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High Definition Video for Independent Filmmakers
A How To Guide for Digital Filmmakers
Welcome all! This is my blog to share my latest research,
thoughts, etc. on utilizing HD for independent filmmaking.

YES, I am available for consulting
Contact me at mike@hdforindies.com

All content copyright 2004-2007 Mike Curtis.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Public Apology 

Last week I published a report about my visit to Red. I was excited, I saw great things, and wrote it in a hurry late at night. I then hurried to get it online, editing it slapdash/piecemeal on the plane, as a request was made publish ASAP so that it could be discussed publicly. No other vendor made a specific request, so no rush was placed on their coverage.

I sat down and started writing it and set out to be flat and objective, and stated so....and then quickly got emotional about it - writing how I felt about it. Emotionally true, not literally in every statement exactly factually true (I'm talking about the film school reference here specifically). I whipped out a draft that didn't quite say what I meant in my head. (New version clarifies this now.)

In the end, some have felt that my visits to other facilities were just a sham so I could say how much better Red was. This is absolutely not true. My visit to California was one I'd been meaning to do for months, and the anchor event to build the trip around was the DGA Digital Day. (The DGA was gracious enough to let me in as a non-covering journalist, and I appreciate it greatly). I called Dalsa, Panavision, Red, Clairmont Camera, EFILM, Technicolor, Plaster City Digital Post, Band Pro, and some other vendors as well as some clients to visit while I was out there. My intent on this trip was information gathering, meeting people to make face to face contact with, make some business contacts, and evaluate the LA experience for possible work.

However, the way I covered the Red story, some have felt there was a level of deceit or disingenuousness about it. While my article and the circumstances may have inadvertently given that appearance, that was not the case at all.

So I've pulled that article for the moment and I'm going to rewrite it. I am still going to say very positive things about Red, but try to keep my excitement in check and be very clear about the experience. I will also need to respect the privacy boundaries of all parties involved as well.

I've been getting a lot of feedback about my coverage, and I'm realizing this isn't just my little blog I write for fun, people are taking things seriously and it is time for me to pony up and be serious as well. I think my intent was misconstrued, but I also need to make my intent CLEAR.

To any of the facilities or vendors that I visited that feel I abused their trust and openness, that was absolutely NOT my intent. I am sincerely sorry if you feel that way, and am taking steps to rectify the situation immediately. If you have any questions or comments about any of this, feel free to contact me directly at mike@hdforindies.com. I try to live and learn, and I'm definitely learning from this experience - people react to their perception of reality, not reality itself (always a difficult distinction). Perception counts, and keeping perceptions in line with reality sometimes requires some extra work. There's one particular party that has voiced their concern most publicly and negatively about my visit, I've been trying to reach them for four days to rectify the situation, but to date I've had no response to emails or calls.

To preempt any questions about why I haven't covered anything else yet from the trip, I've been busy - I'm a one man deal, and after being gone for nearly two weeks, I had to dive back into my life - my Dad's 70th surprise birthday party was over the weekend, a planned complete emptying/cleaning/rebuilding of my studio room, catching up on email/bills/mail/etc. I've got a busy schedule this week, so I'll be working hard to get my non-blog work done as well as coverage posted. I was up until 2:30am last night working on some inhouse tech problems, for instance. It's all coming, it just takes time, I'm just one guy.

A series of detailed reports from my LA visit, a WWDC wrapup, some new info on storage, progress on the Texas HD Shootout DVDs....lots to do.

-mike

Update 4pm CST:

I've decide the fair thing to do is to do what I'd originally planned to do - to post about my trip chronologically - NO favoritism via placement, just reporting (well, blogging - call it what you will) in order. Facilities, vendors, etc. will be discussed in the order I visited them, which was pretty much the order in which I was able to arrange meetings with them.

So stay tuned. I'll be spending a few hours a day writing up notes and publishing as I go. I'm going to focus on WWDC, since it is so timely and topical, and then get to the trip coverage (which, with the exception of one vendor, have all been in their present state for some time and aren't "new" per se).

UPDATE 8:20 PM - Nah, no I'm not. I'm going to slightly edit and republish the Red article shortly.

