Delivery Update...

[Eryc Tramonn]

Obin, seeing you seem to have an inside track on all these agencies and prod. companies that are so actively looking for new talent - why don't you clue the rest of us in? I'm really dying to hear this one. Where are you signed? Do you have work on-line now?

Nice jab buddy. I have been making a living doing production for 7 years. I own a production company, have done work for many of the networks, produced a feature that was on screens in 8 states, have mobile content on platforms around the world and over 2 million views on our comedy content on the broadband platform, have won a bronze pencil at The One Show in NY, nominated for a Daytime Emmy award etc and so on.... signed? don't need it, work never stops coming in and I see no reason to give away 10-20% of the budget for stuff with an agency ....:w00t: :w00t:

how about yourself?

watch who you piss on, I could be your next client, and you could be mine. lets keep it professional around here shall we? [/QUOTE]


Nice man. You really made me laugh out loud...for real. Well, as you mention, you should take your own advice. I'm not the one running around talking about who is, and isn't naive. I fully realize I could be your next client, or you could be mine. I don't think my posts smack of someone who's completely clueless. Maybe slightly, but hell I'm still managing somehow. If I have to cut corners to put my projects together on a shoestring, so what...as long as what happens in that little frame is engaging and the form reinforces the content - who cares how I got it to look like that? If I can do the same job without DIT, runners, and 20 camera assistants picking ass all day...well. When the time is right, I'll be partially happy to let some sycophant run and grab me a latte.

There's no shame in my game. I'm a relative newbie. Only have a smattering of video work under my belt, but I never pretended to be all high and mighty either. If you were reading my posts, you'd realize I've already said I'm not signed anywhere. I'm an indie and proud of my ability to have proven myself without the nepotism, or glad-handing. As you seem to be.

Anyway, that's an impressive list of accolades. Congratulations on all that. I have even more respect seeing you were able to accomplish all of it without becoming a victim of vampirism.

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

Speaking of pro, I've always drooled over "Obin's HD Tornado" that's a cool shot. Have you ever posted a tutorial or BTS on that shot? Kinda curious if you comp'd real elements or used CG?

Obin, I've seen your stuff before in my escapades on the web. I often ferret out the latest technologies, and also keep track of who's doing what, and will reverse engineer technique whenever possible. Especially those that have evinced an ability to assimilate techniques. IMO, that's what puts you lightyears ahead of what the standard guy running around crazy with a camera is doing. RED or no RED.

Reverse engineering shots helps keep me fresh and sharp, so don't think it's just about being a hack. I feel that's one of the best ways to learn outside of watching tutorials and reading instructional materials. Physical production is so costly, and I am not always out shooting, so I run mock setups in my head, and love to look at how others handle FX integration. Anyway, I digress.

When I saw your tornado comp, I remember being impressed and thinking it was a good example of using what was on hand to create a convincing shot. Wasn't there a time where you had all the plates up used to created the final composite?

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

Speaking of pro, I've always drooled over "Obin's HD Tornado" that's a cool shot. Have you ever posted a tutorial or BTS on that shot? Kinda curious if you comp'd real elements or used CG?

As a matter of fact, if memory serves me correct, I was thinking about particle FX when I created one of my music videos because I was influenced by that clip. As random as it sounds, but that's just how small the world is. There's no such thing as coincidence. That's for damn sure.

 

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

SORRY I dont know anythhing about my serial number or anything about my order and how i link it to delivery schedule .
where am i in it ? some help please ?

 

[Obin Olson]

um..what was the jab for in the first place then? ..
I have worked my ASS off to get to the level I am now at, every project every budget.

It's ALL about the work. end of story. Red is an awesome tool, but still only a tool.

And to answer your question:
"Obin, seeing you seem to have an inside track on all these agencies and prod. companies that are so actively looking for new talent - why don't you clue the rest of us in?"

When you start to create work that the above likes, and they find it, you too will get the call.

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

um..what was the jab for in the first place then? ..
I have worked my ASS off to get to the level I am now at, every project every budget.

It's ALL about the work. end of story. Red is an awesome tool, but still only a tool.

And to answer your question:
"Obin, seeing you seem to have an inside track on all these agencies and prod. companies that are so actively looking for new talent - why don't you clue the rest of us in?"

When you start to create work that the above likes, and they find it, you too will get the call.

Dude, I give up. It's like you're not really reading my posts. Not only did I just compliment you, but I keep [very plainly] saying RED is merely a tool as well. What don't you get?

