Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

To a buy a RED or not...

L

lkd85

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2008
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hey, I'm at a crossroads at the moment that maybe a few of you can help me out with. I recently withdrawed from my film school because I figured it was a waste of money to be in school to get into a career that's extremely "political" and cutthroat in the first place and I've decided to finance my first short to see where that goes. I plan on this being my "final run" into pursuing the film business as I need to find a career in which I can support myself (with a steady paycheck) and just do film for fun on the side. I currently own a Sony V1U with a Redrock adapter which still shoots great pictures in good lighting of course. I was wondering if I should drop the money on buying a RED instead to be "futureproof" and possible get access to clients in the future and hopefully money, or just use the money, upgrade the V1U-Redrock system (get a microX, blackmagic intensity card for 4:2:2, more lenses, etc...) and have more for production design, lighting and vfx. I'm trying to shoot in August or September and have it complete for the festival circuit of 2009. Any advice, criticisms are welcomed.
 
You have enough Fund for Red and all what is needed to let it work

(Accessories ,computers, storage , monitoring ,..etc...etc..)

Go RED

if you don't have

go REDROCK ,with sonyz1 or HVX200 ?
 
I figure my starting rig will cost $50,000 (without lenses) - thats one Red One, needed accessories, LTO-3, Mac Pro, Mac Book Pro, Monitors, Raid Array, Tripod, Head and traveling cases (Pelican). You can fund the purchase through rentals and jobs, but I'd start renting out first and traveling with your gear on set so you can watch and learn how the productions are done. Make sure you insure your gear and find a good DIT to go with your rental or make sure the renter has one so you can study what it truly means to shoot on a large set with a digital rig. After a good number of rentals and jobs, you'll have a plethora of information and experience that you can then apply to your own projects, and the whole while, pay off your Red One purchase. Just remember, start by watching and staying out of the way, then start lending a hand and network as best you can!
 
Yes, I have enough for RED w/ nessicary accessories (about $25,000 for my package). I will be getting a MacBook Pro with a couple of 2TB G-RAID's. My project will be going out to HDCAM at the most so that's why I'm wondering if it's best just to upgrade my current setup and just spend more on production value.
 
To Rocko, your idea sounds good also.
 
Just a saying, "go large or go home"...or "buy cheap, buy again later" - My own personal philosophy is the better the gear you get, the longer it will last, the more it will return on the investment and the longer it will hold its value. You could get an EX1 or EX2 or EX3, but you know that in a year or two your technology might be outdated. We all know that 4K is the cutting edge for delivery and its actually way out, so you're safe in knowing that Red isn't going to bump the resolution to 8K anytime soon. Now Sony will release a new camera every year, and that will age your equipment.
 
Okay, this must be a joke post, right?

You've never made a film, you dropped out of film school, and you're asking if you should spend $25,000 on a Red? WHY?

Dude, just get an HV20 and shoot something. Worry about the Red when the Red will make a difference to you. At this point in your career you need skills and experience, not a top-of-the-world digital cinema camcorder.

EDIT: okay, I just re-read to make sure I'm not missing something, and I am -- you already have a V1U? Let me remind you that people have been nominated for Oscars for films shot on the standard-def DVX100, and people have won the Best Cinematography award at Sundance on a DVX100 and also on an interlaced Sony PD150! Go make your first short with what you've got already. The camera is not what's standing between you and success, and you've already got a camera that's capable of far better results than you need.

If you really have $25,000 to spend, that money would be better spent investing in yourself, not in depreciating equipment that you don't need (nice to have, sure, but you don't NEED it) to do what you're trying to do.
 
Honestly, if you haven't even decided that you plan to work in the film industry yet, and don't already have a stable of paying clients, the last thing in the world you need is professional camera.

Where do you live? If you can get your days, you can join 600 as a second, make a decent income, and learn how to shoot and conduct yourself on set, and all the other important stuff that you learn working on a real film set. I think it's around $5k to join as an assistant, and it gives you a career.

Just another option,

Nick
 
If you want to be in the rental business, buy a camera. If you want to be a film maker, rent a camera for MUCH less money, and put your funds toward production value and other costs associated with making films and promoting yourself. For MUCH less than buying a red, you could rent one with Cooke S4's and lots of great support gear for a week and make your short.
 
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

A little collection of hardwares without knowledge is not only dangerous, it's totally crazy.

I have over $100,000 in hardwares, and there is not such a thing as a steady pay check here.

If you don't have lens, don't buy a camera.

The REDONE is the cheapest part of this equations.

The Camera is not your entry into the business.

Consider relationships, and experience above all.

Tek
 
I'm currently in LA. I've had on set experience as a pa, grip and camera op on professional shoots before. I've been thinking of trying to work on as many projects this year to get into Local 600. I like the fact of having a new camera that's in high demand but then again the cost of supporting it and the risk that comes with renting might be a bad idea at the moment.
 
To Barry Green,
Lol, I know my post sounds very over zealous but I did have production experience prior to film school. As I answered in a earlier reply, i've been a PA, grip on profession shoots as well as cameraman on indie shoots. I have a cinematography reel at myspace.com/digforore. To clarify I would like to build upon my talents as a director and I have a very talented DP helping me on my short.
 
Barry Green said:
If you really have $25,000 to spend, that money would be better spent investing in yourself, not in depreciating equipment that you don't need (nice to have, sure, but you don't NEED it) to do what you're trying to do.
Click to expand...

Barry,

My point was to get the Red to give yourself access to a different tier of filmmakers. From my experience, you learn a hell of a lot more watching a movie being made with a $14,000,000 budget than you do from watching some film students making a $2,000 film with a prosumer camcorder. The Red is an entry point through rental networking to "possibly" get you on set with the $14,000,000 productions, where if its your point to learn about the business, you can.

I agree though, having a Red won't make a better movie. Having a Red will teach you great fundamentals of filmmaking, which could frustrate the hell out of a novice, such as pulling focus, data back up, nailing exposure, working with shallow DOF...and so on. I guess the question is, what are you looking to do with film? Be a director, get a HV20. Be a script writer, get a HV20. Camera operator, maybe a Red would be a good investment. Cinematographer, yeah a Red would be an advanced learning tool.

I could always be wrong with this, but its just my opinion and like asses, everyone has one. From my own experience as a DP/camera op, I kick myself not jumping into the fire from the start cause I was scared to invest in my passion.

Barry, you're always an inspiration and I appreciate reading your posts!
 
digitalfx said:
spend the money on film school or a college degree...then think about buying gear.
Click to expand...

Unrelated to film, I went to school, got an education and I still work with people who are self taught. A $100,000 investment in school is only as good as what you learn and if you're already questioning school, you might not be focused to learn what you need to.
 
To Rocko,
I don't believe my issue is I'm not focused on learning the topics. I used to read books on cinematography before school and applied the knowledge on my own projects. When I gripped and pa'd on professional shoots I soaked up as much knowledge as I could. I decided to give school a try specifally so I could learn how to shoot on film. After a few months however I got tired of hearing the same things I've learned in the past. I made my decision to withdrawl based on advice from previous graduates, working professionals and my own instincts.
 
lkd85 said:
To clarify I would like to build upon my talents as a director and I have a very talented DP helping me on my short.
Click to expand...

Seems like your DP should be the one buying Red. :)

How does buying a Red camera vs another camera DIRECTLY AND SPECIFICALLY build your "talents as a director"?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top