Update Thursday morning: I'm trying to finish up my WWDC wrap-up coverage, but I probably won't finish before I need to leave for a day trip to visit an ex-girlfriend (now married) who has had a serious back injury from a traffic accident. Life is hard and sucky sometimes - it is Rhonda that I mentioned in Day Off in Analog Land the other year. I'm going to go visit her as I haven't in too long. Hi Rhonda! You rock. In any case, WWDC wrapup tonight, my LA trip coverage continues to be postponed, but it is just scheduling - on the way back from Fredericksburg I'm picking up an XDCAM HD cartridge from the Texas HD Shootout that accidentally stayed in the camera and went back to California, then to NAB, then to Dallas, then to San Marcos (Chris Hurd has it at moment) from whom I'll be fetching it. Then I go to north of Dallas tomorrow (4 hour drive according to the TomTom) with a G5 and RAID to capture footage from that disc, and doodle with XDCAM HD native capture, then pack up and drive 4 hours home. Saturday morning is neice's birthday party, and THEN I think I can start writing about LA trip this weekend.

-mike
Posted by: Mike Curtis / 8/08/2006 11:03:00 AM
Comments:
We all get excited and I thought your post was great and a lot of fun to read. I hope we can get those types of posts in the future but in the business world you have to be careful of how you present yourself of course and what you say. HD For Indies is really getting important me thinks.
# posted by Blogger Wes Vasher : Tue Aug 08, 11:32:00 AM CST
 
Mike,

I feel that is important to let you know that you're doing a great job. I read your blog everyday because it has passion and emotion. I hope this doesn't change you or the way you blog. There is plenty of trades written by suits based on press releases and appeal to their advertisers..

Don't go a changin

David Parks
david@openskyfilms.com
# posted by Anonymous David Parks : Tue Aug 08, 11:51:00 AM CST
 
Why should you have to apologize for being passionate about what you cover, and having strong opinions? If any vendors don't get that, then maybe they need to show you products that cause you to be inspired. This is the Internet age... if they don't get it, then they won't be successful. That's hardly your problem!
# posted by Anonymous Jeff : Tue Aug 08, 11:59:00 AM CST
 
Word.

No need for a public apology, Mike. People read this site for your opinion, not just for factual gathering. I know it's hard when you're courting business from the same companies you cover, but I don't think you should mute yourself just because you deal with competing vendors.

Any of the camera companies up in arms about your coverage should grow up and start producing better products. Don't give in to them, Mike.
# posted by Anonymous Josh Oakhurst : Tue Aug 08, 12:10:00 PM CST
 
Mike, you have no reason to apologize. One of the reasons your blog is so important to us is the fact that IT IS a blog - with all the passion, enthusiasm and experience you bring to the subject. Having followed your writings virtually on a daily basis from the beginning, it’s clear that you have certain leanings towards certain technologies - Thank God, if I want the official industry version on technology my vendor can give me that. Here in the UK we have very few high-end suppliers of this kind of kit and over the last 10 years I have been through 6 of them, leaving in their wake a pile of IBM SSA drives, abandoned Cinewave HD bobs and other dead end technologies. If only your blog had been around then, it really makes me wonder how on earth we used to get hold of our info back then! I don’t know how you get the time to do it, but I for one am very grateful. Keep up the great work. XX
# posted by Blogger Simon Bisset : Tue Aug 08, 12:10:00 PM CST
 
Apologize? For What? For stating the obvious fact that the big camera companies have been trickling out professional features to independents for years, never considering the leap that Red has taken and simply giving us, the customers, what we're asking for? I'm sorry, but if other vendors are complaining about your coverage of Red, it is simply their fear of competition speaking. And they need to get over it. Red won't be the last company that recognizes that the digital revolution has changed the game. As media, storage, processing power and software get cheaper, the big camera companies are going to have to accept the fact that the days of the $100,000-plus camera are disappearing. If they want to compete with red, they are going to have to give us something revolutionary as well. But unfortunately, they won't. The day they present plans for a $20k 4K camera to their corporate bosses, they'll be laughed out of the boardroom. "What,, and cannibalize our sales at the top?! You're fired!" No camera engineer needs that, right?
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 12:43:00 PM CST
 
No apology needed.
this is HDforindies.com
not HDforbigcorporatepussies.com
hey i've seen Dalsa's stuff it's hot.
but if Red's Stuff if hotter i wanna know.
thanks mike. keep up the good work
# posted by Anonymous morgan gross : Tue Aug 08, 12:48:00 PM CST
 
Ditto all the above, Mike. We indie filmmakers rely on your passionate, independent, and informed voice to help us cut through all the hype and corporate-speak out there. Your blog helps us get our projects made without breaking the bank. So keep saying what you wanna say. We’re grateful for the candor.
# posted by Blogger JP : Tue Aug 08, 12:54:00 PM CST
 
I, for one, want enthusiasm and gut feelings. The excitement around the Red footage may not have been objective, but it was great to read. And vendors should take note; it mirrors what lots more non-bloggers are hoping will be true: that we are about to witness a shift in acquisition technologies.