And I have gotten calls thank you. One in particular came from Spielberg and Burnett for the show On the Lot, and another from Drew Barrymore's Flower Films...not that either of those is saying much... But anyway, I'm not really trying to go there with you. You're not the only one out here hustling and capable, ya know? Don't go assuming just because you haven't heard of me [YET] that I'm nobody.

The jab, as I also wrote, was because you were insinuating that my comments were completely green simply because I don't subscribe to soundstage politics and standard crewing practices. Call me another Rebel Without a Crew, I guess. And yes, that's a VERY pointed allusion to none other than Robert Rodriguez. People thought he was crazy too.

In the RIGHT HANDS, that TOOL is going to enable some really amazing things. In MY HANDS that TOOL is going to enable some really amazing things. It'll definitely help slice through the bullshit. Not that you couldn't shoot great stories and characters with a $100 Handycam, and in some cases maybe that's the way to go.

However, for the most 'professional' filmmaking applications, you're going to want the highest res you can capture and post. Why would you want to shoot anything else if RED is available, and for the price? Kinda like when hard drives where expensive and space was scarce. We had to be more selective about what we digitized, but now a lot of people just capture everything. The attitude is, why not? It's cheap - it's there - go for it? You never know when the happy accident will occur.

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

um..what was the jab for in the first place then? ..
I have worked my ASS off to get to the level I am now at, every project every budget.

It's ALL about the work. end of story. Red is an awesome tool, but still only a tool.

And to answer your question:
"Obin, seeing you seem to have an inside track on all these agencies and prod. companies that are so actively looking for new talent - why don't you clue the rest of us in?"

When you start to create work that the above likes, and they find it, you too will get the call.

And I didn't realize who you were until I saw what joelnet posted about the tornado clip.

 

[Obin Olson]

If you like VFX I bet you would like to see a new ad our company just finished for national broadcast....I will post it on the hvx boards when we can show the public. It will also play on one of the Jumbotron screens in Times Square NY.

cheers!!

 

[Obin Olson]

Speaking of pro, I've always drooled over "Obin's HD Tornado" that's a cool shot. Have you ever posted a tutorial or BTS on that shot? Kinda curious if you comp'd real elements or used CG?

both dude, don't forget my brother is a full on CG master. it was a base plate using our studio as the subject in the shot, with comp elements of real and CG stuff in the frame.

Can't WAIT to try some of that type stuff with RED!!!!!

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

Ahem, to get back to the original post..:innocent:
I really think that RED should seriously consider emailing everyone who has placed a deposit with the information they need to understand what their timestamp means and where they are in the queue. I need that information and I know I am not alone. It could be as simple as: "your order lies in the range 1500-1750 and hence the estimated delivery date will be xxx. This is an estimate only, everything subject to change etc". I can understand why RED are unwilling to email an exact number, that's fine! But I cannot understand why they are unable to email us with this kind of information. Apart from anything else it makes a nonsense of Jim's post, as beyond 1500 the information he is giving us all is practically useless.

RED: Please email everyone who has placed a deposit with the information we need to figure out the delivery schedule.

Thank you.

 

[planet e]

with a few thousand reservations, that's a lot of work, to e-mail each user individually....

but our moderator jeff is going to try to give us weekly updates from reduser, which should help sift through the commentary to get to the crucial info....

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4812

 

[Paolo Tinari]

New years eve in L.A. for me then. I'm officialy open to invitations

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

Ahem, to get back to the original post..:innocent:
I really think that RED should seriously consider emailing everyone who has placed a deposit with the information they need to understand what their timestamp means and where they are in the queue. I need that information and I know I am not alone. It could be as simple as: "your order lies in the range 1500-1750 and hence the estimated delivery date will be xxx. This is an estimate only, everything subject to change etc". I can understand why RED are unwilling to email an exact number, that's fine! But I cannot understand why they are unable to email us with this kind of information. Apart from anything else it makes a nonsense of Jim's post, as beyond 1500 the information he is giving us all is practically useless.

RED: Please email everyone who has placed a deposit with the information we need to figure out the delivery schedule.

Thank you.

I'm with you. Don't get me wrong, I have become a HUGE supporter of Jim and crew, like so many others on this board, but there are a few outstanding issues I'm still not entirely comfortable with.

To place a reservation, and then contend with fluctuating dates and a dearth of information surrounding releases is unsettling to me. Obviously, that works for a lot of people, and I'm not judging anyone for their choice. I have asked Jim for his reason to go with reservations, especially in light of wavering production, and have not received an answer. I guess why waste time on an issue like that...it's already done, and now the concern is getting the camera done and fulfilling orders. That's fine.

