Made in California...

[Eric J Kosinski]

One thing I learned about working in local news about 10 years ago was that if a story came up about anything, it could be spun negative very quickly. RED is made in the USA, and no doubt it would be good for general press, but more than likely they would spin the story with some negative comments about lead times, backorders, software/firmware not being 100% complete, etc. I applaud the continued effort for a made in the USA product, but it is probably better that RED gets everything caught up, Scarlet X's out the door, and can show these USA made products come from a production line which is as efficient as other companies in various countries.

This is the story to the reporters, "production efficiency in the USA, bringing it back home".

This is the true story and will be told when it happens. The fact that a company decided to do something with production in the USA isn't so much the story, and neither is that they became successful, but the story is how successful they have become and how efficient. Not taking anything away from RED, but when the process speeds up, backorders are a thing of the past, the story will come out.

I make made in the USA products for film gear as well, and I am learning the effort it takes on a small scale, so I can't imagine what RED has overcome to start this. This is a completely different story, the human side of the story. Jim's story.

Jim Jannard will be IMHO one of the worlds great innovators if he isn't considered this now. It isn't just about the product and where it comes from to the reporters, but how we can compete in a global economy that makes it current news. Knowing reporters, the fallback plan is always to go negative. If RED shows there is no more negative and only positive efficiency, the story will tell itself.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I'm in fact much surprise myself Jim... Yet I surely can understand your surprise, especially in current economic situation,
were all we hear is how many JOBS have been lost do to the closing of this and or that
manufacturing plant, yet no news of a NEW manufacturing plant employing 100's...??

 

[Elsie N]

With todays Global economy ...

Perhaps Jim is atop another global trend about to emerge "local manufacturing"
...

With all the tax variables, tariffs etc. found throughout the world, I was just thinking along these same lines. That is, if a barebones line could be set up in the EU, India, Africa/Middle East, China etc.---then a mobile unit could travel to those locations with the personnel and equipment needed to fill out those lines to do a run of product that would fill shelves for a time.

This was just off the top of my head and I don't really know if it would be a savings for the customer to buy a product assembled in their country, but if it would and there were no huge extra cost to Red to do so, then we all could sport a camera that was made or assembled nearby.

 

[Timur Civan]

stamped "Made in USA" and having it actually be as true as can be is one of the most important things right now... hoping you're more of a trend setter beyond just the film industry Jim. The country needs it.

Tom Clued me into the fact that the RED products are domestic, quite recently. I am absolutely proud of the fact that i am buying american. I drive a Ford, i shop at local stores, i wear REDwings and Gorilla Boots (100% M.I.USA), buy local products, and NOW i can proudly say i'm "shooting" American. I LOVE it. Set an example of of how profitability can be attained manufacturing domestically. I hate that i have no choices in some products any more. Thank you guys for taking a chance on the US again. Thanks for giving us not only an option, but one of the best options.

-T

 

[Steven Dean]

Jim - I was elated to see that the Scarlet was going to be made in the USA, too many companies put profit ahead of jobs. Look where we are at as a country right now... Yes, there are many factors that have contributed to our current state of economic affairs, but shipping jobs overseas is a huge factor. You are doing the right thing, and I have much respect for you doing so, we need more companies like RED in this country. I personally have zero problem paying a higher price for something that is creating American jobs, and is a beautiful piece of art.

 

[Jan Balster]

This post makes me want to want to retire.

Jim

Jim you are leading the way. Some people just won't ever understand that an attitude of "me" and "mine" isn't beneficial for the whole and will come back to them eventually. Just because it can be done for less in China or Thailand doesn't mean that would benefit America as a whole. It's just very shortsighted to think that outsourcing everything just so I can buy a cheap DVD player is a good thing. If we're gonna do that we'll all end up at Starbucks serving each other lattes wondering why were not the greatest country in the world anymore.

Just my 2¢

Jim, you have my vote and I think you're doing the right thing.

- Jan

 

[Nick Wernham]

It really is incredible that you guys are doing something great in America. Personally, I think it is cool that during the early days of personal computers a lot of the leaders were based in America (Apple, Microsoft, IBM, etc.), but the fact that you guys are taking it a step further by actually building all of the machines in America is really amazing.

 

[Gary Paul Walker]

To your overseas customers, 'Made In USA' perhaps doesn't mean as much as it would to a customer in California (although I appreciate the importance of keeping jobs in the US instead of exporting them to the lowest bidding country).