That said, it would be a real shame if the enthusiastic coverage you provide us of updates in the technical world costs you commercial work. But I hope this doesn't become a case of the wagging tail biting the hand that feeds you.

Best of luck. Eagerly awaiting the Dalsa review.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 12:59:00 PM CST
 
I have to make the point to - if any article needs to come down off you site, it's this apology. Companies need bloggers like you more than you need those companies.

I don't agree with everything HD for Indies does (more PC coverage please, enough about your Powerbook :), but I read it everyday.

We, as blog readers, want a strong opinion. The fact that were so passioniate about RED was the story - you're not a guy given to gushing emotionalism - that's why that story was so popular.

I'm sure the vendors were ruffled. But that's not you, that's RED. They are all praying, sacrficing virgins and god knows what else that RED fails, or at least has to quadruple the price or can only build 5 a month.

So anyone who draws attention to the possible, pending revolution is gonna draw flack. I know it's hard to do in your position, but tell to "Put up of shut up". If they've got better images for the same or less, let's see them.

Stay strong Mike - this site ain't "HD of for scared, bloated vendors of overpriced, underpowered gear"!
# posted by Blogger stephen v2 : Tue Aug 08, 01:11:00 PM CST
 
Mike, I am a professional writer, and I don't think you have anything to apologize for. You wrote up what you thought was the most interesting stuff from your trip first, and that was the Red images.

If the other companies you saw are upset by this, they should deal with it. Unless you made specific promises of coverage in the blog, they should have regarded the meetings you had as being informational and for background.

I'm a professional writer, and I take a lot of meetings. But I don't write immediately about everything I see, and I make no promises that I will do so.

You have to make comparisons: if someone doesn't like a comparison because it's not favorable to them, they have to deal with it. Sure, if there are factual errors or omissions, they can ask for a correction, but they just have to deal with it if it's a valid comparison. They may not like it (and they may not agree), but you can't pull your punches because it might upset someone.

I read the stuff about your trip and though it was fair. You were obviously enthusiastic about RED, but that was tempered with some degree of realism about where they stand: you saw images from a prototype sensor that looked great. I really don't see a problem in saying so and saying that you were excited about what you saw.

If you lost the emotion, your blog wouldn't be as interesting as it is: you are an expert in your field, but you also an enthusiast who cares about what he does. Don't loose that because someone else disagrees.
# posted by Anonymous Richard Baguley : Tue Aug 08, 01:13:00 PM CST
 
Mike -

ALWAYS be yourself. That's why we all read your blogg. If you are jumping out of your skin about RED - then blogg it. Period.

As the saying goes - you can please SOME of the people SOME of the time -

RED is going to stir up a MASSIVE tidal wave of PRESS, BUZZ and OPINIONS. And because you have access that is not granted to everyone, and you have a public forum (built by you) - you are going to be a target to some folks with sour grapes.

Don't bother to run, or to hide, just blogg away -
# posted by Anonymous Mark L. Pederson : Tue Aug 08, 01:26:00 PM CST
 
So people thought you were somewhat biased towards the Red? And you're surprised by that? You've voiced your interest in the Red in several other posts as well. Are you going to take those down too?

My point is, there are always going to be detractors and conspiracy theorists. It's true that when I read the post, I felt that it did seem a little one-sided, and could possibly serve to slight the other people who gave you their time to show you their products. I agree, people are taking your posts seriously. And that's a good thing. People take your posts seriously because you've always written with your passion for the things you're interested in. You shoot straight and tell it like it is. I'd wager that one of the reasons people do take it so seriously is because of your biases. You give your opinion, regardless if it's politically savvy or not. And that is exactly why we take what you say seriously. You're going to write about what you're interested in and not waste time on "puff" pieces about products you don't care about. Remember, this is your blog, not a trade magazine. Don't let us turn you into one.

While being totally open about your opinions on a product (whether good or bad) may not always be good for business relationships, at least it's consistent. We know that we'll always get your true opinion. That's why we read.

