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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 :)

Red Body Goes Down In Fiery Death

Tom.Wong

Tom.Wong

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So I'm DIT on a feature right now, what I won't mention. They didn't have me on board till a week into shoot. Reason so late was cause they thought they could do without one and claiming poverty cause production spent all their money in all other areas.

So I agree to work for a very low rate and go on board with this as a feature opportunity to have under my belt, and I get on set and they already tell me they are on they're on their second Red body. First one was plugged into DC power (rented from arri csc and they were using their batteries instead of red bricks) the batteries had memory burn on them so they would only last 40 min tops and cut out with no warning. They run the DC power through the charger with batteries charging.

The camera turns on and off, over and over, blinks, does a million different things, and smoke comes out. The entire insides melted, if they didn't unplug it in time it might have really gone up in flames.

1. wouldn't have happened on my watch that's for sure.
2. lesson, always try to budget in a DIT or at least someone that can prevent these situations.
3. props to ARRI CSC. they got a new body to them within 2 hours just ilike that, great customer service.


Got 3 weeks left here, thought it would be a story for the books on this one.
 
Interesting First Week Tom.. you should keep a Production Diary, it sounds like the drama behind the scenes might be better than the drama on screen :)
 
don't get me wrong, they have a 500k budget, and i give respect to a anybody that can get budget. i've been looking for it for years!

but in the case of the latter of ur comment, if u saw the footage (looks pretty that's about it) you'd say to urself wow... i'd rather be watching a red body go up in flames...

but it was a honest mistake, and recoverable. and the crew is great and really nice and it's a really great first feature experience for me. gonna do my thing and make sure camera stays nice and safe and not on fire...

so lesson learned folks.

A. red's, to contrary belief and arguments aren't invincible.
B. don't set your red on fire. it's bad juju
C. film making is so much fun :)
 
Jarred Land said:
Interesting First Week Tom.. you should keep a Production Diary, it sounds like the drama behind the scenes might be better than the drama on screen :)
Click to expand...

yeah ... I'm rather shocked nobody has made a reality show yet that just covers behind-the-scenes indie film production - aside from Project Greenight - which could have been done much better IMHO.
 
i almost wish there was footage of it, i'd put a 4.5k rez copy up for everybody to download in a heart beat. and it will just be labeled

DON'T DO THIS!!!!!!!
 
Mark L. Pederson said:
yeah ... I'm rather shocked nobody has made a reality show yet that just covers behind-the-scenes indie film production - aside from Project Greenight - which could have been done much better IMHO.
Click to expand...


Entourage is the best true to life, behind the Hollywood scenes drama going!

Dave
 
This is probably a bit too low budget for the taste of people on this forum, but American Movie is a pretty good look into the mind and production of a failing filmmaker on a disastrous production.

It's an amusing irony that I believe his career got a shot in the arm (in a nice way) through the making of that film, which basically made him look like a buffoon. But a likable, determined buffoon.

D
 
Tom, American Movie is about a no budget filmmaker. Coven was not a typical film set. Both the films were very enjoyable : ) but with $500K you can crew up and do a decent drama but yeah I've seen some dumb stuff done on set by lazy "experts". I try to give 110% even on free jobs but have been on crews who did sub-par work due to their feeling they were being underpaid so WTF, why bust their asses. I hope your crew is more interested in what is best for the film. Best to have someone around who knows when taking a short-cut is a bad idea. Murphy's Law is on set 24/7 so be flexible. I thought the Project Greenlight shows did a good job showing how stupid some people can be during a production. Good Luck during the next 3 weeks! I've ruined a few cameras in my time but still have my first Super-8 and 16mm and DV cameras. I will treat my Scarlet with loving care : )
 
thanks ken, nah everybody is working really hard, and it's a wonderful crew. everybody is incredibly professional, and there have been tons of hiccups but everybody just finds a way to work through it, keep shooting and make it the best peace they can possibly do despite whether they think of the material. i actually feel really fortunate to have this be my first feature, great learning experience and definitely accomplishing a great deal.

and trust me, there will be no fiery flaming death of camera on my watch
 
Indie

Indie

Mark L. Pederson said:
yeah ... I'm rather shocked nobody has made a reality show yet that just covers behind-the-scenes indie film production - aside from Project Greenight - which could have been done much better IMHO.
Click to expand...

I agree that the series could have been done better.

Project Greenlight (Stolen Summer) showed an indie film-maker making a film, but the actual film-making wasn't indie style it was professionals doing an indie film-maker a patronising big favour.


Most indie film makers can do a lot with a million dollar budget.
 
Mark L. Pederson said:
yeah ... I'm rather shocked nobody has made a reality show yet that just covers behind-the-scenes indie film production - aside from Project Greenight - which could have been done much better IMHO.
Click to expand...

we actually did a self-funded pilot for this idea several years ago. I also love the idea, being a film junkie, but had a hard time getting anyone to buy it. While we finish a lot of work, we have not sold our own show yet, so just getting in the door was difficult.

Still would love to make the show. Other than after-the-fact interviews, it
was traditional documentary, but cut faster, with none of the 'directed reality' used in most reality TV.

GH
 
Tom,

when you told me this this morning I was amazed and after reading it again that hasn't changed. Nothing like a 4k cookout.

I do not like the anton bauers either, worked with them last week.

Do you know which body from csc you had ? just curious.
 
Exactly what happened to the camera?
 
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