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

[David Battistella]

comic relief.

 

[scott devitte]

I have noticed on this thread that people arguing that names don't make a difference do not travel to dangerous places. No matter how inconvenient the TSA is, it is your culture, your language, and there is redress of grievances. Come with me to some places I go and I will guarantee you that within a day of being there, you will not want to have anything in your possession that you can not simply explain with you.

 

[Scott Crawley]

I have noticed on this thread that people arguing that names don't make a difference do not travel to dangerous places. No matter how inconvenient the TSA is, it is your culture, your language, and there is redress of grievances. Come with me to some places I go and I will guarantee you that within a day of being there, you will not want anything that you can not simply explain with you.

I don't understand how you could know where proponents of "it doesn't make a difference" do and do not travel, but I do actually understand your concern and how it can be valid. I believe it is why Red has offered the stealth option.

Jarred's announcement of stealth should have been the end of the debate IMHO but... :beatdeadhorse5:Continues

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

The war analogy is ..interesting. Red say they are at War. This is where the stark style of RED studios comes from, all the way through to why the WEAPON is called what it is. Red as a business feels it is at war and they use that in their brand.

Thing is....Every business owner considers themselves at WAR. Red brand ethos is based on a theme so ubiquitous to every business it has no meaning to the product. The names given to products don't reflect the product themselves but reflect something (unfortunately) common to every business. Its like branding RED with dollar signs...because after all, the business is out to make money. RED WEAPON becomes The RED PENNY and instead of arrows on the camera pointing everywhere there are dollar signs. Its just as relevant as the war theme. Says just as much.

Someone said it well when they called the Weapon the RED NOUN or RED WORD.

War, what`s it good for? Putting on a camera apparently.

 

[Clayton Burkhart]

The war analogy is ..interesting. Red say they are at War. This is where the stark style of RED studios comes from, all the way through to why the WEAPON is called what it is. Red as a business feels it is at war and they use that in their brand.

Thing is....Every business owner considers themselves at WAR. Red brand ethos is based on a theme so ubiquitous to every business it has no meaning to the product. The names given to products don't reflect the product themselves but reflect something (unfortunately) common to every business. Its like branding RED with dollar signs...because after all, the business is out to make money. RED WEAPON becomes The RED PENNY and instead of arrows on the camera pointing everywhere there are dollar signs. Its just as relevant as the war theme. Says just as much.

Someone said it well when they called the Weapon the RED NOUN or RED WORD.

War, what`s it good for? Putting on a camera apparently.

Ever since, Captain Kirk..err Captain Jannard announced that RED was under attack during the presentation of their newest products a few years back...merely because their site crashed from so much interest, I have had to laugh. To boldly go where no man has gone before...and all that poppycock. Nothing creates loyalty like a perceived threat, real or false. Circle the wagons.

I don't doubt that he really believed it at the time, but that is what is so worrying.

Jannard has said that RED is at war with conventional thinking.
Well frankly there is nothing more conventional in the US today than the survivalist, gung ho, weapons bearing branding of merchandise.
Duck dynasty, Rambo, American Sniper, GI Joe.
It's totally conventional and totally unoriginal.

If he really wanted to be unconventional, he should have labelled his newest camera "Fascist Killer".
Oh, wait. Woody Guthrie did that 60 years ago with his guitar...

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

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.

I'm thinking the same thing. Regardless of how people feel about the name, there are going to be a number who are attracted to the stealth option for other reasons. One being a presumably lower-key to its branding or overall appearance, some in consideration of future resale value and other reasons.

 

[Michael Dalton]

I like Jannard's thinking. But being that I travel A LOT to sensitive locations, people will not be amused by it. I can actually see some real conflict coming my way. I hope the stealth mode includes Carbon. I think outside the USA people have a different opinion of weapons. I think we've seen enough destruction in the world that a positive name would suite my ideals better.

I think the earths elemental process are more interesting and inspirational like MAGMA, FIRE, or LAVA. Keeping with the read tradition.

 

[Jon MIchael Puntervold]

If he really wanted to be unconventional, he should have labelled his newest camera "Fascist Killer".

A camera called Fascist Killer, I would actually quite enjoy to use. Btw: Why do you think most film-gear companies are located in Munich? It would not be a bad name for a Red product ;p

 

[Milan S.]

.

Jannard has said that RED is at war with conventional thinking.
Well frankly there is nothing more conventional in the US today than the survivalist, gung ho, weapons bearing branding of merchandise.
Duck dynasty, Rambo, American Sniper, GI Joe.

The contradiction is that the camera itself as well as the upgrade program ARE unconventional in a good sense.
It seems as though Red marketing doesn't reflect that.

It's almost like taking the best out of Amercan culture, like innovation and nonconformity, and combining it with the worst, guns and violence.

This is leaving owners to always have to fight and defend the product.

 

[Nikhil Kamkolkar]

comic relief.

Ahahahah thank you for that! I laughed and laughed and laughed then felt terrible that I was laughing at that poor guy who got hurt, but the way he handled it was just incredibly funny.


EDIT: I found this remix.

[video]http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=oN7TtifgBGw[/video]

 

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Thank you for the laughs RED. Just did a commercial shoot in LA and Oklahoma and the big laugh on set was the name... A lot of funny follow up names were mentioned... Cant wait for any of them to possibly come true. It's good to laugh. RED you truly brightened our days on the shoot.

