Johnny Friday
04-18-2007, 04:30 PM
Long Haul to NAB to see RED – was it worth it?
Not that it matters, but I thought I would share my impressions of my trip to NAB....up from La Paz, Baja, Mexico to Las Vegas, USA. Thought it might be an impression to share with those of you that live in far off corners of the planet and did not have the chance, opportunity or basically the CASH to commit to such a journey just to look at a camera and other new industry toys.
The stage (who, what where):
I’m a small time independent working in Mexico acquiring underwater stock for a variety of natural history documentaries and ecological films. My motivation to move up from HDV and HD—on the hvx200 is obvious----huge bang with the RED 1 for the buck. Finally a system that I can afford—kind of. Anyway….we all have our reasons and are motivated by similar circumstances. So…..I took the plunge and made reservations for the camera and 18-85 as well as 300mm lenses a few months back. Shooting underwater I know that there’s a modest delay curve in producing an underwater housing for any camera….so the wait is and was expected---to see a housing for this rig that is. I am a bit fortunate in that I’m only a two-hour flight to San Diego from La Paz. BUT….I am in the middle of my whale watching season at my base camp at San Ignacio Lagoon---SO>…that meant I had to drive up from a remote lagoon on the pacific in the middle of the Baja Peninsula if I wanted to go to NAB. I NEVER thought to go to this event since I knew that regardless of what the camera buzz is and was I did not really care. I knew that once my number was called I’d shell out the $$ and then wait to see what happens with housings, port options and lenses.
April approaches:
Now…April is approaching and a friend mentions that I should really try to make the show and see first hand the workflow of the camera and that it would be REALLY helpful to see the actual demonstrations of the camera and workflow. The hook that got me was the free pass to NAB—yeah a friggin $50 or $100 pass to enter the convention got me to shell out $3k for my trip. Guess there’s a lot of physiological strategy figured in at the red team---I mean that as a compliment---in that give your customers an incentive and show them you are willing to spend money on them and they will show you loyalty—I think I missed that course in my brief stint at college---but what a remarkable way to lead in this industry. That goes for the insane credit we were given as early reservation holders and now complimentary passes to NAB---who the hell does that nowadays or ever for that matter? Well enough of that…..we as red reservation holders all know what we’ve been dealt and I think it’s safe to say that I’m a completely bewildered and overly satisfied client for the ride……what was I saying? Oh yeah….April and NAB…So, I now got this pass online and I basically forget about it until April 09. That day I go to my mailbox downtown La Paz to get my phone bill and there’s a package from NAB with my pass etc….What’s funny about that is that I was leaving for the my camp at the lagoon that next morning (a fourteen hour drive down a dirt road). I had completely forgotten about NAB---So….what the hell---I pack my stuff for the trip to Vegas and hit the road to San Ignacio Lagon—stay a couple of days at the lagoon….Then make the drive up to San Diego (That’s a grueling two day drive by the way). And then get on a southwest flight to Vegas with NO hotel reservations or any idea of where I’ll stay or what I’ll do for two days. No problem---internet is amazing—I arrive Vegas, get online, find a hotel room and book it while at the Vegas airport. I’m now here in Vegas and now just waiting for tomorrow (April 16-opening day of NAB)
*WOW THIS IS GETTING LONG* - SORRY, BUT JUST CAME OUT THIS WAY FROM A NON WRITER
NAB and the long ass line:
As many may now already know, the line at the RED booth was wrapped around the booth at all four corners at every moment of the show (I was only there Monday and Tuesday). I walked by probably six times throughout the day on Monday and told myself no way will I wait in that line. I’d wait it out till it crept down in size maybe during lunch.--NoT! I think the shortest I ever saw it was at three corners long. So I revise my strategy and prepare myself for an early morning on Tuesday and commit to getting to the booth as the gates open. Bus late; I’m late and same story at the RED booth. I walk the show for hours and wonder if I should pass on the booth. Hell, I’ve got a reservation what’s the big deal? And then logic kicks in…which is not always the case for me. Hey I traveled three days from La Paz to San Diego; slept in my van two of those nights while on the road. Got on a plane and crawled my way to Vegas for a look at this thing….GET IN LINE! I finally get in line and wait it out for one hour and twenty minutes. Nobody likes waiting in line, but I HATE IT!! I would rather get a root canal—again instead of waiting in line.
