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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 :)

Financing Scarlet (Or anything RED for that matter)

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Carlos Reyes

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I was just wondering if anybody finances this kind of gear, or takes out certain loans, or whatever it may be?

I'm just surprised at the rate at which scarlet is selling, I know there are tons of professionals on here, but I don't know many people with that kind of money laying around, any insight?

While we're at it any advice on how people made the transition to RED from smaller budget backgrounds?
 
Carlos Reyes said:
I was just wondering if anybody finances this kind of gear, or takes out certain loans, or whatever it may be?

I'm just surprised at the rate at which scarlet is selling, I know there are tons of professionals on here, but I don't know many people with that kind of money laying around, any insight?

While we're at it any advice on how people made the transition to RED from smaller budget backgrounds?
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Liquid payment for accessories and business line of credit under our indie production company credit card for camera package.

I've also heard of several people financing camera gear through this company:
http://www.acgcapital.com/equipment...nancing.aspx?gclid=CNm1_rvW3KwCFQVlhwodg08QrQ
 
Scarlet is not much of a step up in cost from much less-capable cameras. My first HVX200 kit cost $11,000.
 
D Fuller said:
Scarlet is not much of a step up in cost from much less-capable cameras. My first HVX200 kit cost $11,000.
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Agreed, I could have already had a nice chunk of the money for scarlet with all the lower end stuff I've bought over the year, which looking back I seriously regret, because all my gear feels more and more dated each day
 
D Fuller said:
Scarlet is not much of a step up in cost from much less-capable cameras. My first HVX200 kit cost $11,000.
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what about batteries and media though?


Most people I'd assume have been saving since 2009 when it was announced, some bailed ship but others have been long waiting...so perhaps that maybe one way that they have enough lying around. Another factor would be sharing the payment between individuals and then of course you have actual rental companies purchasing these cameras as well as individuals who are clearly going to sell themselves along side the camera...at least thats what I gather...

The real advice would be, calculate the 'working' version of Scarlet, so not what the current package offers but something like 4x128GB cards and V-Locks/REDVolts (depending on what kind of work you were going for)

Whilst your at it, if your going to be doing edits etc. yourself, work out the amount to safely back up...always double your back ups at the least or triple back up. Then of course your editing system, the bare minimum...
 
Imran, yeah I mean from what I calculate I'd need at least 20-25k to get it "usable" for a shoot. Definitely would need a new computer, Macbook pro can barley handle a few minutes of 1080p!

I want it for mainly narrative film purposes, I can see the cost of storage and media being HUGE for this kind of work, but I'm concerned about my reel and honestly feel so hindered by DSLRs, I don't plan on letting money hold me back at all, Its just good to hear from professionals and red owners and those familiar with the workflow about this kind of stuff before jumping to any decisions...
 
I'm paying for Scarlet the same way I pay for all new gear - a small %age of my yearly gross is set aside in an 'Equipment Renewal' account. When gear breaks / needs replacement / or needs upgrading, it's purchased from this account.
Even knowing that I have a solid customer base, with a pretty much guaranteed full production schedule (I direct / dp advertising), I would feel really uneasy financing gear… Freelance is such a feast or famine thing, who knows what the next 24-36 months will bring. I started out using rented gear until the money was saved for the first purchases; and I never looked back.

But that's just me...
 
No problem guys!

Also, for a starving filmmaker with very limited funds who doesn't need the latest and greatest, a pre-owned Red One complete package might be an excellent option. There are lots of them out there under 15k -- dozens even here on Reduser.
 
I saved.
I saved up enough for the original estimate of around 4-5K at my day job. Then I was deployed over seas with the military that helped me save (no bills and tax free with nowhere to spend it.)

I sacrificed.
Stayed in instead of going out. My brother rolled my car while I was over there. He is a poor college student so there is no way he could pay me back. So I am on the bus.


I was going to buy a camera and gear by years end. I was inches away from purchasing two AF100's. When the Scarlet was announce I had a choice to make, 2 AF100's for events to pay the bills, or 1 Scarlet for narratives to educate myself. Narratives are my end goal, and I have a day job to pay the bills.
 