It is curious to me though. I read somewhere that Jim had a level of regret after taking Oakley public, so I wonder why he'd do a similar move here with the camera? Not to imply that any of the reservation holders have direct control in back office matters at RED, but you can see where I'm going. You've got thousands of people wanting their gear, and wondering when it's coming. Yeah, you can get a full refund, but we don't want that. We want that camera, so you end up with a bunch of people constantly heckling for information and a tad salty when you have to shift deliverables. In the end, I chalk it up to savvy marketing. Obviously, there are other high resolution acquistion devices in dev out there (maybe none at this price point), but none have the following RED has manifested.

But if I put my cash on reserve, I know I would be one of those users out there asking every five seconds when my shipment is going to happen. And I realize how hard everyone is working to satisfy demand, so I don't want to feel like that. For me, at this point, it makes more sense to wait and let things play out.

I AM going to order a camera - for sure. But letting the dust and insane fervor of the release die down also seems prudent, and in the mean time I'll just have to shoot what's been available. I'm just a poor kid from southwest Louisana, and a grand is better in my stomach right now.

 

[Joel Kaye]

It is curious to me though. I read somewhere that Jim had a level of regret after taking Oakley public, so I wonder why he'd do a similar move here with the camera

Taking a company public and and being publicly open about your creation process are two totally different things.

Personally, I think RED gets as high a score as any company in my book for taking a complex new product to a market filled with artists. I think Harvard is going to be doing case studies on RED.

 

[Greg]

Thanks for the update, Jim. Much appreciated. ...Looks like I don't have to annoy the family trying to get 4K shots of the kids Christmas morning this year. They will thank you for that... Hehe.

What is really funny is you are most likely not joking about this

 

[donatello b]

i believe i read that RED would try to post something on time stamps when they had some time after they returned from IBC ( i think it was 2-3 weeks after ) BUT that was when shipping was running a bit more smooth ... as you can see they are very busy working out some production part problems and firmware builds so their attention is not on time stamps ....
when they catch up they'll put time into time stamps ...

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

with a few thousand reservations, that's a lot of work, to e-mail each user individually....

Aye it is.
Respect to Jim and the RED team, they have made a great product but they're not giving it away.. They are a company and we are customers. I've put down $2500, surely that would pay for one email. It would be cheaper on their time than having to field a phonecall from me; which I haven't done yet out of respect for the hard work that they are all doing.
It would really help me right now to have a ball park idea of where I am in the queue and Jim's post, for all it's good intentions, does not give me that.

 

[Eryc Tramonn]

Aye it is.
Respect to Jim and the RED team, they have made a great product but they're not giving it away.. They are a company and we are customers. I've put down $2500, surely that would pay for one email. It would be cheaper on their time than having to field a phonecall from me; which I haven't done yet out of respect for the hard work that they are all doing.
It would really help me right now to have a ball park idea of where I am in the queue and Jim's post, for all it's good intentions, does not give me that.

Joelnet, the post above me illustrates what I'm referring to. I realize taking a company public, and making "public" decisions are two different things. However by doing the latter, you're giving your customers a measure of control in some respects, but picking and choosing which questions are worthy of an answer.

It's just kinda weird to me. It's kinda like: "Yeah, we'll take your reservation, now sit back and hold on. I'll let you know where we're headed when we get there, or when I feel like it." I mean really...people are BEGGING to see footage. WTH? Shouldn't that be supplied readily? I mean many of the people making requests had the faith to put their dollars behind something a lot of people wouldn't even entertain as a real possibility.

Some people are alright with that, but I can't do that - as much as I like what I'm seeing image wise. I'll just let things play out.

 

[David Dennis]

I don't think it's that reasonable to ask for individualized emails from RED's rather overworked staff, but since the email and the purchase date should both be in a database somewhere, it would take a good database programmer maybe an hour or two to take the emails, come up with a serial number and a delivery date, and automatically email that to everyone who has ordered. I know I could do it easily enough given that information .

D

 

[planet e]

Some people are alright with that, but I can't do that - as much as I like what I'm seeing image wise. I'll just let things play out.

...and that is exactly why choice is good!

glad you're comfortable with yours! i'm thrilled with mine. it's early enough to get my camera sooner than later, but late enough for a few of the kinks to get worked out by these industrious early adopters.

i don't think i'd miss a thousand dollars as much as i would miss playing my tiny part in the drama....

fergus, if you have a specific question that isn't being answered here, you really should go ahead and e-mail or call kelly or RED. i've had pretty good luck with responses to both phone and e-mail--not always perfect, but i think they try pretty hard on their end. as long as you're not badgering them, i think it is perfectly fair to directly request information that you can't find online.