RED booth-finally:
Made it to the front and now and I’m in. I get to see part of the demo about the workflow while inside of the RED booth and then our group is now whisked inside of a back room for a movie trailer---I did not know that I would get to see an actual movie trailer nor did I know what that this was in store. I thought I would get to see some images taken on a grassy knoll or of the red team playing with the camera at the office. HOLY CR_P was it BEAUTIFUL. I was stunned to see how crisp and clear and the detail in every corner of those images. It was truly an inspiring thing to see. I kept pinching myself that this is MY camera! And could only imagine what my next underwater images would be like. NOW…back to the movie preview. YES, it is worth seeing. Not only was the story gripping from the get go and the camera work well-done---damned good in fact. I have to say this though---when you’ve got millions in your budget it better be good! and to see it on the web will not do it justice---we saw it (correct me if I’m wrong) in 4k on a 4k monitor Needless to say any of you not able to have seen it will have been IMPRESSED!!! with the images that this little machine produces--- OH---did I say little? It’s not that small when all dressed out with battery pack, external disk drive, long lens and various other accessories. It is much more manageable than a Betacam and Cinealta –without question. BUT this is a REAL professional machine with exquisite results. It produced absolutely stunning images and the workflow is a DREAM---nothing new to learn for any of you working in FCP or PEMEIR or AVID. It’s all simple timeline workflow that a child could learn in ten minutes. Hell, I wouldn’t even bother reading the directions—never do anyway—but it’s that simple.
Camera and accessories:
Looks like anyone shooting topside—I guess that’s everyone---is going to need to step up to a real cine camera capable head and sticks. This thing has weight when loaded up and you’ll need a large capable head. I expect I’ll drop $4k minimum for sticks and head and that’s budgeting it. Got a good look at lenses and other gear---again impressive! I’ll definitely switch my lens from the 18-85 to the 18-50. And now after seeing everything on the camera and in real time I know what my kit will consist of. On the only slightly downside…..I had hoped and expected to see someone with a mock up of an underwater housing. Hey….just have to wait---but hopefully not too long.
Conclusion:
Ten days out of my life to make the journey to Vegas and back, stay for the show and about $3k out of pocket in travel expenses. That’s not a lot for some, but for those of us saving our nickels to accessorize this baby it adds up. Did I mention that my wife was gone for a month prior to my leaving and I left two days before she returned? So I now have not seen her in over a month. That’s ok for some of you fellas, but I like the company of my gal.
SO:
1. 10 days down
2. $3k out
3. time away from the woman
4. time away from work
5. weeks of catch up at work now
? Should I have just stayed home and awaited an email telling me my camera is ready for delivery and saved myself $3k to drop towards a tripod; save myself loads of work and get ahead at the office?
NOT AT ALL
This trip was definitely an eye opener for me and an advance look into the future of cinematography. I think all of you out there with reservations and those just now placing orders will be rewarded with a tool that will afford us the opportunity to capitalize on a market that was once only available to guys with hundreds of thousands of dollars. That doesn’t mean that you won’t spend a SH_T load of cash on this camera and other accessories….but the value of what we are getting compared to what’s out there is STUPIDIFYING---a new word I know---but that’s the only thing that comes to mind.
So….thanks RED for all of your work and effort and for keeping it all REAL and AFFORDABLE. I know I’m psyched and can’t wait for my camera and other gear to get here. BUT….I’m also willing to wait---so no rush here.
For those of you that either wanted to come or it just wasn’t possible due to your geographic local….I hope I was able to offer some insight into what you missed. It’s everything it was touted to be and MORE. I still cannot get those crisp (imax like) images out of my head. I wanted to say let movie making history begin---but that’s a bit over the top. I will say.....RED may crush the industry with what they are putting out there and it’s nice to be here for the ride.
