A promising new hope for Independent film-makers: Digital Cinema by RED Camera!
Today’s technology is breaking new grounds. Cinema is just another field witnessing the winds of change. Films or rather movies (How can we call them films, when they are shot digitally 
) like Collateral, Apacalypto, Star Wars, Sin City, 300…..being shot digitally. But is the present technology cheap? The above mentioned films used professional high end digital cameras to meet a particular purpose, mainly to get the ambient light effects, shooting in low light or for the ease of computer graphics. These films (can’t stop myself from using the same word, please do not mind if I use it again) were not cheap, infact much more expensive than the conventional ones shot on film medium. Wouldn’t it be great if we got a digital camera, which would give similar results as the above mentioned films at a fraction of the cost. It would be relatively easier for aspiring film makers to realize their dreams. The buzz is about the RED camera, which will enter the consumer market very very soon. May be sometime this month. Check out the specifications your selves to believe what the future looks like:-
Borrowed from the website:-
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2111&highlight=film+vs+red
Originally Posted by Jannard View Post
We may as well get this out of the way…
1. Cost of equipment- advantage RED
New 35mm film camera system= roughly $150K-$300K depending on model and accessories.
New RED ONE system= roughly $25K
Used 35mm film system= roughly $25K-$100K depending on age, model and condition
2. Cost to use- advantage RED
The RED camera is microscopic in costs compared to buying, processing and scanning film.
3. Dynamic Range- advantage 35mm film
Film is roughly 13-14 stops. The RED camera is currently 11.3 (although we are working on improvement in this area).
4. Resolution- advantage RED
Every industry expert I spoke with at NAB said that our footage was equal to or greater than 35mm film in resolution. If you want to hold this one aside until there are side by side tests… no argument from me.
5. Grain- If you like it, advantage 35mm film. If you don’t like it, advantage RED
6. Convenience- advantage RED
Shoot a film load for max 10 minutes before re-load. Shoot RED for 2 hours.
One of the biggest advantages that 35mm film had over digital was that it is “filmic”. The biggest compliment that we received at NAB was that the RED camera was the 1st digital footage they saw that “felt right”. I won’t name names, but they are hard names to beat. And most did NOT have reservations.
Please be clear that we are NOT saying we are a film replacement camera. We are saying that we are a film alternative. Choose what you want based on which advantages matter to you.
We the authors of PFC had a brief discussion regarding it. Few common questions which popped out:-
If Red Cameras were more easily accessible in India then, do you think it would be very helpful for the new filmmakers or independent filmmakers or just filmmakers?
ANS: The whole concept of Red is to help independent film makers I assume. If u compare the prices of Arri D20 n Panavision Genisis, which r professionally used in Hollywood films its not even peanuts:)
It would definitely help indie film makers if they can rent a camera like Red for 10,000 rs/day. Shoot a feature in 30 days and spend money on post n reverse telecine(not a right word but a favourite in Bollywood).
Jokingly:-It is also possible that the lobby of film labs would prevent the use of such cameras even entry into our country. Or they might even rent the available cameras for years so that they r not accessible to common people. lets see in one year’s time we will know.
Also the results of Red need to be seen first. If it lives upto the hype it has created. If it does its a boon for new film makers!
Given a choice I would still prefer film, but again beggars can’t be choosers.
Then we found this link where the footage of RED camera was available:-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ymt4QGoapA&mode=related&search=
Whats its scope in India?
ANS: I seariously think its a steal if it gives the results it promises at that price! If someone provides a package, which would include camera rental cost, editing cost, making 35mm print for 12 lakhs for a 2 hr long movie, which is as good as 35mm, they would be flooded with work.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
manjeet, expect a thank you card from mainak for this post.. you might be his favorite author now
also, they can edit the film by themselves using various softwares , so there are a lot of benefits….. if this product comes to India, then gali gali ke launde film banayege…
Mainak, send me a RED cam instead of the card:) Will shoot ur film:)
MANJEET lets shoot the 1st RED film of India. That alone will be some free publicity.
We’ll shoot the entire film in bangalore or Bombay.
Only thing is i have to write the script yet.:)
Striker is right.
I’m a big fan of RED cameras. I want them to take over the fuckin planet.
