Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Pimp my Red (Rocket) cart...

Evin Grant said:
I'm not sure who this is directed at Shawn but if it's me then those numbers are a little low. Although I am using a 2008 Macpro that I previously used as a CC computer at my home office, I also previously owned the Red cart and UPS.

As far as rentals, it depends, on bigger union commercials a cart like this can earn between $750-$1000 a day, three day weeks usually. On smaller shows I tend to work out a package deal with the camera kit, cart and myself. Still, I'm planning to keep the price above $500 a day.

The lid and tower case should go for about $1300 depending on the final design.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the follow up! The dollar $ was just me doing a quick tally, the questions were for you so I appreciate the answer. I can swing the other Red stuff because I can rent it out of state without myself present, but owning a cart like that wouldnt really be that sustainable in the Portland market unless I had several features ready to go.
 
Shawn Nelson said:
Thanks for the follow up! The dollar $ was just me doing a quick tally, the questions were for you so I appreciate the answer. I can swing the other Red stuff because I can rent it out of state without myself present, but owning a cart like that wouldnt really be that sustainable in the Portland market unless I had several features ready to go.
Click to expand...

Basically - it's the same here.

The business here just can't support that kind of gear, unfortunately. On some productions they'll be providing me with a Macbook Pro and cheap firewire drives and expect me to put my reputation on the line with gear like that and still be able to deliver. I've had to explain this to producers over and over again and they very rarely get it. So I usually ask them what their car-mechanic would say if they told them to use a kid's toolbox to fix their car. That usually helps - but it's still very rare that I get paid for providing my own DIT package. And I really do try to explain just how important it is to have the right tools and how much those tools cost. Most of the time they will just say they can't afford it because the budget doesn't allow it. Most of the times I end up taking the job, but just bring my small mobile unit with me without getting paid for that separately. Unfortunate, I know - but in these financially difficult times I either have to take the job or sit at home and browse REDUser all day long...

Okay that's maybe not entirely true, but you get the idea :-)

However - I always try to make an effort of explaining what the caveats of that approach are. If something goes south - then they know who's to be blamed.

I wish it was different and I'm really trying to send a different message to producers here, but sometimes it takes a while to get them to "see the light" and for them it's very much a learning process. I think it's going to take them another year or so to fully understand.

I do say no to jobs where I feel like my position isn't being taken seriously enough - or if the pay is too low. I don't have a 20-year track record in the film industry so every job has a lot of value for me in terms of getting stuff on my resumé, but I really want to be selling quality instead of quantity - even if it means I have to say no to high profile jobs now and then.

On a positive note - I have had producers call me and admit they had wished they had accepted my offer because they had either lost data or hired someone else that didn't know what they were doing.

Sorry for sidetracking the thread. Now - back on topic...

Brook - what basic cart is that in your photo? :drool5:
 
Director's/DIT Convertible

Director's/DIT Convertible

My cart is pretty queer after seeing these hooked up man carts!!!

Mine is designed for location jobs and serves as both a Director's monitor & DIT station. It is completely housed in a Pelican 1650 and fits on almost any cart or on top of a couple other 1650's. It really does not have the balls of any of the carts I have seen on this thread mainly because of the lack of a MacPro/Rocket but it does serve me very well as a copy station and definitely rocks as a portable no fuss monitor!! It also has a built in sunshade (not pictured) which blocks sun on top & sides... folds in for travel.

In Miami I use a couple cheap ($300) carts like the ones pictured... I have one with balloon tires for the beach!

Features-

01. 26" Samsung LED TV installed in lid w adjustable angle. I originally used a XL2370 but upgraded to the 26" which is incredible with extended viewing angles, multiple inputs and incredible picture quality.

02. 8 ter. of back up storage w/ventilation

03. FW CF reader

04. aja sdi>hdmi converter

05. recessed watertight access port with all connections including power... all connections are hardwired on the outside of the box.
 

Attachments

  • DIT_IMG_1299.jpg
    DIT_IMG_1299.jpg
    97.2 KB · Views: 0
I'm working on setting up a DIT station for an upcoming shoot. These bigfoot carts look great. What kind of UPS units are you guys using? What wattage should I be looking for for a MacPro, 24" lcd, and CalDigit or Maxx raid? It'll just be for file transfers and prepping dailies.

Thanks,
-Joshua
 
dino g said:
i have a modified tr-04 with two custom shelves and a custom tent made from gripology & recylced duv...complete with a/c...

jarred came out last week and loved it!!!

dino
Click to expand...

Yeah your cart was pretty cool dino.. the air conditioning was insane.
 
Hey Brook, wondering if the HP VESA quick release would mount onto an Apple Cinema Display or if anyone knows of one that will?

Digging this link. Lots of goods. This is my rig (a constantly evolving process).

The tent and cart come from Sig at Backstage Studio Equipment.

/Users/lonnydanler/Documents/ FilmWork/Work/Resume&BusinessCards/IMG_2828.jpg
/Users/lonnydanler/Documents/ FilmWork/Work/Resume&BusinessCards/lonny-1.jpg
 
Oops, here are the images of rig.

Thanks Brook. Good to know. Better to be sure than bought and sorry.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2828.jpg
    IMG_2828.jpg
    30.8 KB · Views: 0
  • lonny-1.jpg
    lonny-1.jpg
    82.9 KB · Views: 0
Great thanks Ill give the 8x8 a go. Is it ok in the wind and can you set it up on your own?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top