I for one hope that the original post does not stay down, as it was true to you (overzealous excitement and all), and that's what's important :)
# posted by Anonymous Sol : Tue Aug 08, 01:42:00 PM CST
 
Welcome to LA Mike!

There are two positions one can take:

1> The Red Crew is making something spectacular, for an insane price, and it's got folks who have already invested millions in other equipment quaking in fear because great quality shooting can be done cheaply and more efficiently, assuming that Red is real. That's the real source to ire with your article - trace it to the money.

or

2> You're a pony for the Red guys, blindly oblivious to the fact that you're getting played by a crew that is spending all this time pulling our legs. If that's the case, then other crews have NOTHING to worry about because time will prove their systems superior. This theory doesn't work though, because if RED were fake, the hype would die down.

No Mike, I think all this drama proves is that there's a change in the air, and the status quo is scared. Don't back down - go forward!

Good luck and thanks for all the hard work!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 02:06:00 PM CST
 
Why are you second-guessing yourself? Hold your ground, Mike.

I would argue that by removing the post in question, you are in fact pandering to the special interests of the very people that are erroneously crying foul. What was the title of your website again? HD For WHO? If you're looking to buy, hdforcartels.com is still available...

When Mike Curtis looks at a camera image, I want to know what his gut instinct is. We're not emotionless machines that survive on a diet of raw specifications and resolution charts, many of us trust you and we also want to know what you feel about RED and every other product you write about. Don't let your head get in the way of your heart, and bring on the emotion.

Matt Jeppsen
FresHDV.com
# posted by Blogger freshdv : Tue Aug 08, 02:20:00 PM CST
 
I'm gonna tweak it so it isn't assailable, that's the point.

-mike
# posted by Blogger Mike Curtis : Tue Aug 08, 02:28:00 PM CST
 
Ditto, again, on all these comments. Don't change.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 02:31:00 PM CST
 
Mike, I think people are touchy about the word "journalist." I'd just call yourself a reporter and keep the enthusiasm.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 02:34:00 PM CST
 
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING! Do you remember my rant about RED in a previous post? You people take hype way too seriously ;-)
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 02:43:00 PM CST
 
Mike I just think you should back off a little from working directly for RED at trade shows etc. I think that's the only conflict. Beyond that you have every write to get excited about their products vs. competitors that's what your audience is looking for.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 02:46:00 PM CST
 
More ditto on all of the above.

If Red caused that kind of passionate reaction then it's better represented realistically. First, this is a blog, so you don't have an editor to tidy things up and second your audience knows what your reaction can mean about the future of digital filmmaking.

It's quite nice to see some real excitement about upcoming tech in this field.
# posted by Anonymous Eric Peacock : Tue Aug 08, 02:52:00 PM CST
 
I think in years RED's release will prove to be the landmark event that changed things forever.

You can't help but get excited about what they are doing and how it will effect the industry as a whole.

We are all at the cusp of a huge shake up.

The revolution will be televised, you're doing what any great news person would do - shout about it!

Its great you are on the inside of RED.
# posted by Anonymous rory Hinds : Tue Aug 08, 03:20:00 PM CST
 
Guys, you're all great at saying "fight the man" but my guess is there is more to this. Why would Mike apologize so much? I'm curious. Mike, did these people pay your ticket to come out? IF that's the case, they probably have a legitimate beef. From your post, it sure sounds like they did.

If they didn't pay you, they have no gripe at all.

In this blogging world, I wonder about all of this pseudo-journalism. I seriously wonder what arrangements these guys have with companies. It's never mentioned publicly, but Mike & Chris Hurd probably get SOMETHING, be it only discounts or flights, etc.

If Mike isn't getting anything from these companies, than I agree with everyone here.

AJ
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 03:38:00 PM CST
 
Oops...forgot to put in some warm and fuzzies.

I don't want people to think any of this changes how much we all like and appreciate this blog and dvinfo.net. They are awesome resources.

But like so many blog sites, I'm never clear if there isn't more to the work than doing it just for us bums. :-)

I absolutely view sources differently if they are being paid when discussing information. I love the magazines that have a great 3 page revew on a product and you see a full page ad for that same product next to it. It doesn't take a genius to figure out this stuff. It also makes me doubt the review.

Regardless, I hope this blog continues. I love reading it.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 03:43:00 PM CST
 
OK, AJ, I gotta jump in on that one in a hurry. My main concern is damaging relationships with companies that I want to be friendly with, work with, refer clients to, and have clients referred from.

TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR - NO ONE PAID ANY OF MY EXPENSES ON THIS TRIP BUT ME. I flew myself out, I couch crashed with friends, I paid for all my own meals. My total compensation package from Red for this trip? I got a beer when everyone else in the room did. And that's IT. This trip was an R&D and make contacts trip for me, and I almost didn't get to meet with Red at all - from conversations with Ted I knew they were busy right now, so I blocked out two entire days for a possible short visit with them, and didn't hear a "come on down" until the afternoon of the second day. So by no means WHATSOEVER was this any kind of paid trip, or for the benefit of any one vendor, or anything like that.

-mike
# posted by Blogger Mike Curtis : Tue Aug 08, 03:50:00 PM CST
 
Oops, hit Post too soon. And no, no other vendor paid me for anything either. I WISH they'd fly me up to come visit them. Some vendors, like Silicon Imaging and Phantom, won't be mentioned in my LA coverage because...they aren't in LA and I couldn't meet with them. If any serious vendor wants to fly me up and put me up to get some coverage, I would certainly consider that if I thought their product/facility/service/whatever merited coverage.
# posted by Blogger Mike Curtis : Tue Aug 08, 03:53:00 PM CST
 
Well, that's good to hear from the...umm...horses mouth. :-) In that case, I agree with all these guys that you have reason to apologize.

I surely didn't mean to sound like I was accusing you of selling out, but I just often wonder about the validity of our sources of information in this information age. Not to get into political discussion, but it's absolutely CRAZY and evil if you start checking out sources of where these stories are coming from that are printed on CNN and Fox and others. I love the information age. I hate the information age.

So, glad to hear that they didn't fund your opinions. Remind them of that when they bitch about not being mentioned.

AJ
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:10:00 PM CST
 
D'oh! I meant you have "NO REASON TO APOLOGIZE!"

Sorry.

AJ
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:11:00 PM CST
 
Yeah, sounds totally like sour grapes to me. Everyone getting a bit sensitive about what the Red camera might mean for them in the short term.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:15:00 PM CST
 
People, myself included, don't read this site for bland details on emerging technology, we read it for insight and tribulations involved with working in film/video production. This is not a hype site, and I greatly appreciate that. Real world applications of cutting edge technology, with a budget in mind, is what we're interested in.

Equipment rental facilities have no stake in a film, and their only bottom line is ensuring continued buisness. Thusly, their opinion in anything technology related is a bandwagon philosophy. The Thomspon Viper was out 2 years before ANY rental facilities decided to invest. And today, they still do a lot of sub-contracting to aquire more than the 1 or two they actually own. I know for a fact that when Plus8D couldnt supply Miami Vice with enough of them, they actually turned to independent owners. And a few of them were even destroyed in accidents shooting the speedboat scenes.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:20:00 PM CST
 
Mike, I read your site everyday. I don't always agree with everything you say, but who cares. In fact, I don't understand everything you talk about. I like reading your blog, and that's all that matters. I read that article, and I don't remember anybody getting knocked. Keep up the good work. El Duque.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:28:00 PM CST
 
Wanted to add my vote of support. You write as you feel Mike - we all have to make our own judgements and decisions to make.

I like your blog because you provide your interpretations and opinions and I value them highly - don't just sart providing a news gathering service!!

If you feel passionate about a product I wanna hear about it!!!!
This is the case as you back this up with experience and facts.

I've got a feeling there is going to be plenty of upheavel if RED starts delivering on it's promises - maybe this is an early backlash - more to come from the industry competitors????

You keep writting as you feel Mike!

thumbs up - wes greene
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:29:00 PM CST
 
I think your post was a little over the top in places. Having seen on-set footage from the Genesis and the Origin camera, both of these do deliver top quality image, especially when you pair it with the ultra-expensive glass that comes with a production rental.

I think you should only moderate your comparisons and not your points about the footage. Without having them side by side, you can't really say that a good camera like the XL H1 (or pick your favorite indie cam) wouldn't also do a great job capturing the same image with similar resolution settings (e.g. 1080i).

The one place I would like to see you cover is the true cost of the WHOLE kit. Sure you can go out and buy cheap adaptable used Nikon glass or figure out how to jury rig a medium format SLR lens on to the RED camera (wait till the focus hunts or the image starts to breath and you will know why SLR lenses don't work so well). The current crop of sub $10K camera do a pretty good job at capturing a decent HD image. At a cost of $50K+ for RED + Cine style lens (Canon HD/EC Cine Lens costs $27K+), is it really comparable to an indie camera like the XL H1 or HVX200?

