Observations...

[Jarred Land]

RED should SERIOUSLY consider hiring a Clarity Czar.

Hearing directly from yourself, Jarred and Jim (occasionally) has its charm and appeal. But, with events like this, where everyone is busy getting ready for the show and being pulled in 10 different directions at once, there needs to be someone who can go over all official information and make sure it makes sense to the people who aren't already familiar with it..

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.

We change things 15 times over and over even at the very last moment, alot of times while I am literally typing the posts. It is organic... and yes it can look like a total clusterfuck.

It would make a PR person commit suicide.

We of course do have "normal" info on our website that launches right after I start posting about the new products like a normal company would.. but you can never answer every question in a brochure.

Some missing info that may seem basic may not be known yet, some things we are in the process of making better, or some things may of just slipped through the cracks.

Our customers ask the best questions.. and we love being here to answer them. Questions we could never even think of.. and that keeps us fast fluid and flexible.

I know the fractured info is frustrating. It always takes us a couple days for all our information on website to catch up with all the changes we make here in that first 24 hours.

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

And thank you for all of you guys and girls that are here with us in the middle of the night every Sunday as we roll things out as part of the process.

It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.

We change things 15 times over and over even at the last moment, alot of times while I am literally typing the posts. It's organic... and yes it can look like a total clusterfuck.

It would make a PR person commit suicide.

We of course do have "normal" info on our website that launches right after I start posting about the new products like a normal company would.. but you can never answer every question in a brochure.

Some missing info that may seem basic may not be known yet, some things we are in the process of making better, or some things may of just slipped through the cracks.

Our customers ask the best questions.. and we love being here to answer them. Questions we could never even think of.. and that keeps us fast fluid and flexible.

I know the fractured info is frustrating. It always takes us a couple days for all our information on website to catch up with all the changes we make here in that first 24 hours.

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

And thank you for all of you guys and girls that are here with us in the middle of the night every Sunday as we roll things out as part of the process.

It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

Thank you for staying up until 2-3 AM and posting all of that while dealing with 100 other things as well. It's worth getting in trouble for keeping my wife up while I hit refresh on my laptop every year. Keep it rolling!

 

[Phil Holland]

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

Thank you for that. I make a living shooting on RED cameras and the company, people, tech, and this shooting community are very important to the "whole pie".

I don't mind being the ear and mouth before the ear and mouth either. NAB is a nuclear blast, especially when such things as cameras and future minded tech are involved. It always takes a minute to settle. Often a week or two post-NAB.

I was at the RED booth today overhearing a good deal of people asking about Weapon and it's educational in so many ways. Especially those who come from international markets trying to get a clear picture of the whole thing. There's excitement, anger, love, frustration, relief, and confusion. Shakespeare would have a field day with the show's emotion ebbs and flows.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

8. Uprezzing not spoken here... please do not believe that uprezzing a 2.8K sensor to 4K in camera is a reasonable option. It isn't. It is as close to fraud as it gets.
Jim

To be fair Opengate 3.4k has been available for quite some time. It's still uprezzed but it's not *that* bad. Also you can have a less aggressive OLPF and deliver a sharper 3.8k UHD image from a 3.4k sensor than a comparatively higher res sensor whose olpf might be a bit too aggressive more normal shooting situations. Red was rightfully very clear during the great Bayer pattern resolution of 2006 that cameras should be judged by the full image chain and RED 4k Bayer out resolved 4k 35mm.

 

[Patrick Grossien]

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.

We change things 15 times over and over even at the very last moment, alot of times while I am literally typing the posts. It is organic... and yes it can look like a total clusterfuck.

It would make a PR person commit suicide.

We of course do have "normal" info on our website that launches right after I start posting about the new products like a normal company would.. but you can never answer every question in a brochure.

Some missing info that may seem basic may not be known yet, some things we are in the process of making better, or some things may of just slipped through the cracks.

Our customers ask the best questions.. and we love being here to answer them. Questions we could never even think of.. and that keeps us fast fluid and flexible.

I know the fractured info is frustrating. It always takes us a couple days for all our information on website to catch up with all the changes we make here in that first 24 hours.

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

And thank you for all of you guys and girls that are here with us in the middle of the night every Sunday as we roll things out as part of the process.

It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

This made me smile like a five year old

Kudos, Jarred!

 

[Brian Boyer]

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.

We change things 15 times over and over even at the very last moment, alot of times while I am literally typing the posts. It is organic... and yes it can look like a total clusterfuck.

