RED 1781 UPDATE: Spoke with my RED dan who says they are catching up fast with back order and trying to beat the current delivery schedule but I am still on standby for my tracking numbers. I hope to continue getting RED related work in the meantime.

RED 1781 UPDATE 6/2/08: Spoke with Dan again today, he says 1781 could ship this week!

Speaking of, you really figure out what your not missing in life when you can’t afford it…like television (the home seams much more peaceful without it) paper towels (wasteful, a rag works just as well) and I am learning to take my espresso without sugar…soon there wont be espresso.

As a freelance filmmaker I always book my gigs at least one month in advance as a cushion in case I fall to hard times. Fortunately the recession does not effect this industry too hard but it really depends what part your working in, cause IMO just about all my commercial clients are extremely financially tight these days. May has arrived and my big May job which involved traveling to direct a commercial in Costa Rica for an Ad agency (whom I will not name)…was delayed until August, maybe for good? This was not the Agency’s fault, their client can’t pony up the budget either…wow, thanks Bush. Now I am left scrambling for day jobs I had originally cleared for Costa Rica.

On a good note, the wire went into RED DIGITAL CINEMA today for our new RED ONE, I have tapped every resource dry and I am officially more broke then I have ever been in my life…so cheers to RED ONE #1781 coming home, may she prosper and bring me back to the surface. This has been a humbling experience no doubt, but the truth is…being a starving artist in New York city is not glamorous or romantic as the cliche goes. I got to run, there is a boiled egg with my name on it.

Mark Pederson of Offhollywood Studios shared an interesting article from Filmmaker Magazine on two of their features. If you do not know much about RED digital cinema or Offhollywoods work then click here…http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/spring2008/redcamera.php, either way its a good read.

Thanks Mark.

If you have not been following then I will bring you up to speed; the RED Bomb Squad recently announced “You order is nearly ready” in an email and gave me a week to add or subtract items before finalizing! Although finalizing the order can be a bit daunting at 1st but if you follow RED at all then you know they are consistently playing catch up to update the RED Store product descriptions and its becoming much more clear then it use to.  In case your still curious I will break down some examples from bear bones to tricked out.

INDIE BEAR BONES: Whats the least one could get by shooting with on a RED tomorrow?

• RED ONE™ Bodyx1
• BIRGER 35mm adaptor (Nikon/Canon) x1
• RED LCD 5.6 in x1
• Compact Flash module (built in) x1
• TOP mount x1
• TOP Handle x1
• RED Quickplate (For mounting Battery) x1
• RED CHARGER
• RED BRICK

MINIMAL: Run and Gun Guerrilla style configuration as seen on WonderHowTo demonstrated by Indie Rentals.

• RED ONE™ Body x1
• RED 18-50mm lens x1
• RED LCD 5.6 in x1
• Single CF ROD x1 (I recommend RED Carbon X, light as a feather)
• TOP mount x1
• TOP handle x1
• RED bottom Plate x1
• Shoulder Dovetail x1
• Compact Flash module (built in) x1
• RED Quickplate (For mounting Battery) x1
• RED CHARGER x1
• RED BRICK x1

TRICKED OUT: Lets make a feature shall we.

• RED ONE™ Body x1
• RED FLASH CF module (built in so currently not optional)
• RED EVF
• RED LCD (7inch upgrade, bigger and better viewing angles)
• RED DRIVE
• RED 18-85mm (Shipping summer 2008)
• ARRI 19mm Base
• RED BASE production package (Includes RIGHT HANDLE, TOP MOUNT)
• TOP MOUNT (Adds additional mount to complete the red rail system on top of you RED ONE)
• UNIVERSAL MOUNT
• RED HANDLE Left (For duel handle support,
• RED HANDLE MOUNT
• CARBON X 12 (For top support rods)
• CARBON X 24 (For Lower support rods)

This list still needs work. Be back soon. Thanks.

I present to you our very 1st podcast. Still trying to figure out what that means but I hope you enjoy this tid-bit I threw together last night. Sorry it took so long but podcasting unfortunately does not pay the bills. Next episode will include an exclusive interview with Erik Widding, engineer of the BIRGER 35mm nikon/canon lens adapter. NOTE: The Podcast was NOT shot on RED.

To say its ground breaking would be an understatement. I checked out of my pyramid shaped motel and headed to the convention center where I have been lingering the RED booth all day. I am speechless, RED showcases their next generation in digital cinema and its EPIC, no pun intended. 5k 1-100 fps, full frame S35MM MYSTERIUM X Sensor with WI-FI control to boot. WTF! I know many RED users and RED ONE owners and reservations holders are beside themselves, I certainly am.

I spoke with Big John who many know from the REDUSER.net forums and he gave me the lowdown and said that this was essentially a conversation starter, the breadbox style design weighs in only at 6 pounds and the technology is here to make it. I say one hell of a conversation starter that plans to deliver in early 2009.

Many RED ONE owners and reservations holders including myself were not expecting a next generation RED so soon so I can not yet imagine how the RED community will react to this next gen RED. At 40,000 dollars, EPIC is apparently aimed at a different market with deeper pockets. My initial reaction was one of concern considering I take delivery of RED ONE in only 2 weeks but then I was informed that RED is offering full credit of your RED ONE, that is 17,500 dollars towards the purchase of EPIC, not bad at all…now I am interested.

RED currently has one camera actually available today and thats the RED ONE so if you want to get in line for EPIC then the only unofficial way to do so is by dropping a deposit for a RED ONE today and take delivery for EPIC some time late 2009 if your lucky.