MosesMa
06-12-2007, 06:36 PM
Hey gang,
I was talking to Ken and Wendy over at BAVC.org, and we came up with an interesting idea that could possibly help indie producers... "time-sharing" a complete RED film package. This concept would work something like this - AND THIS IS STILL IN THE CONCEPT STAGE - roughly:
- two REDs, one prime set, the zooms, as well as viewfinders, monitors, matte boxes, sufficient memory and storage solutions
- probably $100K of REDstuff & other equipment
- we'd let 10 indie producers co-own the package at a cost of $10K apiece
- this would give those producers access to the entire kit for four weeks each per year (scheduling will be a nightmare though)
- BAVC - a trusted non-profit - would manage the program, in exchange for getting to use the equipment during the remaining time available
- this allows the 10 producers to use this kit EVERY YEAR for a new film project, and could resell their time-share slot to someone else
- we're doing a financial projection shortly, including the cost of having a half time tech taking care of the equipment, rental to cover downtime, insurance, and some program for continuous upgrading so the kit is always state-of-the-art
- BAVC is thinking about teaching classes on how to shoot with a RED and optimal workflow, and possibly, the course could be thrown in as a deal sweetener
- we're thinking this MIGHT be an interesting solution for indie producers but not DPs, this would probably only work for Bay Area producers, and again... this is only at the concept stage
I'm thinking that since rental companies are quoting something like $1200-1400 a week for one camera, without lenses, renting is going to end up costing $10-15K for a three week shoot. This timeshare model would give us access to a camera package more or less optimized to a typical indie producer's schedule.
Of course, there are LOTS of issues to work through, but in the interest of market testing this concept, I thought I'd post it here and collect feedback about interest in such a program? I'll collect the findings and report back to BAVC.org and see if there's interest in such an idea.
Thanks!
Moses
PS, I posted this in another thread, but it got lost in the barrage of replies about the joys and evils of renting.
I was talking to Ken and Wendy over at BAVC.org, and we came up with an interesting idea that could possibly help indie producers... "time-sharing" a complete RED film package. This concept would work something like this - AND THIS IS STILL IN THE CONCEPT STAGE - roughly:
- two REDs, one prime set, the zooms, as well as viewfinders, monitors, matte boxes, sufficient memory and storage solutions
- probably $100K of REDstuff & other equipment
- we'd let 10 indie producers co-own the package at a cost of $10K apiece
- this would give those producers access to the entire kit for four weeks each per year (scheduling will be a nightmare though)
- BAVC - a trusted non-profit - would manage the program, in exchange for getting to use the equipment during the remaining time available
- this allows the 10 producers to use this kit EVERY YEAR for a new film project, and could resell their time-share slot to someone else
- we're doing a financial projection shortly, including the cost of having a half time tech taking care of the equipment, rental to cover downtime, insurance, and some program for continuous upgrading so the kit is always state-of-the-art
- BAVC is thinking about teaching classes on how to shoot with a RED and optimal workflow, and possibly, the course could be thrown in as a deal sweetener
- we're thinking this MIGHT be an interesting solution for indie producers but not DPs, this would probably only work for Bay Area producers, and again... this is only at the concept stage
I'm thinking that since rental companies are quoting something like $1200-1400 a week for one camera, without lenses, renting is going to end up costing $10-15K for a three week shoot. This timeshare model would give us access to a camera package more or less optimized to a typical indie producer's schedule.
Of course, there are LOTS of issues to work through, but in the interest of market testing this concept, I thought I'd post it here and collect feedback about interest in such a program? I'll collect the findings and report back to BAVC.org and see if there's interest in such an idea.
Thanks!
Moses
PS, I posted this in another thread, but it got lost in the barrage of replies about the joys and evils of renting.