Red "Weapon" Name Poll - Change it or not?

[Ben Graham]

No I don't think this discussion is important at all, I think it has crossed over into the rude and unprofessional territory long ago.

 

[D Fuller]

No I don't think this discussion is important at all, I think it has crossed over into the rude and unprofessional territory long ago.

Those are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Ben Graham]

Not usually... however Reduser is a very special place. Regardless, the name of your camera has about as much influence on working in the film industry and international travel as the colour of your socks. It is a ridiculous argument.

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

Not usually... however Reduser is a very special place. Regardless, the name of your camera has about as much influence on working in the film industry and international travel as the colour of your socks. It is a ridiculous argument.

Hope you voted.

 

[Ben Graham]

I did! I could care less about the name. Anyways I need to go remove the Alexa sticker from my Arri because It is too girly.

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

I did! I could care less about the name. Anyways I need to go remove the Alexa sticker from my Arri because It is too girly.

I cant recall hearing anyone seriously mock the Alexa name...apart from a quick mock in the defence of WEAPON. Conversely I have heard people mock/take the piss/discuss the downside of "weapon" online and out on set.

 

[Milan S.]

I would ask them to leave and go have a headache somewhere else.

I hope that you are not running a business on those principles.

 

[Milan S.]

Not usually... however Reduser is a very special place. Regardless, the name of your camera has about as much influence on working in the film industry and international travel as the colour of your socks. It is a ridiculous argument.

Speak for yourself. We are in different business apparently.
Make your argument but don't ridicule others who are in different position than yours.

 

[Ben Graham]

I am sorry but I personally find it ridiculous that the name of your camera would affect your business or ability to travel. Also if you came into one of my businesses complaining about the name of a camera I would probably ridicule you. I prefer to talk about the features and performance of the camera rather than the name. But thats just me.

Speak for yourself. We are in different business apparently.
Make your argument but don't ridicule others who are in different position than yours.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

Seems like a lot of close minded judgement from some coming to the discussion late. :-(

 

[Matt Ryan]

Wow, so I tried to keep this thread to just the poll and included the link to the other "discussion" thread for those compelled to chat. Guess that was wishful thinking. I was truly hoping people would speak with their votes and keep things more civil and understanding. I would ask again that we keep this purely to the vote. Everyone has an opinion based on their own experiences and environments. Not one view is right or wrong. I hope everyone sees that.

We are wisely being given the option to have the branded version with the name "Weapon" and a stealth version without the name or badge. On a customs form or carnet, you could just list RED Digital Cinema Camera, no need to list the name "Weapon" if you have the stealth version. I think the most wise way to go about this conversation is to focus on the future naming convention of RED products. They are free to name them whatever, but I think this discussion brings up a good point that there is a lot of negativity towards the naming conventions of RED. The best outcome of this whole thing is the option for the stealth version and the awareness of the entire user bases feelings on the naming conventions. My belief is RED will take this into consideration with future products and that will benefit us all in the perception across the industry and with users from all over the world towards RED and their incredible cameras. I've seen and heard it time and time again that people refuse to use a RED camera because they don't like the "culture" surrounding it. Funny this is all based on perception and nothing to do with the actual quality of the cameras or the images they produce and their incredible value.

 

[Sergio Perez]

Seems like a lot of close minded judgement from some coming to the discussion late. :-(

I think at this time all that was to be said about it was said. I'm sure Jim, Jarred ans the Red Team have seen and read through the reasoning of both sides and taken the results of the poll accordingly. Also, I'm sure what is being said on the sidelines from the industry will not go unnoticed too. Ultimately people will "vote" with their wallets. We are all Redusers here, and I believe that all that posted here, ultimately just want Red to be succesful. I will most certainly upgrade, as I believe most here, so we are not the issue here. Ultimately, the market will speak. Lets hope Red is right, here, in their marketing/branding. Independent of the result, I'm sure the camera will not disappoint and am in for the long haul!

 

[Sabyasachi Patra]

I've seen and heard it time and time again that people refuse to use a RED camera because they don't like the "culture" surrounding it. Funny this is all based on perception and nothing to do with the actual quality of the cameras or the images they produce and their incredible value.

Don't brand it as funny and dismiss it. People take decisions based on perceptions and not facts. That is how we humans are.

 

[Milan S.]

Seems like a lot of close minded judgement from some coming to the discussion late. :-(

Interestingly enough, these are mostly coming from people who love the name.

