paulherrin
Well-known member
With the incredible amount of updates and new products shipping on a daily basis, alongside the equal and opposite lack of updates on the Scarlet front, morale has been intermittent of late. Many are beginning to question the new "philosophy changes", and many feel in some ways abandoned amid all the excitement about Epic-X and new modules shipping. Others simply don't understand. I have prepared this article to address the current state of affairs, as I see it. Please fill in where I've overlooked, and feel free to challenge my findings in a respectful manner. This is at the heart of what this community is all about.
To the ongoing discussions, I will add what you, the reader, may find a different perspective, or perhaps... a perspective that resonates. I want to thank those that have already offered wisdom and those who are attempting to retain composure and balance in their thoughts and words.
Fair warning: this story is not for the faint of heart.
"The Backdrop for our Story"
A bit of history. Quite a few of us have been tracking the progress of Scarlet from day one. We had already joined the excitement of RED's strategy and their movement in the industry towards more complete digital imaging standards. Alas, at the time, such was above our budget to acquire. And while perhaps many of us have at least been lucky enough to rent or work on red shoots (or process said footage), the goal may be to acquire such technology so that personal projects and artwork can be developed with ease. An affordable, professional, and own-able piece of equipment.
Thus, the "Scarlet Concept" was a good one, and naturally, we latched on for the ride. Now enter the ever-extending projected delivery dates. DSLR's (and other such compromised systems) are picked up, somewhat reluctantly, to achieve our artistic goals in the now. However, these once "temporary" solutions become drawn out with the wait, and frustration begins to rise as the light at the end of the tunnel (which, remember dear reader, has seemed so close at times) appears to be tricking our vision, so much that our judgement of distance is no longer constant (kind of a "vertigo effect, isn't it?). The reactions to this are many, and outside the scope of my understanding of human behavior and thought. As a note, philosophies on the matter seem to have mostly bounced somewhere between anger, detachment, patience, and anxiety. This brings us to our current state.
"The Now"
As can be assumed, the prevailing attitudes and philosophies of those following the Scarlet have been forged over an extensive period of time, alongside the others who bring their own experiences and viewpoints, both new and old. One can confidently assume that this progression of thought parallels, in many ways, those that have been more closely following and awaiting the Epic's development and current shipment. And it is, of course, this shipment stage that is most sought-after. With the recent increase in new items (most notably the Epic-X), the desire to take delivery has never been greater for any and every reduser. And that is what is most challenging about the "now."
For many months, Scarlet fans have felt increasingly neglected, as news has been scarce at best compared to the ever-abundant Epic news. Of course, being RED's new flagship, the Epic deserves and is expected quite a deal more attention and loftiness, but remember dear friends, that the large Scarlet crowd has been waiting and watching in envy for quite some time, since the Red One days. Remember also, the investment many have made in this system. No, RED still has not taken any deposits on Scarlets (despite the endless clamoring to place them). Even so, many have invested their time, ideas, and (yes) even their savings accounts towards this camera system. Do not dismiss this investment - it is personal, and thus it is deep. Many have become proponents of industry-wide change based on RED's philosophy. Many have taken a stance for RED despite personal and professional insults. Do not dismiss this investment. Things are changing at every level, and these individuals play a huge part in educating themselves and others on the paradigm shift we are seeing (do not be so quick to forget how stubborn this industry has been to change). However, in the "now" this investment feels, for some, to have been forgotten, unappreciated, or perhaps minimized in some way. Recent "philosophy changes" coupled with the already lacking status updates offer no comfort. So here we find ourselves, still waiting.
Three years have passed, and where have we gotten? Nowhere, it might seem.
"The Future"
And yet, amid the ongoing delays, the frustration, and the silence... we must ask. Certainly we must have gotten somewhere, haven't we? Is all for naught? After all this time, are we to give up hope now? I must admit that there is some doubt, a loss of hope, that is lingering. And it is here that I boldly interject my own voice.
Do not lose hope. Do not be discouraged. The light shines ahead, and the tunnel's end nears. Friends, we are close. Wisdom from the past five years dictates that we trust Jim's leadership and vision. Take a minute to think about it. He's not once led us wrong. Yes, it is a given and admitted fact that historically the whole "delivery date" thing has been quite definitely and frequently underestimated. But consider how recklessly we tend to pursue instant gratification, only to be just as quickly disappointed. And now consider how even more so, RED has consistently and surprisingly overdelivered on their product specifications and quality. RED is about doing things right, without compromise. Good, not just "good enough".