But here's what I, as a UK customer appreciate... Having a product made within the vicinity of the very people who developed it. Made in the same enthusiastic and excited environment that gave birth to the EPIC and SCARLET cameras. Kudos for finding a way to keep those jobs in the California - there are benefits beyond the jobs in making this decision, and I think you have every right to be wondering why this isn't being reported on.

 

[Dan Kanes]

Dear Jim,

I didn't drive 90+ miles an hour in my cargo van after doing a commercial in the deep Antelope valley on November 3rd to see the Canon event.

I did however do that to make it to the Red Event.

Part of my interest and dedication is that your cameras are made here in California. As a native Californian I find this extremely important. I am so thankful that you provide jobs for people here, and that your system is very much Home-Grown.

I applaud you going against the grain. Don't give up hope for even one second. The recognition is there, and it will grow.

People hate when you reject the "normative" way of doing things.

I say, "Forget about those people." Nothing was ever accomplished by doing things the same way they have always been done.

Look at that fucking moron who wrote that Forbes article - actually anyone who buys into the stupidity of what he was saying and needs some lame Frat-Boy kid-analyst to tell them what is "safe" and what may only fill their coffers sitting by the wayside doing little-to-nothing and thinking they are some kind of bigshot.

My wife and I both Thank you and Everyone at Red for allowing us to grow both financially and as artists.

I know your feeling of dissatisfaction and the dark clouds that sometimes roll by.

Just keeping doing it - even for the fact that others don't want you to, and are enraged by what you have made tremendous in-roads into.

I'd consider your rejection of dependency on Overseas assembly to be a radical blow to the infrastructure of those who would crush the middle class in the name of profiteering.

The "average joe" has no idea where anything they use came from. It can be sickening when you open your eyes and realize how many people were exploited to bring you a Plastic Reindeer Ornament for 88 cents.

The scary thing is that until there is some sort of trade reform Americans will continue to be sold down the river by their own people.

Americans (of every class) are also being told "We Deserve Luxury" - this has created a Generation of people who aren't willing to "put in the work" to start from nothing.

It freaks me out when I see 36 year olds flipping burgers at Jack In the Box. This used to be where American Teenagers would work to afford to be able to ride their BMX bikes or Skateboards or to build their hotrod cars, or to take a girl to the movies. Now you'd have to work 6 to 8 (minimum wage) hours to be able to take a girl to a 3D movie and share a popcorn and soda each.

Where are Teenagers now? Playing Xbox 360, or being told they need to study for the SAT at the age of 14 so they can get into the right college and be indentured into a Financial Debt System that enslaves them for the rest of their lives with little to no guarantee of a career here.

Honestly - I'm just thankful I was born when I was and saw everything I have. I'm a product of the first personal computer generation. I'm from generation X - and I'll be damned if we are slackers compared to the stuff I see today. Maybe a bit bohemian, but hardly a slacker.

Anyway - thank you for helping me carve a financial niche for myself - creating my own jobs and my own life here in beautiful California.

I'm one of the luckiest people Alive - and your camera system helps contribute to that greatly.

Cheers,

Dan Kanes

 

[Jeremy Wiles]

I did not know the Epic was being made in the US. I am MUCH more proud to own an Epic camera today than I could have ever imagined. Thank you, Jim.

If RED writes a press release I am sure many here would be happy to pass it on to the media.

 

[Joseph Coleman]

The fundamentals of World Globalization make it inevitable that America will lose jobs, its not a bad thing at all. It just means that country's/regions that are most capable of creating/manufacturing something will do it at a cheaper price. It is good for the consumer. BUT, it is our JOB as Americans to innovate and continue to push technology. This will force high technology jobs to stay in America, where it belongs. In my opinion the reason America is not doing so well is because we are lacking people with the......BALLS to go against the grain like what RED has done. If Red can do it and make profits then so can other companies. I empathize with Jim, it must be hard to put so much work and passion into something like keeping jobs here in American and it just seems to slip by unnoticed and unappreciated. To the people that are surprised at how Jim reacts to some of the comments on here, try taking something that you are so passionate about and then have it torn apart and ridiculed by people who really don't know shit about what they are talking about....its not easy. Jim/Jarred you have created a camera that other companies envy. You have them scrambling to create a camera that can just match what you have done...and so fare they have failed. Keep roll'n man!! and please don't retire. Think about how boring that would be

 

[M Most]

Others here have already said this, but I've got to ask: has Red made an effort to do press releases or direct contact with various industry and non-industry publications to make them aware of these things? Putting posts on RedUser is like announcing something to your own company. It is preaching to the choir. If you want mainstream media attention, you have to make the effort to court it. This may be a land of opportunity, but it's not a place where you can just do something and have the mainstream press jump all over it simply because you did it. You have to make that happen, just like you made the R&D and manufacturing end happen.