I think that a really interesting statistic would be to see the actual background of the people who voted.
I have a feeling that a large proportion of people who dislike the name are on the creative side of the business as opposed to the "business" side of the business.

I'm sure Red would also appreciate to find out who does their marketing fan base consist of.

 

[Matt Ryan]

Don't brand it as funny and dismiss it. People take decisions based on perceptions and not facts. That is how we humans are.

I shoot for a living so I don't dismiss it one bit. I have to fight to shoot RED all the time even though I'm the one that was hired to be the DP. What I meant by funny is it is wrong to base opinions on perception rather than the actual product. The job of a professional is to test out and try all the options to make the best choice. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen much these days.

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

Matt is correct. The value of this thread will hopefully be felt in future RED product naming.

I also get a feeling the STEALTH version will be so popular that going forward it may help RED rethink/reduce the copious arrows and words printed on the brain and accessories.

 

[Nikhil Kamkolkar]

The only party that really matters here is RED. If RED starts ridiculing these concerns, or decides to start ignoring these concerns, that is the day that some of us will have a real problem on our hands and a tough decision to make.

Anyone who thinks a 'name' doesn't make any difference never read about how PIXAR ended up being named PIXAR and not 'ANIMATION FILM FACTORY' or worse, 'ANIMATION BAZOOKA'.

The name is the first introduction of a product to a NEW user. So question to RED would be - what ethos do you want your new camera name to suggest to someone who knows absolutely nothing about RED, and has never come to reduser?

RED has been waging a war on conventional thinking from the very start, yet their camera names were eloquent, beautiful, aspirational and rocked hard! RED ONE, EPIC, SCARLET, DRAGON. None of them resulted in a poll like this one.

The concern that remains is around the future of RED branding and naming conventions. If RED won't course-correct or pivot now, or give us an assurance of it, then this will just have been a battle, a skirmish even, but the war would be lost by some of us while the victors rejoice over the fact that their side won. Like all wars, there'll be winners and losers. And that's the greatest tragedy here is that this name has divided, instead of uniting. Which is a real bummer.

Oh, Shakespeare, if only names didn't matter and a rose by any other name smelled as sweet…

 

[Scott Crawley]

Anyone who thinks a 'name' doesn't make any difference never read about how PIXAR ended up being named PIXAR and not 'ANIMATION FILM FACTORY' or worse, 'ANIMATION BAZOOKA'.

Are you suggesting that Toy Story would not have been successful if it were made by Animation Bazooka?

Don't get me wrong I understand there have been products that were negatively effected by their names. The first example that comes to my mind is the Chevy Nova.

Nova was a well built car that had at it's heart what is arguably one of the best designed production combustion engines ever built in the straight six. It was simple, relatively easy to build, fix and maintain and it would continue to run seemingly no matter what you did to it. It was the AK-47 of motors.

The car sold relatively well in the US and abroad with the exception of Spanish speaking countries because "no va" means "doesn't go."

Weapon is not the corollary of creates wonderful moving pictures, so I'm not yet convinced it represents the same problem. Time and sales will tell.

And I'm sure they would oblige your request. And the next time you invited them over, they (remembering their headache and your response) would be likely to decline the invitation. That's why this discussion is important.

Is a guest who insists that you strip your wallpaper and paint the wall because it doesn't suit their particular taste one that you want to have back? I suppose they could be if they were your sole benefactor, but if your heart and soul were invested in that wallpaper... You do after all have other friends who support you.

What if in the middle of a cocktail party they used your Karaoke mic to poll the other guests asking "Do you agree that our host has no taste whatsoever?" then proceeded to chronicle in detail why you are a childish fool? Now would you want them back or might you be inclined to never again post a comment at the party?

I am amazed by Red's restraint and applaud them for it. Stealth really is a wonderful offering, but as cool as it is I wouldn't be caught dead owning one. Give me the whole enchilada please, the original vision, the Director's cut. At this point it is more than a question of taste, security or convenience for me.

It is indeed a personal choice but again, my vote was I could care less what they call it anyway.

 

[David Battistella]

The concern that remains is around the future of RED branding and naming conventions. If RED won't course-correct or pivot now, or give us an assurance of it, then this will just have been a battle, a skirmish even, but the war would be lost by some of us while the victors rejoice over the fact that their side won. Like all wars, there'll be winners and losers.

Interesting choice of a war analogy.

 

[Nikhil Kamkolkar]

Interesting choice of a war analogy.

Figured it might resonate…