Johnny
Not that it matters, but I thought I would share my impressions of my trip to NAB....up from La Paz, Baja, Mexico to Las Vegas, USA. Thought it might be an impression to share with those of you that live in far off corners of the planet and did not have the chance, opportunity or basically the CASH to commit to such a journey just to look at a camera and other new industry toys.
The stage (who, what where):
I’m a small time independent working in Mexico acquiring underwater stock for a variety of natural history documentaries and ecological films. My motivation to move up from HDV and HD—on the hvx200 is obvious----huge bang with the RED 1 for the buck. Finally a system that I can afford—kind of. Anyway….we all have our reasons and are motivated by similar circumstances. So…..I took the plunge and made reservations for the camera and 18-85 as well as 300mm lenses a few months back. Shooting underwater I know that there’s a modest delay curve in producing an underwater housing for any camera….so the wait is and was expected---to see a housing for this rig that is. I am a bit fortunate in that I’m only a two-hour flight to San Diego from La Paz. BUT….I am in the middle of my whale watching season at my base camp at San Ignacio Lagoon---SO>…that meant I had to drive up from a remote lagoon on the pacific in the middle of the Baja Peninsula if I wanted to go to NAB. I NEVER thought to go to this event since I knew that regardless of what the camera buzz is and was I did not really care. I knew that once my number was called I’d shell out the $$ and then wait to see what happens with housings, port options and lenses.
April approaches:
Now…April is approaching and a friend mentions that I should really try to make the show and see first hand the workflow of the camera and that it would be REALLY helpful to see the actual demonstrations of the camera and workflow. The hook that got me was the free pass to NAB—yeah a friggin $50 or $100 pass to enter the convention got me to shell out $3k for my trip. Guess there’s a lot of physiological strategy figured in at the red team---I mean that as a compliment---in that give your customers an incentive and show them you are willing to spend money on them and they will show you loyalty—I think I missed that course in my brief stint at college---but what a remarkable way to lead in this industry. That goes for the insane credit we were given as early reservation holders and now complimentary passes to NAB---who the hell does that nowadays or ever for that matter? Well enough of that…..we as red reservation holders all know what we’ve been dealt and I think it’s safe to say that I’m a completely bewildered and overly satisfied client for the ride……what was I saying? Oh yeah….April and NAB…So, I now got this pass online and I basically forget about it until April 09. That day I go to my mailbox downtown La Paz to get my phone bill and there’s a package from NAB with my pass etc….What’s funny about that is that I was leaving for the my camp at the lagoon that next morning (a fourteen hour drive down a dirt road). I had completely forgotten about NAB---So….what the hell---I pack my stuff for the trip to Vegas and hit the road to San Ignacio Lagon—stay a couple of days at the lagoon….Then make the drive up to San Diego (That’s a grueling two day drive by the way). And then get on a southwest flight to Vegas with NO hotel reservations or any idea of where I’ll stay or what I’ll do for two days. No problem---internet is amazing—I arrive Vegas, get online, find a hotel room and book it while at the Vegas airport. I’m now here in Vegas and now just waiting for tomorrow (April 16-opening day of NAB)
*WOW THIS IS GETTING LONG* - SORRY, BUT JUST CAME OUT THIS WAY FROM A NON WRITER
NAB and the long ass line:
As many may now already know, the line at the RED booth was wrapped around the booth at all four corners at every moment of the show (I was only there Monday and Tuesday). I walked by probably six times throughout the day on Monday and told myself no way will I wait in that line. I’d wait it out till it crept down in size maybe during lunch.--NoT! I think the shortest I ever saw it was at three corners long. So I revise my strategy and prepare myself for an early morning on Tuesday and commit to getting to the booth as the gates open. Bus late; I’m late and same story at the RED booth. I walk the show for hours and wonder if I should pass on the booth. Hell, I’ve got a reservation what’s the big deal? And then logic kicks in…which is not always the case for me. Hey I traveled three days from La Paz to San Diego; slept in my van two of those nights while on the road. Got on a plane and crawled my way to Vegas for a look at this thing….GET IN LINE! I finally get in line and wait it out for one hour and twenty minutes. Nobody likes waiting in line, but I HATE IT!! I would rather get a root canal—again instead of waiting in line.