Glen Powell said:
I would feel really uneasy financing gear… Freelance is such a feast or famine thing, who knows what the next 24-36 months will bring. I started out using rented gear until the money was saved for the first purchases; and I never looked back.

But that's just me...
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Words of wisdom given the current economic outlook, who knows what happening there? I wouldn't be going out on a limb on credit. Hire the gear until you have the funds in the bank. Ownership of camera systems is pretty much only happened in the last decade before that, because of the cost, most hired including myself. Just because you don't own a camera doesn't mean you can't work & as quoted working in this business is feast or famine which is not helped by the current economic climate.
 
Christian Jadot said:
I saved.
I saved up enough for the original estimate of around 4-5K at my day job. Then I was deployed over seas with the military that helped me save (no bills and tax free with nowhere to spend it.)

I sacrificed.
Stayed in instead of going out. My brother rolled my car while I was over there. He is a poor college student so there is no way he could pay me back. So I am on the bus.


I was going to buy a camera and gear by years end. I was inches away from purchasing two AF100's. When the Scarlet was announce I had a choice to make, 2 AF100's for events to pay the bills, or 1 Scarlet for narratives to educate myself. Narratives are my end goal, and I have a day job to pay the bills.
Click to expand...


Although I am a "poor college student"and don't have much saved, I have a day job and could pay 300-400ish a month for a few years for a cinema camera instead of, say a car.
 
Mike Garrick said:
Words of wisdom given the current economic outlook, who knows what happening there? I wouldn't be going out on a limb on credit. Hire the gear until you have the funds in the bank. Ownership of camera systems is pretty much only happened in the last decade before that, because of the cost, most hired including myself. Just because you don't own a camera doesn't mean you can't work & as quoted working in this business is feast or famine which is not helped by the current economic climate.
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After a few rents I'd basically have spent enough for a scarlet package( yes that isnt enough to shoot but its a start) or am I doing the math wrong?
 
Get a DBA, get hired for a couple jobs where you are paid enough to rent a Scarlet or Epic, then go to the bank and say "Here is proof that I have a solid successful business. I would like to talk about a loan to buy this camera so that I can make MORE money." That might be a good start.

I had a business partner hit up a private investor for Scarlet, which I am putting the money down on tomorrow!
 
COMPUTER SIDE NOTE -

I am feeling like a broken record, but you should all know that a basic computer like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.759913

or this beast:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.769181

(Pay a friend to put it together if you are nervous.)

Or a MacBook Pro can playback Epic / Scarlet / Red One footage real time. You don't need a redrocket card or anything crazy to get going and editing commercials and other projects. Your render times will be longer, but you can upgrade later if your workflow demands faster turn around.

The trick is to have your playback resolution, or equivalent setting, in your NLE set for 1/2 or 1/4. Then you can edit away no problem with the original R3D without transcoding. I do.
 
Took out a loan for the F3. Worked it hard, paid it off, then saved. Paid for scarlet i n cash. Now scarlet and f3 will generate revenue. Then..... epic...... then.... leicas.....

The trick is, ur systems will subsidze the next investment. The scarlet already has all the accesories, so the epic purchase will just be the brain and dragon. I. Figure it will take a year.
 
Timur Civan said:
Took out a loan for the F3. Worked it hard, paid it off, then saved. Paid for scarlet i n cash. Now scarlet and f3 will generate revenue. Then..... epic...... then.... leicas.....

The trick is, ur systems will subsidze the next investment. The scarlet already has all the accesories, so the epic purchase will just be the brain and dragon. I. Figure it will take a year.
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did you have a business in place at the time of your initial investment?
 
Jeffrey T. Morgan said:
Get a DBA, get hired for a couple jobs where you are paid enough to rent a Scarlet or Epic, then go to the bank and say "Here is proof that I have a solid successful business. I would like to talk about a loan to buy this camera so that I can make MORE money." That might be a good start.

I had a business partner hit up a private investor for Scarlet, which I am putting the money down on tomorrow!
Click to expand...

ha the DBA isn't the problem, its convincing the bank I can make money by december 31st!
 
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