I love the idea of Red. I really love the idea of Red opening up the market for high quality acquisition so that users don't have to choose to junk up their images with 15:1 and greater compression that causes serious noise and artifacts. I would like to see less hype and more discussion about what niche Red will really fill.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 04:58:00 PM CST
 
Absolutely agree that your post was fine and exactly what I have come to love about your blog. There are many older forums and lists which have become havens for zealous mods who constantly enforce a toe line which does not suite constructive criticism and real world, real people feedback, but panders to corporate interests (read, sponsors).

Press release regurgitation has become the de-facto answer in many cases; this site stands tall among them all and I hope it long may continue to furnish us all with emotional and real thoughts from the bleeding edge of post technology from the mouth of Mike Curtis.
# posted by Anonymous Mark Burton : Tue Aug 08, 05:33:00 PM CST
 
Red has them running scared.....Was there not something about Intel not happy with some of the computer mags because they felt certain mags were biased towards AMD. Now Intel looks to have reversed the situation and could be back on top. Sure this is an industry and what industry does not try to protect their profits...

If Red succeeds these companies will have to produce better cameras at a similar price. If they don't then why worry about what they say they will not survive for long. Sure you waxed lyrical about Red WITH GOOD REASON!!!!!!!It is not every day that a groundbreaking earth shattering camera looks to be on its way fairly soon.
Love your HONEST DECENT AND FAIR ARTICLES Stick to what you do best reporting how YOU feel. If you had to report how these other guys felt then it would probably be a pretty sick report.
# posted by Anonymous Mike the beginner : Tue Aug 08, 05:37:00 PM CST
 
Do not remove the original post!!!

It makes you look bad (worse yet, scared about what you did)
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 05:55:00 PM CST
 
It's a tricky situation you have created for yourself Mike. Way back when I first started reading "Your Little Blogg", as you put it, it was just that, the opinions and views of an independent individual who spoke with passion and verve on all matters HD For Indies. Whether you were right or wrong, biased or fair, in any of your views/blogging, mattered not, as this was your blogg, and this being the internet you can pretty much write what you want. As the blogg has grown, you have (and rightfully so) tried to find a way of bringing in some income/work to compensate for all the time you spend doing everything that is HD For Indies related.

If I may digress for a moment. Some years back. in Sydney Australia, a magazine started called Independent Filmmaker, it was a small mag run by a couple of mates. It covered everything that the mainstream mags didn't, all the truly independent stuff, and I, along with many others, loved it. As they continued, the amount of work that they were putting in was not at all commensurate with the financial returns, so over time the magazine changed, it's now called Inside Film, and with all it's corporate sponsors it is largely indistinguishable from everything else that is out there. The Tropicana Short FIlm Festival, once a truly independent event, is now The Sony Tropfest. Sundance, once was this, now it's that. And the list goes on.

Making the transition from being a guy who writes on his blogg about HD related stuff with no concern as to whether this or that particular article/point of view may upset or offend - to being...well...something else, is only a decision that you can make.

At the end of the day this is after all only a Blogger site in amongst the millions of others, but it so happens that I looked forward to reading it everyday.

Thanks Marty.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 06:39:00 PM CST
 
This isn’t so much to Mike as it is to those who feel slighted. Reading between the lines, it would appear that Mike made some requests for access to people, equipment and places that are normally of limited access. Because Mike has created a valuable source of information to the community you acquiesced and opened your doors to him hoping to get some good PR. When Mike returned from the trip and immediately posted on what he felt to be the most exciting story, you felt that you had been treated less than fairly.

I’ll just take a stab I the dark and guess that you might be from Dalsa since, of the bunch, you would probably be the most threatened by Red.

But whoever you are, you should relax. Red is a dream product that is months away at best while you have good products that can be put to work right now. We know this and my reading of Mike is that he sees it that way as well. If you had let him see your top secret projects he would probably be wowed by what you are doing as well (for your sake I certainly hope he would be).

Mike hasn’t stated anything that should chase away any clients who need to capture in the next year... anyone putting out that kind of money can’t count on something is so far out past the bleeding edge they probably won’t feel the blade for six months at the very least. And even after the Red 1 is out, your customer base won’t go there in any great numbers until it has proven itself in several smaller shoots.