Yes this is supposed to be a cheeky point. That unfortunately is true. The laughing stock on set and don't get me wrong I love my Epic's and I'm 100% sure I will love them as Weapon as well, but the name is outright ridiculous. It's unfortunate as I really thought Epic and Scarlet were brilliant names.

Can't wait to let "Weapon Dragon" roll of peoples tongue... LOL

 

[D Fuller]

Thank you for the laughs RED. Just did a commercial shoot in LA and Oklahoma and the big laugh on set was the name... A lot of funny follow up names were mentioned... Cant wait for any of them to possibly come true. It's good to laugh. RED you truly brightened our days on the shoot.

Yes this is supposed to be a cheeky point. That unfortunately is true. The laughing stock on set and don't get me wrong I love my Epic's and I'm 100% sure I will love them as Weapon as well, but the name is outright ridiculous. It's unfortunate as I really thought Epic and Scarlet were brilliant names.

Can't wait to let "Weapon Dragon" roll of peoples tongue... LOL

I'm afraid there will be a lot of this. The most cutting one I've heard recently is, "My weapon of choice is ... Alexa."

 

[Glen Powell]

OK so I have no problem with the name Weapon - from a political / dislike of guns / gun culture standpoint. I'm probably one of the (if not the) only Canadians here on REDUser with a Handgun license.
I travel a lot with gear, and I don't really share any of the concerns about getting onto planes or through customs. I have to believe that with the right paperwork and the fact that it's a working camera (that you can prove) there wouldn't be more than a few moments delay... which I always build time into a travel day for anyway.

But this:

Thank you for the laughs RED. Just did a commercial shoot in LA and Oklahoma and the big laugh on set was the name... A lot of funny follow up names were mentioned... Cant wait for any of them to possibly come true. It's good to laugh. RED you truly brightened our days on the shoot.

Yes this is supposed to be a cheeky point. That unfortunately is true. The laughing stock on set and don't get me wrong I love my Epic's and I'm 100% sure I will love them as Weapon as well, but the name is outright ridiculous. It's unfortunate as I really thought Epic and Scarlet were brilliant names.

Can't wait to let "Weapon Dragon" roll of peoples tongue... LOL

I'm afraid there will be a lot of this. The most cutting one I've heard recently is, "My weapon of choice is ... Alexa."

This will be the bigger problem.
I used to split my time 50/50 between working on my own content, that I shoot, edit, own, and license to other media companies. Their only concern is that it needs to meet their QC, and that I have the 4K master for future use. Other than that, it doesn't matter much which 4K camera I use. Yeah I know... so many to choose from.

The other 50% of my business has largely gone away - because producers have labelled me a RED shooter. They've bought into the simplistic hype and misinformation that RED footage is difficult to deal with in post. Largely perpetuated by the post houses who want the easiest path to the paycheque. They also still believe rumour and urban myth from the early days of the RED1. No matter what I protest - they don't listen, and RED itself hasn't done a very good job (or any job) with marketing / education and dispelling these myths and half truths. Doesn't help that most advertising work is delivered in 1080p at this point - so producers / ad agencies don't care and don't want the headache.

Which brings me to a producer that I haven't seen / heard from in 18 months or so - he called me just to laugh about the new camera name.

Yeah - he won't be hiring me or any other RED shooter anytime soon; even if we get the 'Stealth' camera.

You just can't beat back bad press and win over producers with silence and dogged obstinacy when your product is being ridiculed by those who would hire us owner operators. I know that RED's game is probably courting the bigger Hollywood DP's & producers who will deliver prestige projects... But yesterday (and just about everyday) my content was watched by 2.5 million people on every continent other that Antarctica. I'm sure that many of us here are in the same boat - some of us just don't know it yet.

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

I'm probably one of the (if not the) only Canadians here on REDUser with a Handgun license.
.

Not the only shooter.

In theory I should like the name and the overall branding. I shoot... I have no problem with Militaria. Hey... my grandmother had so many arm tattoos she could have done the presentation videos for RED products.


Fan of RED hardware...not so much the presentation.

 

[Carey Lee Coffey]

I can't think of a better name for us "shooters" than "Weapon". I love the name. It means something. Badass.

 

[Donald MJ Anderson]

I was thinking maybe someone sent a memo - "our branding should be all about RAW".

But spell correct changed RAW to WAR.

Explains everything.

 

[Joachim Hoge]

I was thinking maybe someone sent a memo - "our branding should be all about RAW".

But spell correct changed RAW to WAR.

Explains everything.

That made me laugh

 

[Daniel Stilling]

I can't think of a better name for us "shooters" than "Weapon". I love the name. It means something. Badass.

That's funny, as one of my big pet peeves is being called a shooter. It denotes lack of artistry to the craft of Cinematography...

 

[Milan S.]

I can't think of a better name for us "shooters" than "Weapon". I love the name. It means something. Badass.

What exactly is "badass" about it in your opinion? Just genuinely curious.

 

[Josh K]

I'm absolutely flabbergasted and honestly alarmed that even a single person didn't vote "I could care less what the name is" (even though it's supposed to be "couldn't"). I think maybe some of you need some crackers and juice.