I would suggest that issuing press releases is not an outdated practice. It is the way mainstream American business still works, and if you want the attention of mainstream press, you have to play the game a bit. I would also suggest contacting some other entities directly that might help to spread your message. The Governor's office might be one place to start, although I suspect that you've already made that contact. And as a final comment, I would also suggest that playing the role of the "rebel", the "outsider," can lead to exactly the situation you're now decrying. If you want established players to play the game with you, you've got to be willing to play the game with them, at least a little bit. Panavision has also had their assembly and manufacturing in the US for years, and everyone knows it because Panavision has let them know, through press releases and contacts with both industry and non-industry publications.

I'll say it again: getting the message out requires quite a bit more than posts on RedUser.

 

[A. Bastaki]

joseph.. Jim Jannard created red.. not Jarred... Jarred is the guy who makes an awesome normal looking fellow wear awesome shades so the normal fellow not only is awesome.. but looks awesome too.

get it?

 

[Brant Hadfield]

Jim, question would be who is doing your marketing, PR, media relations? In house? Agency? If you can't get a blip off of what you're doing, I'd look there first before getting upset with the news industry as a whole.

 

[A. Bastaki]

JJ, you might want to invest in a pr agency thats got a very close relationship to the news agencies you are targeting. You sending out press releases vs http://www.rubensteinpr.com/ sending em out.. is different. but i guess you know that.

 

[Paul Watt]

RED is a glimmer of hope for the American economy. It seems to define the "can-do" attitude that the USA was famous for a half century ago. I'm fairly certain that, aside from the visionary leadership of the company, the fact that it was privately funded, and I assume quite well funded, gave RED the ability to take "the risk" of manufacturing in the USA. I think it would have been far harder to convince lenders, or stockholders to back any of RED's business model, since it is something new. Perhaps now though, some entrepreneurs looking for funding will be able to point to what RED has done, and convince the money-holders to invest in America again.

 

[Bill Prouty]

RED Cinema is long overdue for an Oscar

 

[RayFrisby]

Jim your probably doing this but I would look at approaching industry champions and friends and invite them to your facilities on a particular day.
Steven Sodenberg, Peter Jackson, Jim Cameron etc... Pay for a day/weekend series of events and invite various government departments and tell them
this is a chance to celebrate an American and Worldwide Industry success.
Invite the media only after you have the others on board.
Media organizations are always looking for an angle, broadcast the event live on the web and provide free web feeds to news organizations and networks,
tie this in with an industry advertising campaign. Throw the largest organizations a once off bone and pay for a few magazine spreads.
Record everything and ask the guests to speak about their experience with Red Cameras in a questions and
answers session. Include the various government organizations in all events and photo-op's.
Just some suggestions.
Ray

 

[Anderson Boyd]

This post makes me want to want to retire.

Jim

Please don't. As much as we need labor returned to our shores, we need 21st century pioneers. Wouldn't it get boring not changing the world?

 

[Paul Ellington]

JJ, you might want to invest in a pr agency thats got a very close relationship to the news agencies you are targeting. You sending out press releases vs http://www.rubensteinpr.com/ sending em out.. is different. but i guess you know that.

I don't want to assume what Jim is thinking but, he shouldn't have to hire a PR firm with this kind of integrity towards american made, american life, and betterment of his fellow man. They should want to focus on this, it's not just about dollars and cents. There is a lot of blood sweat and hours of R&D put into making this thing so huge and for news and other media just to ignore, is complete, imo, BS. So we will see what happens, eventually they can't and will not be able to ignore this company which is doing great business, The American way, and I think Jarred has been key to Red being Red. I know it's Jim's company but man, that cat almost never sleeps because he bleeds Red. Credit due where credit earned.

- Paul