It would make a PR person commit suicide.

We of course do have "normal" info on our website that launches right after I start posting about the new products like a normal company would.. but you can never answer every question in a brochure.

Some missing info that may seem basic may not be known yet, some things we are in the process of making better, or some things may of just slipped through the cracks.

Our customers ask the best questions.. and we love being here to answer them. Questions we could never even think of.. and that keeps us fast fluid and flexible.

I know the fractured info is frustrating. It always takes us a couple days for all our information on website to catch up with all the changes we make here in that first 24 hours.

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

And thank you for all of you guys and girls that are here with us in the middle of the night every Sunday as we roll things out as part of the process.

It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

I guess I need my own Clarity Czar because my meaning didn't come across as intended. Stupid Karma.

I wasn't proposing a different method of getting the word out to the public. I think Zeb and Donald may have also contributed to the notion that I was referring to going a more traditional PR route. I was not.

I was talking about a glorified proofreader - an editor, if you will. You and Brent may be furiously reading and typing away in order to keep up with Reduser questions/comments while trying to simultaneously take care of 5 other things.

Having someone (an assistant, maybe?) whose job is to read over information and make sure it's up-to-date and not ambiguous or misleading, especially after concerns start to be raised, would help everyone out a lot.

This goes for info on Reduser, Red.com and emails - speaking of which, that last one seemed to contradict what was stated by you regarding the $5,000 accessory credit.

I get that things change on the fly. I'm simply proposing that, when they do, the change is communicated clearly and accurately. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get there but it couldn't hurt to have a less distracted set of eyes to go over things. Honestly, it would take like 3 extra minutes and save countless freak outs.

I don't mean every post you and Brent make (although, it'd be doable), but certainly the thread starters and any new revelations.

There's having a thought and then there's conveying that thought. I believe RED could benefit greatly by having someone who can make sure that thought gets expressed in the most clear and concise manner while still keeping with RED's unorthodox operating style.

 

[Jannard]

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.

We change things 15 times over and over even at the very last moment, alot of times while I am literally typing the posts. It is organic... and yes it can look like a total clusterfuck.

It would make a PR person commit suicide.

We of course do have "normal" info on our website that launches right after I start posting about the new products like a normal company would.. but you can never answer every question in a brochure.

Some missing info that may seem basic may not be known yet, some things we are in the process of making better, or some things may of just slipped through the cracks.

Our customers ask the best questions.. and we love being here to answer them. Questions we could never even think of.. and that keeps us fast fluid and flexible.

I know the fractured info is frustrating. It always takes us a couple days for all our information on website to catch up with all the changes we make here in that first 24 hours.

Phil has been awesome at shadowing us this year and summarizing from a customer perspective which has been incredibly helpful.

And thank you for all of you guys and girls that are here with us in the middle of the night every Sunday as we roll things out as part of the process.

It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

Post of the year.

Jim

 

[Sergio Perez]

No, THANK YOU guys. Its this that makes us confident that you listen, that our input matters, that we are all in this together. My confidence in RED comes from trust. I've owned a Red camera not for a very long time, I think about 4 years? In a time when the Dragon sensor was under doubt and scrutiny, you guys listened, provided the LLO option, and I jumped in immediately. I'm sure, as long as you can make it happen, you will keep us covered. I, and believe many others, are on the potential Magnesium bandwagon. The same trust and complicity you have with us on your development we will return with the same loyalty, commitment and good word of mouth as we go into our own battles, our little revolutions. I trust you, Jim, Jarred and Red Team, to give us the Tool to keep changing the audiovisual landscape.

 

[Jannard]

I'd also point out that both Jarred and I are up at 3am reading every post. We are here... listening.

Jim

 

[Sergio Perez]

I'd also point out that both Jarred and I are up at 3am reading every post. We are here... listening.

Jim

And that makes all the difference. Thank you.

 

[Brad Grimm]

4 years ago, I had to use my credit card to buy the Scarlet out of my parents basement. Today I ordered the CF 8K Weapon in cash from my NYC apartment. I can do this today because of the amazing tools you put in the reach of many. Thank you so very much!

 

[Jarred Land]

4 years ago, I had to use my credit card to buy the Scarlet out of my parents basement. Today I ordered the CF 8K Weapon in cash from my NYC apartment. I can do this today because of the amazing tools you put in the reach of many. Thank you so very much!

I don't know Jim.. this might actually be the real post of the year.

Brad this is incredible congrats man.

 

[David Battistella]

I'd also point out that both Jarred and I are up at 3am reading every post. We are here... listening.