RED booth-finally:
Made it to the front and now and I’m in. I get to see part of the demo about the workflow while inside of the RED booth and then our group is now whisked inside of a back room for a movie trailer---I did not know that I would get to see an actual movie trailer nor did I know what that this was in store. I thought I would get to see some images taken on a grassy knoll or of the red team playing with the camera at the office. HOLY CR_P was it BEAUTIFUL. I was stunned to see how crisp and clear and the detail in every corner of those images. It was truly an inspiring thing to see. I kept pinching myself that this is MY camera! And could only imagine what my next underwater images would be like. NOW…back to the movie preview. YES, it is worth seeing. Not only was the story gripping from the get go and the camera work well-done---damned good in fact. I have to say this though---when you’ve got millions in your budget it better be good! and to see it on the web will not do it justice---we saw it (correct me if I’m wrong) in 4k on a 4k monitor Needless to say any of you not able to have seen it will have been IMPRESSED!!! with the images that this little machine produces--- OH---did I say little? It’s not that small when all dressed out with battery pack, external disk drive, long lens and various other accessories. It is much more manageable than a Betacam and Cinealta –without question. BUT this is a REAL professional machine with exquisite results. It produced absolutely stunning images and the workflow is a DREAM---nothing new to learn for any of you working in FCP or PEMEIR or AVID. It’s all simple timeline workflow that a child could learn in ten minutes. Hell, I wouldn’t even bother reading the directions—never do anyway—but it’s that simple.
Camera and accessories:
Looks like anyone shooting topside—I guess that’s everyone---is going to need to step up to a real cine camera capable head and sticks. This thing has weight when loaded up and you’ll need a large capable head. I expect I’ll drop $4k minimum for sticks and head and that’s budgeting it. Got a good look at lenses and other gear---again impressive! I’ll definitely switch my lens from the 18-85 to the 18-50. And now after seeing everything on the camera and in real time I know what my kit will consist of. On the only slightly downside…..I had hoped and expected to see someone with a mock up of an underwater housing. Hey….just have to wait---but hopefully not too long.
Conclusion:
Ten days out of my life to make the journey to Vegas and back, stay for the show and about $3k out of pocket in travel expenses. That’s not a lot for some, but for those of us saving our nickels to accessorize this baby it adds up. Did I mention that my wife was gone for a month prior to my leaving and I left two days before she returned? So I now have not seen her in over a month. That’s ok for some of you fellas, but I like the company of my gal.
SO:
1. 10 days down
2. $3k out
3. time away from the woman
4. time away from work
5. weeks of catch up at work now
? Should I have just stayed home and awaited an email telling me my camera is ready for delivery and saved myself $3k to drop towards a tripod; save myself loads of work and get ahead at the office?
NOT AT ALL
This trip was definitely an eye opener for me and an advance look into the future of cinematography. I think all of you out there with reservations and those just now placing orders will be rewarded with a tool that will afford us the opportunity to capitalize on a market that was once only available to guys with hundreds of thousands of dollars. That doesn’t mean that you won’t spend a SH_T load of cash on this camera and other accessories….but the value of what we are getting compared to what’s out there is STUPIDIFYING---a new word I know---but that’s the only thing that comes to mind.
So….thanks RED for all of your work and effort and for keeping it all REAL and AFFORDABLE. I know I’m psyched and can’t wait for my camera and other gear to get here. BUT….I’m also willing to wait---so no rush here.
For those of you that either wanted to come or it just wasn’t possible due to your geographic local….I hope I was able to offer some insight into what you missed. It’s everything it was touted to be and MORE. I still cannot get those crisp (imax like) images out of my head. I wanted to say let movie making history begin---but that’s a bit over the top. I will say.....RED may crush the industry with what they are putting out there and it’s nice to be here for the ride.
Johnny