Instructional DVDs

[Alex Boothby]

Here's another idea to make the Red team groan. I know it's way early to even mention this but I wonder if RED has any plans to produce little instructional movies on things like camera and rail setup, basic camera menus, REDCINE and RAW workflow? Something like this:

http://www.panavision.com.au/News/Building_Genesis.htm

The advantage of instructional videos over manuals is that first time users and renters, camera ops, ACs, editors and assistants can get a quick overview of the RED concept without thumbing through dozens of pages of documentation. Ultimately this benefits RED by preempting negative comments by whiners and old-schoolers who are set in their ways. Let's face it: there will be a convergence of film and video users and renters coming into contact with RED, each bringing their own baggage on how a camera system and post workflow should work. Walking them through simple tutorials will help them make the paradigm shift a lot easier.

These instructional videos could be packaged in a DVD with chapter headings, or broken down in smaller quicktimes posted on red.com. In time, esoteric topics could be address such as "exposing to the right", "cleaning and maintenance", "RAW vs. RBG", etc.

AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS: this need not (and should not) distract the RED team from more pressing matters. Why not recruit some of the fine local film and video makers in the area (and on this board) to take it off your hands? Shooting, editing, full deal. I'm sure you will get some keen offers if it involves taking a trip down to RED HQ to shoot some bling. :D

[Michael Schrengohst]

Maybe Barry Green is working with Jarred on this?

[Blaine Golden]

The advantage of instructional videos over manuals is that not enough people are willing to read a manual. Too many times I hear, "I don't read manuals, I don't have time. I can figure out what I want." This is generally followed, in a fairly short time, by "Hey, how do you...(fill in the blank)"

[Stuart English]

Its a good idea.

And if we can dump the old model of physical DVD's in favor of peer-to-peer networking downloads of HD image quality instructional videos, then the cost and time involved in creating these would become significantly less.

[Stuart English]

Which is why there will always be a place for a well constructed manual too ..

[Steve Sherrick]

I like the download idea too. Could slap it right onto the iPod and have it right there with me at alll times. Got to love new technology.

Steve

[Alex Boothby]

not enough people are willing to read a manual. Too many times I hear, "I don't read manuals, I don't have time. I can figure out what I want." This is generally followed, in a fairly short time, by "Hey, how do you...(fill in the blank)"

Well said. And this is often follow with rumblings such as "camera X sucks - it's hard to white balance" or "workflow Y is bad - it's too hard to convert dailies". And that's what we call negative industry buzz.

[Alex Boothby]

Its a good idea.

And if we can dump the old model of physical DVD's in favor of peer-to-peer networking downloads of HD image quality instructional videos, then the cost and time involved in creating these would become significantly less.

'HD image quality' may be overkill for this - I'd think speed and convenience would be more important. I like the video I-pod idea as you could have a quick reference on set. As far as cost is concerned, you could recoup by selling DVDs - I'm sure that rental houses would prefer to send out their RED gear with a copy so that renters don't abuse the equipment. I'd certainly buy one (as long as the reservation fee is below $2 :) .)

For peer-to-peer or downloads you will obviously not recoup, except to call it the cost of doing business. Jim could take it out of the marketing budget! :D

I'd think a cheep-cheep-cheep DV production 3-4 weeks before shipping would do the trick. Look at the Genesis setup movie after all - it does what it needs to do.

[Stuart English]

No reason with currently available technology not to do HD resolution... we could work out how to make it pay-to-view if you really wanted us too.... also no reason not to encode an i-POD (or i-Phone) resolution version either, but if you are looking at instructional videos on set you are probably in trouble ;-)

[Gavin Greenwalt]

I don't like the Peer to Peer idea unless there's always a RED official seeder. I don't want to be trying to download it a year from now, and everybody already had their copy, so I'm SOL.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hey I'm all for the instructional videos / tutorials and the direct download distribution.

I'd be willing to help develop produce... In exchange for a lower reservation # than what I'll be getting on the 21st. :D

[Steve Sherrick]

Here's what to do. Produce the video using the Red camera. Then create a store on iTunes or similar interface, where you could pay to download the videos you need, i.e. same as you would download a track from a CD or you can buy the whole thing for a set price. Setup the video options like they do with Quicktime trailers, giving you a choice of formats, and also provide a downloadable PDF file that people can print out and create their own hard copy.

As for producing the video, wouldn't that be a hell of a lot of fun making.

Steve

[Mike the beginner]

As much as i would love (and badly need) a good instructional DVD to accompany red one here's my thoughts. How huge would the download video be? How much could it be compressed to reduce its size. What would it contain? Barry Green is the likely candidate to do a proper instructional DVD, but that could take at least six months after the camera is released. Many i am sure would buy it including me.

What we really need is a basic instructional video to accompany the camera giving the necessary instructions to operate the camera with and without accessories. The basic prefered method of transfering footage to computer or for storage. We also need a good demonstration of how the magic focus assist works in practice. All this i would like to see purely for the single user or at most two man crew.

A entirely seperate video can be made for cine use showing the camera being used with a proper film crew in place.

Quite a few reservation holders will be coming up from 1/3rd chip cameras and will need all the basics. I have to emphasis the basics only. I am guessing here but i know my own priority is to understand as much about how the camera works in theory and understanding the different lenses and DOF, FOV etc. The theory side can be learned without wasting time on a video. What we need is good solid basic stuff that can get everyone up to leval one immediately. I don't think red should charge a fee for this it should come with the camera. Perhaps if no one does a DVD then perhaps 9 months down the line red could do one that covers more in-depth details in operation and workflow. That would be great as by then hopefully many of us will be screaming for instruction to get them up to leval two and three.

Just my thought thats all:o PS: There would obviously be a decent charge for the second DVD

Michael

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Another question is: How much would there be to show? At least on the camera end, I'm not expecting more than my Canon F1: Shutter and ISO plus a few video gadgets like audio sample rates and REDCode settings.

That sounds like a postcard not an HD instructional video.

[Brian Ferguson]

I really like the Video Podcast model. About 6 years ago at NAB it was clear that video was going 2 directions really high rez HD and web rez for information purposes. Nobody seems to mind listening to mono fairly low bit rate audio to get their dose of tech info or whatever niche they are into. Video also seems to fit this model, proof of concept, YouTube.
I have a bunch of video podcasts I watch in iPod size that scale pretty well on my 32" HD monitor fed from a Mac Mini through a DVI cable.
I have a couple of thoughts on this subject that I think are pretty interesting, but I should run them past Jim to see how it fits into the big picture. But I think video updates could be a huge supplement to a user site like this.

[Ben Feuer]

I like the downloadable model, but only as a supplement to DVDs. There's still too many parts of this world that you don't want to take an expensive laptop or iPod to, and too many places that internet is spotty.
But it has to be shot in HD - otherwise, how could you shoot it on RED?