Mainak, People have already placed orders. Do you plan to buy it?
I am ready to go for it, even contribute, what I can.
I am in no financial state to buy anything right now Manjeet. i just got out of school.
maybe ina year or so….
But RED is on top of my mind….
if u r thinking of it I would say wait for 6 months write a scirt meanwhile & go for it….
Lets see where i am by then….
Manjeet: All looks good in written words, but when it comes to practicality, its always the opposite. Though RED is anticipated by many, it still raises doubts over ‘performance’. If you buy the camera, doesnt enable you to make a film. You have to R&D with the camera for a considerable time to understand its advantages and disadvantages. What softwares are going to be compatible with the output? Certainly not desktop based editing s/w like Premiere Pro or something. Some points to think about.
Srinivas: You have made a valid point, which I have put in the article itself. It’s results need to be seen as a first hand experience.
Peter Jackson shot using RED(using minimum funcs as it was not fully ready at that stage)and its believed that the results were astonishing. FCP already has built special codes for editing RED. There r functions such as RED in its menu. Within a year’s time we will know where it stands
Mainak:Thats encouraging to know your intentions. Seems like you have a good plan on ur hands. Meanwhile we know for sure how its results are.
if u can do it in final cut u can do it in premiere sreenivas
wow found link to Peter Jackson’s ‘Crossing the line’ trailer:-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ngywd4×1LTU&mode=related&search=
that link is broken Manjeet
Oops sorry. Please try the following links:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsDcsMMgfvg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngywd4×1LTU
The idea of making small budget films is good on red camera but lot of technical questions r still rising in mind, will it give 4k resolution as u said on mobile. Since u r confident but i need some more details, b4 going for it, u know how it is, if u can name some of the films made on this cameras than maybe people may go for it. I dont doubt ur capability but still i would like to be satisfied b4 considering any thing
cool article about how peter jackson experimented with the RED..
http://www.fxguide.com/article420.html
Hey fellas,
I’m not a professional filmmaker yet, but I’m planning to make a short film. I’ve been suggested to buy the Canon XL1. I know zilch about cameras. Can any of you help me out with finding a place to buy Canon XL1 or even a used one if the price difference is really big?
Thanks.
Hi
frends “www.saicom.com”
the fxfactory mumbai will buy red one within 2-4
months,it also provide hdv cam and 35mm transfer,
and my best sugetion is you first try hdv film making, brodcast over ufo “www.ufomoviez.com”
this will cost you for hdv 2500/- per day and for projection maximu Rs. 1500 to 2000 per theater per show,(good option is sony hdv v1u 4:2:2 sample good for croma)
somany project alredy don on hdv,i know hdv is very low res to red one but i think this is your good kick start, i started one samll film for dvd
and if we will get good film out tests all film i will transfer to 35mm(10,000 per min with kodak film or 8.5 lack for 2.5 hrs project),also i brought one hdtv projector for tambu and theter shows,hdv footage looks very lovely on hdtv.
ok thanks, all this info will help you to make movie.
for your help i will start my studio with red one
and 4k post in east maharashtra i will inform you after starting studio.
he this is my e-mail id:exttreem@yahoo.com
Please check this article before coming to any conclusion.
http://prolost.blogspot.com/2008/02/digital-cinema-dynamic-range-short.html.
Its not easy it is as said by manjeet. I am writing post-production workflow with red footage courtesy redrelay.net for Avid, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Whichever camera you shoot on, you need a professional approach of shooting which film follows and RED is no easier than this.
George Lucas Shoot Stars Wars Triology I, II and III for various reasons. The entire film has 60% to 100%(part-3) CG shots and he relased Star Wars in digital which makes sense.
Until and otherwise you have more CG shots its not worth to shoot in any digital cinema camera including RED and you will never match film latitude. The recent example Jumper shot on Red for some portions.RED involves various post-production cost which know one is ready to talk.
Lets appreciate RED 4K digital cinema camera as a start and trying to match film latitude which is not achievable in near future ( 5 years from now).
For more information on HD post-production workflow and consulatancy and choosing camera for choice of production please visit my blog www.indieshd.com
First indian film in RED is ready to release. “Achamund achamund”