool a little too much ... but that is how I named my camera.

Yes, I do name my cars as well. Isabella is my Lincoln Mark VIII daily driver, and Eileen is my 1971 Duster project car. When you have a project car, a lot of heart goes into it. Plus blood, sweat and money.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

I have Scarlet SN 01474 so I looked up what happened in history in that year. Turns out Isabella of Castile declared herself Queen of Spain in that year, so Isabella it is.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Very clever, Terry! I like that method

 

[Nick Pasquariello]

There is a massive list of Scarlet here, with links to the Red 1 and Epic naming threads: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?70486-Scarlet-Camera-Name-List

There really aren't any "rules". It's your camera, and the name isn't on file with Red (the company), so you get to call it whatever you want. Or nothing. Or it's number. Or Scarlet. Or "The camera". Or the sound Chewbacca makes when he's happy.

Even before I heard about the company Red, I named my electronics. I've always named my iPods (not that I've had a ton of them), my Computers, my Car, my iPhones . . . I would have named my Scarlet without knowing that other people name theirs. I do also think it's useful, if you've got 48 of them (like Jackson et al. working on The Hobbit) to give them each a name. "Walter and Jimmy are acting up. Let's get Tom and Bellvue on the rig while we trouble shoot Walter." Easier to keep track of than doing it by 4 digit number.

 

[Phil Holland]

What Nick said.

I try to be polite (likely all in my head) by not naming my camera what other's have.

I don't think it really matters, but if you are on a set with two bodies named the same thing they have to battle it out in a Thunderdome made of tripod legs. Two cameras enter. One camera leaves.

 

[Christian Jadot]

I would like to also thank RED for naming their products with real names.

I am horrible with the Alphabet Soup naming schemes. A Panasonic AG-HMC150? Or a JVC GY-HM700? A Sony HXR-NX5U? Huh?!?

I instantly know if some one mentions "Epic" "RED ONE" "Scarlet" or "Dragon". There is not thinking about it and trying to translate the number letter mix into a visual mental image.

I hate the trend in cars that is slowly going to the Alphabet soup thing as well. It is not fancier!! Names bring out passion, letters/numbers make you think gadgets.

 

[Nick Pasquariello]

I don't think it really matters, but if you are on a set with two bodies named the same thing they have to battle it out in a Thunderdome made of tripod legs. Two cameras enter. One camera leaves.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, which I think I first heard from Steve Sherrick, but I don't know if it's his or if it was from someone else, and I'm sure I'm butchering the exact wording:

"When a Red hits the ground, the ground breaks."

Build like MF-ing tanks, these things are.

 

[Robert Hart]

A little tale from outside of the field in SI2K land. In Western Australia, of the two SI2Ks here, number 0178 was given the title, "Der Alter Bruder" (the older brother). The newer camera was given the moniker, "Das Schrecklicher Kind" (the badtempered child). This should not be taken to imply they have been temperamental or unreliable for that is definitely not the case. The "Das Shrecklicher Kind" was a lighthearted self-deprecation of ourselves who were having to come to grips with something new and different and getting it wrong from time to time until we knew better. We were also growing our kits as funds permitted by making do with alternatives like non-genuine power supplies etc., an adventure that many of the RED community have also embarked upon. The use of German language is also a backhanded homage to the origins of the cameras in Ottobrun.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

I named mine O'Hara on behalf of my wife loving that movie and letting me spend a grip load of our money on a RED. I've heard and seen several others named this as well, although I'm pretty sure I was the first to have the camera in hand with that name. I'm sure others thought of it as well, and I really don't mind if others named it that. I think one member even asked me if it was ok haha.

 

[Lee Saxon]

I'm probably going to be stealing "O'hara" too

It's just too good!!

 

[Martin Weiss]

A little tale from outside of the field in SI2K land […] "Der Alter Bruder" (the older brother) […] "Das Schrecklicher Kind" (the badtempered child).

German here. The proper capitalization and grammar would be "Der alte Bruder" and "Das schreckliche Kind"

/grammarNazism

 

[Philipe Ratton]

Well, mine is Pazuzu.

 

[Jeff J Daniels]

My Scarlet is "Aristarchus," in reference to Aristarchus of Samos. He is widely accepted as the first man to present a heliocentric model of the then known universe (around 300 BCE)
In short, he challenged the system/status quo coming up with his own way of seeing things.

We all love RED for what they have done to the film industry by challenging it to be bigger, better, and more affordable.

Also, I'm a HUGE astronomy nerd, so there's that.

 

[Robert Hart]

German here. The proper capitalization and grammar would be "Der alte Bruder" and "Das schreckliche Kind"

/grammarNazism

What excuse can I offer. German spoken with an Australian accent? I guess that will do. Ricey the other SI2K camera owner speaks the language better than I do. I myself know just enough German to get myself in trouble. Fortunately, the folk in Ottobrun were more motivated in their schoolyears than I and have a good command of English, so we don't have a problem. I sometimes wonder if we english are a bit tired and maybe a trace arrogant that we do not trouble ourselves to become more competent in other languages.

 

[Ces Peynetti]

I'm a big Lord of the Rings, and greek mythology nerd. I knew that when I got my first Red camera I was going to name it after something from either of those two camps. I went with Elena, a spanish iteration of Helene, which means torch, or shining light. If I ever get another Scarlet or Epic I might name it Luthien, which means Enchantress.

Back in the day before Dragon was ever announced I thought that if I got my hands on a Red One I would name it Smaug.