Jim

It's just about lunchtime here.

We are very grateful for all the late nights, hard work and the constant push to innovate and force a whole industry to shift.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

I don't know Jim.. this might actually be the real post of the year.

Brad this is incredible congrats man.

I did not own a Red camera up until last year, but the journey has been almost the same for me. When you unveiled the Red One, I jumped onto that concept, learned the camera and it made me a spearhead in post production during those first two years. Because of that I'm now a part of the industry, not just on the fence, but an actual player making real money. Right before the Red One, this was only a dream I had.

 

[Jeff McCoy]

I was on the fence about weapon until I read this post. Thanks Jim. I guess I'm diving in after all.

 

[Maik Müller]

Hey Brian... I know it can seem like a total madhouse. It is. And it is like that every year.

We are definitely not a normal company and the way we release products is not normal. We release our new products not through press releases, but in an open conversation with our customers, right here... every year.
...
It is one big hot mess, and we couldn't imagine it any other way.

It's amazing to follow you on your path, watch you grow, succeed and not losing that special attitude that made you outstanding from day one. I hope someone shot lots of footage during all those years, from the very beginning to today, and tomorrow. It would be an amazing documentary and maybe it should be called "Madhouse".

I am thankful for the opportunities i got out of this adventure, i am glad i took the risks when it came to financing my Scarlet. RED has a big impact on my life, not only job-wise.

To put it simple: I just love this company and you guys.

Thank you Jim and Jarred.

 

[Nikhil Kamkolkar]

Of course I can't speak for RED but I'm pretty sure that DSMC V2 tech and format will trickle down towards Epic and Scarlet at some point.

The improvements are just too god and keeping 2 systems maintained slows you down. It seems logical.

I truly hope so! And I'm very, very glad Jarred and Jannard are reading most of these posts, if not all. Specially given how noisy and riotous we can get. lol

Some (maybe many) of us are not rental houses/owner-ops using the equipment to make a living. I'm a hyphenate and as such, the equipment part is just one part of my equation. And I'll never recover the money I'm investing in the platform through the equipment itself. I've spent more time on my UCLA screenwriting classes this past year than on shooting, but that's just the way my world rocks.

I don't need the latest and the greatest, but workflow benefits are very critical to me on my chosen platform (RED) given how premium my time ends up being. I'm glad to see RED is going in the right direction with the new modules and internal processing updates (blackshading et al), and I just hope upgrade solutions/paths are carved out with RED adopting a code of honor that declares - "no camera left behind"

Thanks,
Nikhil

 

[Nick Morrison]

I'd also point out that both Jarred and I are up at 3am reading every post. We are here... listening.

Jim

I have to say, I've been noticing how LATE Jarred has been posting this week...and it's not like he's not back out on the floor at NAB the next morning....how much coffee is he drinking??

Serious commitment.

I personally really appreciate it.

 

[Peter Majtan]

Now just try to imagine how must he feel when after an exhausting day at the show and countless meetings etc - he comes here to answer our questions at 3AM and see people "feeling betrayed", pissed off and what not.
This BS was what "forced" Jim away from being more active on this forum.
I sure as hell hope that we don't push Jarred away in the same way...

:sifone: Peter

 

[Steve Sherrick]

Jarred told me a while back that first and foremost they make cameras that they want to shoot with. Jarred, Jim, and others at RED are filmmakers. The bonus is that we get to buy those cameras if we like them too and at a price point that is far more reasonable than previous generations of high end camera tech. I still believe that to be the case today. Yes, the business has expanded and yes they deal with every level of filmmaking from the ultra indie through to the big studios, but I can't imagine Jarred losing his rebellious filmmaker attitude.

And I had a conversation with Jim at NAB one year away from the chaos of the show floor and I found him to be a humble, passionate, creative guy who also seemed intent on helping other filmmakers realize their dreams. Passion can be interpreted differently, as we have witnessed on the various forums. But I didn't get the sense that Jim was looking to rip people off, and so I don't feel like this new round of camera upgrades is a malicious attempt to cut off the indie filmmakers.

And when Jim says that anyone with any model of RED camera is still in possession of a powerful tool, I agree with him. Whether that tool is right for you or your clients is entirely up to you. But know this, you can buy into RED for as low as $4000 right now. In fact, that's what I'll be shooting my film on this spring. And I have access to the current generation of REDs, but I've made it a point to shoot this on what I have because the camera won't be the limiting factor for me, what I can get out of the performances will be.