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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 users in Africa and Middle East

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Kevan Jones

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Hi. This is Kevan Jones from AV Specialist magazine. I'm planning an article that explores the use of Red in Africa and the Middle East and would appreciate it if current/ future users would contact me or reply to this thread. I'm specifically trying to understand where the camera is being used, what it's being used for - and why?
 
Hello Kevan,
I love AV Specialist Magazine , We receive it every month in my company here in Lebanon. We have a RED ONE , we recently opened a production house ,sadly we are one of the few here in Lebanon that know how to work with this camera properly , we also have Scratch system . Recently we have been shooting lots of commercials .
I was wondering if u know any production houses in Tanzanian using RED ?
 
Hi Kevan

I am a Director/DoP based out of Dubai, I have two full Red camera packages with Arri accessories etc. I used to always shoot 35mm on commercials and high end corporates but now in the last 12 months I would say 75% of the I shoot on the Red's. Everyone seems impressed with the look and the quality. But as Sally Shamas stated there are few people who use it properly and truly understand the camera in this region, especially the post workflow. I have been around to the post houses that I work with and have been shocked at the lack of knowledge of the new workflows, they all seem to be trying to use the pre 7thDec 2008 workflows as opposed to the latest methods, very odd. However we will get there eventually
 
isnt this thread a bit old? why the sudden rebirth?

Maybe time to revisit the topic, Kevan? I know the RED is freakin everywhere round here now.
 
Sally Shamas said:
Not in Tanzania .
Click to expand...

I meant in the U.A.E. There's a ton more than there were when the initial article went out. Speaking to people from various companies, it would seem to have (at least in this country) overtaken film, as Riki said.

Id also agree with Riki, that there are a lot of cowboys here aswell. A lot of the cameras are in the hands of people who don't know how to use them, and a lot of the post houses here have not yet fully caught up with the post process. We have to troubleshoot an awful lot of both workflow issues and poor shots.
 
On a side note, Id like to suggest, as I did a good few months ago, that we get a "Middle East' section added to the Usergroups subsection of the forum.

I never know wether I should post in "Asia" or "Everywhere else".

Would anyone else agree that it would be a useful addition to the site?
 
Andrew clemson said:
On a side note, Id like to suggest, as I did a good few months ago, that we get a "Middle East' section added to the Usergroups subsection of the forum.

I never know wether I should post in "Asia" or "Everywhere else".

Would anyone else agree that it would be a useful addition to the site?
Click to expand...

Well, technically we are in Asia . But the "Everywhere else" is a section to all the countries that they never heard about in the US, Canada and Europe .
Here in Lebanon , RED is taking over film but its a shame how they are using it , shooting 2k , not knowing what to do with the footage , not using false color so we get lots of shitty footage , not knowing wat a LUT is about etc.etc..
 
RikiButland said:
That is extremely sad and disapointing Sally as this will only give the Red camera a bad reputation
Click to expand...
Until someone starts a RED community in Lebanon , maybe in the Middle East ...
 
I know about 9 REDs .
 
Sally Shamas said:
Until someone starts a RED community in Lebanon , maybe in the Middle East ...
Click to expand...

Wow, that would be a good idea. Why didnt I think of that? :biggrin:

Seriously though, I hear you on the lack of knowledge thing. Its pretty much the classic RED story.
For the first few months when we got the cameras they were the only ones in town, now everyone and his dog has a RED.

Unfortunately there are a lot of cowboys in Dubai, in every industry, and a lot of people bought the R1 because of the price point
( I believe they are still cheaper than a Varicam, no?) using it as a progression from the HVX or Z1 and had no idea how to shoot them.
We pitched our wonderful new cameras to people who promptly said:

"Sorry I had an awful experience with 'company X' a few weeks ago, and never want to see that camera again"

"The post is awful, the camera is unreliable, it crashes,.....wah wah wah"

We had to do a big marketing push to convince people to shoot RED again. I did countless workflow demos, (still do) and it took quite a long time to get client confidence back.

Now there's no stopping it, we haven't shot anything other than RED in over a year.

Viva la revolution!

I think it would be worth starting a middle east group. I think its an underestimated region in terms of production.
I have suggested to TED over in the REDucation thread that he brings the RED Bandwagon to our neck of the woods......

(but i think India is the closest they're coming)
 
Hi guys,, (sabah el foll ala lebnan wa dubai).. (good morning Lebanon and Dubai)
we have the very same problem in cairo.. only rare guys who can really make a good stuff out of this camera.. and the reputation went down the last year.. and when DPs started to realize that it can be a good tool to work with.. they started to promote it to clients.. but, also we have a lot of film shooting idiots..
Also people doesn't appreciate the importance of the post workflow for this camera.. simply no one has any experience with raw footage.. and post houses think RED footage should bring them magic without basic knowlage of what it is..

it would be really great to open up a community for the middle east.. I would be contributing..
 
There are at least 4 RED cameras in Kuwait, but the power of RAW is very difficult to benefit from in a place where CC is an alien concept.
Most of those who shoot on RED go to.. Cairo, Lebanon etc.. Funny..
A middle east community would be a fantastic idea. Every market
has its special needs, and middle east is no exception.
Many of the solutions offered in RED forums may be good for US or European markets, but do not work here.
We have to raise this community. That will be very helpful.
It will help us to find new jobs or hire professionals who know how
to deal with RED in our local market.

Mohammed, since it was you who PM-ed me about this thread and you are the
last person who wrote here, what would be the practical steps in your opinion.
I will be more than ready to do whatever it takes to support this idea.
 
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