I’ve put down my $1000 deposit on the Red 1 in the hopes that mine will be one of those smaller shoots... but I couldn’t afford to be a customer of yours any time soon so I am NO loss to you. If I had a producer ready to put the resources behind me to start shooting any time soon I wouldn’t even be looking at Red, only at the products that are actually working... your products. If I were to call Mike in to consult on a project going into development today I would frankly be dumbfounded if he even mentioned Red.

But I won’t speak for Mike, only my interpretation of his writings on HD for Indies, Red MIGHT be a great camera in the FUTURE- you guys HAVE great cameras RIGHT NOW.

Cut the man a little slack and wait to see how he covers what he learned with you before you cry foul.

And Mike, I fully understand your wanting to post first about the most exciting, new and interesting thing you saw on your trip... and I also understand you wanting to pull the post once you found out that people who had treated you right felt that you did them wrong... but I think that if you’d just plowed on and posted about the rest of your trip in your usual (almost) bias free (where’s your love for the PC?) way then their ruffled feathers should have been smoothed.
# posted by Blogger Clint : Tue Aug 08, 07:49:00 PM CST
 
This isn't a matter of competitors fearing RED. What an insult to all concerned that is. That makes for a better story, even if it's not true. As i understand it, it's a matter of miscommunication and the perception that Mike did not reciprocate the courtesy extended to him from some vendors during his recent trip to LA. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything else is conspiracy theory nonsense.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Tue Aug 08, 08:20:00 PM CST
 
Mike, no need for apologies. You have a huge following of "silent" readers in Asia, who read your blog daily purely because it is the best blog on HD. Keep up the good work
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Wed Aug 09, 08:01:00 AM CST
 
I'm with Morgan G.
People need to chill. If you want to get all excited about some new tech from Red, have at it. Next week, you'll prolly get all excited about some gizmo from Dalsa. That's what makes your blog so good (well, that and the dead on work flow analysis). And some of the whiners need to realize I follow their products only through your blog but decide what to use based solely on what gets the job done.
Keep it real M,
k
# posted by Blogger Kevin Traywick : Wed Aug 09, 10:11:00 AM CST
 
You write: I'm realizing this isn't just my little blog I write for fun, people are taking things seriously and it is time for me to pony up and be serious as well.

I'm not an HD pro, but I follow the breaking news online quite faithfully. I don't read any print publications or rely on any other source of information for my purchasing decisions. I only read online blogs like yours. You ARE the press when it comes to this sort of stuff. And as such, you are entitled to express your opinion however you see fit. That's WHY I read you. If you're being bullied or intimidated by any big company, I ask that you stick to your guns. You ARE the press. Indeed, you're the BIGGEST press when it comes to this stuff. Yes, your blog for fun is more important than the New York Times when it comes to rating/reviewing/discussing new camera technology. And like any member of "the press" your opinion will sometimes rattle some chains. The unfortunate side of this is that you are a one-man band, as you say. And so you're not on paid a healthy salary for your blog with a bunch of senior editors to protect you. But know that your reading public appreciates your enthusiasm as much as your objective opinion. Your excitement for RED prompted me to print off a reservation form. Because I take your enthusiasm as a very valid opinion in and of itself. Keep it up. We love you for it.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Wed Aug 09, 10:59:00 AM CST
 
Your statement: " I was up until 2:30am last night working on some inhouse tech problems, for instance. It's all coming, it just takes time, I'm just one guy."

is indicative of our times! Many of us Techie's are so hooked (ok, I'm speaking for myself) on sharing our lives, loves, and keeping body and soul together that things can get out of hand. I normally have 20+ program's open, reflecting various (V.A.R.I.O.U.S.) stages of my projects, research, writings, multimedia tweekings, etc. that together with my urge to share on the Internet (blogs, photo sites, email) I am spending 19 hour days on the box. Its gotten so bad, than my interest in face to face "real life" has dwindled to a crawl. I barely have time to go out and exercise I am so compulsively busy. That's why I invented the 4B club **. Any members?

** Been Busy Beyond Belief

You can find me working away at Creativity Cafe for the benefit of future generations.... I am hoping the veune will be manifest as I have been carrying this baby since 1980 when the vision came of a place where those living "out side the box" can hang out with other cultural creatives. Little did I know then I would be trapped in a different box.
# posted by Blogger Creativity Cafe Founder : Thu Jun 07, 01:16:00 PM CST
 
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