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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 :)

Thank you, RED. . .

Stephen Pruitt

Stephen Pruitt

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Tonight, while my crew was filming on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art here in Kansas City, I saw another smaller group of filmmakers walking the grounds with an HVX-200. For the record, I really liked that camera, and owned one prior to buying our first RED (#791, "Lewis"). But then I thought back to the images I saw on the viewfinder of the HVX and the ones I was seeing right then on the LCDs of our two beautiful REDs. Suffice it to say that there is no comparison.

Our film, "Works in Progress," looks like it could have been made in Hollywood. And it looks that way due to the talents of my crew and the two extraordinary RED cameras we are using to make it. Every time I go over to our editor's house to watch a new edited sequence, I just can't believe my eyes! We're not only making a movie. . . we're making a wonderful indie feature, at that!

Yes, we're having our issues. Our cameras over-heat in the hot Kansas afternoons (we have to load 'em up with ice packs just about every afternoon). Every once in a while (at least twice a day), both cameras lock up and we lose footage. But then when I actually see the footage. . . everything is forgiven. All of the problems melt away.

:-)

So, again, I want to say, "thank you, RED. Thank you for giving us the tools to make a Hollywood-quality movie on a very low indie budget (not counting equipment purchases, we're spending about $60,000 on the film). I just can't wait to get this thing in the can. No. Check that. I just can't wait to see this thing on that big silver screen.

:-)

Sincerely,

Stephen Wallace Pruitt, Ph.D.
Co-writer/Producer/Director
"Works in Progress"
 
Hello Stephen Pruitt,

Good to hear you are in Kansas, I am near by shooting a feature also.

Sorry to hear your camera over heated.

All that water from the storm and then the heat, I really think even a film camera would have the same problem.

I have find a way to keep on working without wet and messy ice pack.

You can PM with your phone numbers, I will tell you.

Good Luck.

Tek
 
tekcin said:
Hello Stephen Pruitt,

Good to hear you are in Kansas, I am near by shooting a feature also.

Sorry to hear your camera over heated.

All that water from the storm and then the heat, I really think even a film camera would have the same problem.

I have find a way to keep on working without wet and messy ice pack.

You can PM with your phone numbers, I will tell you.

Good Luck.

Tek
Click to expand...

You "found" a way to keep on working without wet and messy ice packs? Can you share this information? I'm interested to know.

Thanks.
 
tekcin said:
I have find a way to keep on working without wet and messy ice pack.
Click to expand...

How bout cooling gel packs in zip lock/freezer bags? Haven't tried it myself because the chances of getting such whether in the UK is slim (oh great, it's just started raining too!):sad:

I also seem to remember reading somewhere about cooling jackets that plug into 12V batteries for keeping 35mm mags cool in the heat - anyone come across those...Pananvision?
 
The only mess we have from the ice packs is condensation, and we certainly get plenty of that in this horrid humidity. But we also try to put a white towel under the ice packs to soak it all up.

It certainly isn't elegant, but it works.

Hey, Tek, where are you shooting?

Stephen
 
Gel cooling packs are nice but can be pricey if you buy them 1 at a time.
I suggest going online and buy by the case if you are doing a feature these are reusable.

http://www.medexsupply.com/products/pid-14464/PeltonReusableFlexGelPackCompa.htm

if you are worried about condensation you can look at these

http://www.chillpak.com/

I have not used either of these 2 brands , the ones ive used are medical provided by our Medic never the less they worked very well.

I also strongly suggest using a space blanket at every possible moment on the camera,
Even cutting it and taping it to be as a space jacket for the camera is useful.

We did that and a combination of umbrellas , had the fan on high speed, and even simple doubled up zipplock bags of ice, because the shot was so important to go on.

Good luck.
 
Sorry, been out on locations in middle of no where.

I was never good with written words but I will try, so I hope Professor Booth will do the usual and fix my spellings.

He always does any way.

"And Here we go". Stolen from Batman of course. LOL

I notice that the camera usually act up after lunch break on a hot day, so realized that the camera active system/fans does a pretty good job when it's powered on.

What's happening is the camera build up heat internally as soon as you turn it off.

Then when you come back from lunch and power it on adding to existing heat build up. The fan just can not keep up with that. Especially when you have high humidity level like here in Kansas.

The solutions is simple.

1. Shade

Please do not let direct sun light hit body for longer than 3-5 minutes, and only once in a while.
Stay away from the sun light... Sound a horror movie line, but it's a must.

2. Air Flow

When not rolling keep the blower on it. A fan just won't cut it. You need a heavy duty $50 blower. see attached picture.

Note: The air in take in on your left side, make sure you hit it with the blower.

3. Know when to keep the camera on and off.

Keep the camera in total shade and turned on during lunch break with the blower blowing on high.

4. Temperature differences

Do not take the camera from one extreme to another. Putting the camera power off in an air conditioned area seem to be a good idea at first. This could cause a disaster because of moisture build up if the camera is cooler than the outside temperature. condensation is your enemy.

5. keep Red Raid away from the camera.

We just use CF cards unless we have really long take. With 24" rods you can keep the drive pretty far back.

6. Keep track of temperature like a Hawk.

We use an infrared temperature reader $20, worth it.

"It only take about a half a dozen of things to make a difference" Jim Rohn

Happy shooting.

Tek

P. S. Tape up your CF slot if not in use. The bugs love to craw in there.

4234_1218132519.jpg
 
Thank you for the informative post, tekcin. When you're monitoring the temperature through the IR, when do you start to get worried? Has anyone noticed a difference between Build 16 and before in terms of camera performance in the heat?
 
When you're monitoring the temperature through the IR, when do you start to get worried?
Click to expand...

Just be proactive, don't wait until 108f.

When your air out take read 108f, start requesting stingers from electric and get the blower on it.

I have to stay on 15 until this feature is finished.

All systems locked for the durations of the show.

If some one running RB16 can give me some update I would love it.

Tek
 
Don't worry, Tek, I'm too busy on my sets to invade yours. I'm just curious as to what city or near what city you're at.

Stephen
 
BTW, it matters not whether you are in the sun or not. When it is 100 degrees indoors, even if it is completely out of the sun, the RED still overheats very quickly. Indeed, the vast majority of our overheating problems have occurred indoors.

And it isn't just a matter of "turning the fan on the hot" setting. Unless you're not concerned about audio quality (and we certainly are, as our film is extremely dialog sensitive), there is no way to shoot a scene with the RED using a good boom mic in close quarters indoors without having the camera making a racket unless you are on "silent" or "auto" mode.

Like Tek, we are also locked into Build 15 until our feature is completed.

Stephen
 
Indeed, the vast majority of our overheating problems have occurred indoors.
Click to expand...

I have been there too. Turn fan setting to auto and use a blower in between takes. Unless your takes are 5 minutes or longer.
We also try to vent the room or studio as much as we can too.

Don't worry, Tek, I'm too busy on my sets to invade yours. I'm just curious as to what city or near what city you're at.
Click to expand...

Not for you, I just don't want to post our location in public forum.

Pm me I'll tell you.

Tek
 
Stephen,

Thanks for the two cases of frozen pop ice to keep the crew semi cool!
 
Anything to keep my crew happy, Chip. . .

BTW, Tek, how do you know exactly how hot you camera is??? 105??? All we have on our monitor is a "hot" or "not hot" indicator.

Thanks.

Stephen
 
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