Interviewing DPs who own Red for Feature

[Shooting Red feature]

Hey film warriors,

I'm an award-winning producer/screenwriter and proud owner of a Red camera (that I won't receive until 2008).

I'm shooting a micro-budget feature film this September/October 75 miles north of San Francisco (12 shoot days). It is a special psychological thriller (a la Polanski/Roeg) that is going to have AMAZING production value and be shot in a creative "Holy Mountaian" Jodorowsky/Lynch style.

We have a very real shot at an Independent Spirit Award nomination. The script is that good, I have industry connections, and I was a producer on a feature that won last year. What we need is an amazing, reasonable low budget DP who understands what an opportunity this is.

This feature is low budget, but we are building our creative team and next up will be shooting a $300,000 teen chick spaghetti western. Yes, a teen chick spaghetti western, Tarantino style, with a script that just won second place in "Fade In Magazine's" action category. So get in now with us, and get paid a little to learn how to use your new camera instead of shooting your neighbor or your cat.

If you have feature film experience and a Red package for rental at reasonable industry rates (I already know what the industry comps are and can get my own rental at $500 a day/3 day week, so insane quotes are going right in the trash), please send me your CVs and links to feature footage.

Elisabeth Fies
Lisfies@gmail.com
http://www.PistolerasMovie.com
http://www.KidSisInHollywood.com

[Zakaree Sandberg]

500 a day?? if you can get that then take it.. dont think many people will be doing a full package plus dp/oping work for 500.. but thats my 2cents

[Jay A. Kelley]

I sure know I'm not interested!
Good luck and please... Get someone else!

Personally I find the sales pitch "Lean how to use your camera and get paid (very little) instead of shooting your cat" offensive.

Sir, shooting my cat will not take me 12-14 hours per day during 6 day weeks for God knows how long.

This is a forum populated by professionals, it's not the adult section of craigslist. So I suggest you stop looking for idiots here, I'm willing to bet you won't find many.

Now I will be the FIRST to admit that perhaps you left something out and I am making the wrong assumptions.. Perhaps you are professional, and would NEVER look for a full camera package, lens, sticks, follow focus, mattebox, etc for $500 per day.. Perhaps you were just talking the body, viewfinder, power and rods.. The rest would be additional. If that is the case then I completely apologize.. If not, then see above note and READ IT AGAIN.

Jay



$

[Joe Aurili]

Thanks for the offer, but I would rather shoot my cats....

[Stephen Williams]

500 a day?? if you can get that then take it.. dont think many people will be doing a full package plus dp/oping work for 500.. but thats my 2cents

Hi,

Welcome to the world of film making. Many top DOP's have shot non union films for $1000 a week (6 days).

Stephen

[Roberto B]

surprisingly or maybe not, the only one saying something properly it was our stephen.

when we cannot say nothing, we say.. nothing at all.

be welcome Elisabeth!

[Stephen Williams]

surprisingly or maybe not, the only one saying something properly it was our stephen.

when we cannot say nothing, we say.. nothing at all.

be welcome Elisabeth!

Hi,

Spoken by a true Artist.

Stephen

[Roberto B]

lol..

[Daniel Reichenbach]

Agree with Stephen... let's think, our Elisabeth (Hi Elisabeth) will be the new Tarantino one day and she has a great story to tell, why not invest in her work? I often worked for quiet nothing and at the end, most of the time a get over the years a lot of money back.

[donatello b]

if you can get a RED package at 500 day/3 day week in Sept/Oct reserve it or tell us where to get that price because many here would like to shoot a RED end of sept !!!

i have heard of you (positive talk) ... took a look at your web sites ..
my impression was a little more EL TOPO then holy mountain but you the writer /director ...

i think Elisabeth will get her project completed on her terms , she knows what she wants and she does know the business ... she knows how to swing deals.. she put it out there and didn't beat around the bush !!!

[Tonaci Tran]

It will be interesting to see what rates will be in the first 3-4 months since we will inevitably have a supply and demand issue. If there were an unlimited supply then of course rates will be cheaper..until november 10th (according to the tentative shipping schedule) there will still only be 300 REDS in the entire world in october. Not all available for rent. My guess will be that RED will be in demand..and paying the extra rates might be worth it so that your project will be one of the first to be filmed with RED.

[Michael Schrengohst]

It won't be the initial shooting but the post back end that will
cost you. Even if you go to a 2K edit it will still be some real $$$.....

[Steve Gibby]

Macro economics of any commodity: high demand + low supply = high rate. That should be the paradigm with RED One for several months until it morphs into: high demand + moderate supply = moderate rate.

In a free market, non-socialistic marketplace the laws of micro economics, macro economics, and economies of scale determine commodity rates. There are local variables in each market and submarket for sure.

As a smart independent producer, Elisabeth should be working hard to maximize technology and minimize overhead - with that necessarily filtered through the standard of quality she demands for her project, conformed with the standards that her distribution outlets require.

RED #8 will be very busy in my own projects, but when I do freelance with RED #8 it will not go out bare, but I will always go along with the package at least in a tech consultant role, if not as DP or cinematographer. The rates Elisabeth is asking for are way below what I would charge, even for a #8 package + me as tech rep - and #8 + me as DP/cinematographer will be much higher than that. I haven't set rates yet, but for 2007 at least, me as tech rep + #8 package will most likely be around $1,200-$1,500 USD per day, and me as DP/cinematographer with a #8 package may run around $2k to $2.5k per day...we'll see what the market will bear.

In a free market economy any commodity or service is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. When your sales and bookings start to fade it's time to adjust your rates downward a bit.

[I Bloom]

Elizabeth,

The logic of your hardball negotiating tactic is flawed: If you have secured a rental at a price you are satisfied with then you need only find a DP and crew. With someone who is not going to have a camera in September you will be in a much better negotiating position for the rates on their labor and pulling from a much larger talent pool. If I cared enough, I would call your bluff. But I don't need to, because you're already where you want to be.

In any case, I do wish you luck with your project. I'm also looking for a RED in October, but for a much higher price.

IBloom

[Russ McDonald]

I will say nothing.

Surprising I know, but still true. Don't tell Nathan

[Gordon Prince]

I will say nothing.Ah ah ah Filmmaker has a strong personality and he's a strong character too. He's a good leader.

[Bing Bailey]

I love the way we have all been enjoying how RED is going to shift the industry by giving us an affordable way to get high quality yet the same thinking won't be passed on in the rates that people are dreaming of charging.

there is no way RED rates should be anything near whats being charged for f900 and other packages. how can you charge the same rate for a camera 75% cheaper. Sounds all a bit greedy. if RED had that attitude none of you would be enjoying the coming revolution

[Brook Willard]

Guys, there will be a lot of threads like this in the coming months. Some will offer nothing, some will offer tons. We'll figure out a way to handle them forum-side. Until then, I'm locking this. The necessary info is posted if you're interested.