Silence can be interpreted many ways. Anticipation builds. Do not lose hope. RED is for you. RED is for the future. The future dawns, and the prevailing color on the horizon is a deep, deep RED.
To the ongoing discussions, I will add what you, the reader, may find a different perspective, or perhaps... a perspective that resonates. I want to thank those that have already offered wisdom and those who are attempting to retain composure and balance in their thoughts and words.
Fair warning: this story is not for the faint of heart.
"The Backdrop for our Story"
A bit of history. Quite a few of us have been tracking the progress of Scarlet from day one. We had already joined the excitement of RED's strategy and their movement in the industry towards more complete digital imaging standards. Alas, at the time, such was above our budget to acquire. And while perhaps many of us have at least been lucky enough to rent or work on red shoots (or process said footage), the goal may be to acquire such technology so that personal projects and artwork can be developed with ease. An affordable, professional, and own-able piece of equipment.
Thus, the "Scarlet Concept" was a good one, and naturally, we latched on for the ride. Now enter the ever-extending projected delivery dates. DSLR's (and other such compromised systems) are picked up, somewhat reluctantly, to achieve our artistic goals in the now. However, these once "temporary" solutions become drawn out with the wait, and frustration begins to rise as the light at the end of the tunnel (which, remember dear reader, has seemed so close at times) appears to be tricking our vision, so much that our judgement of distance is no longer constant (kind of a "vertigo effect, isn't it?). The reactions to this are many, and outside the scope of my understanding of human behavior and thought. As a note, philosophies on the matter seem to have mostly bounced somewhere between anger, detachment, patience, and anxiety. This brings us to our current state.
"The Now"
As can be assumed, the prevailing attitudes and philosophies of those following the Scarlet have been forged over an extensive period of time, alongside the others who bring their own experiences and viewpoints, both new and old. One can confidently assume that this progression of thought parallels, in many ways, those that have been more closely following and awaiting the Epic's development and current shipment. And it is, of course, this shipment stage that is most sought-after. With the recent increase in new items (most notably the Epic-X), the desire to take delivery has never been greater for any and every reduser. And that is what is most challenging about the "now."
For many months, Scarlet fans have felt increasingly neglected, as news has been scarce at best compared to the ever-abundant Epic news. Of course, being RED's new flagship, the Epic deserves and is expected quite a deal more attention and loftiness, but remember dear friends, that the large Scarlet crowd has been waiting and watching in envy for quite some time, since the Red One days. Remember also, the investment many have made in this system. No, RED still has not taken any deposits on Scarlets (despite the endless clamoring to place them). Even so, many have invested their time, ideas, and (yes) even their savings accounts towards this camera system. Do not dismiss this investment - it is personal, and thus it is deep. Many have become proponents of industry-wide change based on RED's philosophy. Many have taken a stance for RED despite personal and professional insults. Do not dismiss this investment. Things are changing at every level, and these individuals play a huge part in educating themselves and others on the paradigm shift we are seeing (do not be so quick to forget how stubborn this industry has been to change). However, in the "now" this investment feels, for some, to have been forgotten, unappreciated, or perhaps minimized in some way. Recent "philosophy changes" coupled with the already lacking status updates offer no comfort. So here we find ourselves, still waiting.
Three years have passed, and where have we gotten? Nowhere, it might seem.
"The Future"
And yet, amid the ongoing delays, the frustration, and the silence... we must ask. Certainly we must have gotten somewhere, haven't we? Is all for naught? After all this time, are we to give up hope now? I must admit that there is some doubt, a loss of hope, that is lingering. And it is here that I boldly interject my own voice.
Do not lose hope. Do not be discouraged. The light shines ahead, and the tunnel's end nears. Friends, we are close. Wisdom from the past five years dictates that we trust Jim's leadership and vision. Take a minute to think about it. He's not once led us wrong. Yes, it is a given and admitted fact that historically the whole "delivery date" thing has been quite definitely and frequently underestimated. But consider how recklessly we tend to pursue instant gratification, only to be just as quickly disappointed. And now consider how even more so, RED has consistently and surprisingly overdelivered on their product specifications and quality. RED is about doing things right, without compromise. Good, not just "good enough".
Silence can be interpreted many ways. Anticipation builds. Do not lose hope. RED is for you. RED is for the future. The future dawns, and the prevailing color on the horizon is a deep, deep RED.
