A camera is not the first step... it is the LAST!

As Isaac said, this is a given and should go without saying. But every so often someone digs up the point and makes the same argument. So for the record:

Yes, we all agree. For the filmmaker, content is king.

This board is predominantly frequented by people honing their camera skills. So you will hear constant discussions about, well.. cameras. And everything to do with them, including specs and any other tech talk that might not be so important to filmmakers. And thank god for that because these are the people I learn from.

As for red flags, what do you care if someone is completely clueless as to what makes a great movie? Guess what, if they assume that a camera is the first step into getting into the movie business, you lose nothing!

In fact, this type of mentality only allows people like myself and John Hudson to shine.
 
This camera is evolutionary and skips a few of the missing links along the way. What this camera will do is allow a better quality output on a lower budget. Two of the last three features I have been on used the varicam. As beautiful as the picture can be, it still diesn't come close to 35mm film (which was the other feature I was on). Hopefully this will bring a true 35mm format down to a budgetary level that many of us can actually afford. Then the next great evolution will be the dynamic range.
As for those who don't want to talk tech stuff, stay off of the threads of the people that do. There are so many important elements in making a film I don't think you can over look any of them. Take for instance catering, ever been in a shoot with a bad caterer? If you ever are watch the downward sprial of the entire cast and crew. So some of us need and want a place to talk tech, others want to talk touchy feely I think theres room for both here.
 
I've read this thread (and every other RED thread on the internet) with interest because while I agree that the camera is the last thing to worry about, I'm also totally sucked in by the hype around this new camera. This is not because I'm a tech-head, I'm not. I'm a film maker who only cares about one thing, the way the audience responds to the film. And ulitmately, whether the audience knows it or not, they are responding to the picture quality on some level. Film is still a visual medium, and not being passionate about shooting on the best possible camera would be akin to not caring who plays your soundtrack, be it the High School Band, or the London Phil.

It's about the level of craft. Film is still a visual medium. If I were lucky enough to be shooting a movie like the English Patient, I wouldn't want to shoot it on a DVX. Sorry, those majestic desert scapes are not going to look so majestic. And Kristin Scott Thomas, well, I'd want to make sure I captured every nuance of her beauty, and once again, without lattitude and resolution, I just can't do it. Many professional stills photographers left 35mm behind long ago for large format. It's not because they're tech heads, it's because they as artists are driven by the power of the visual image to communicate and know that better tools give more creative options. Working with the DVX is like trying to paint on brown paper. Yeah, if you know how to make it work it's kinda cool, and hey, that brown paper is way better than the icky tissue paper we had to use before, but really, we all want a real canvas. One that will hold our brushstrokes no matter how light or dark or colorful we decide to make them.

That's why I'm excited about the prospect of a cameara that delivers 4K and a film like lattitude at a reasonable cost. Yes, the camera may come last, but without the technology to support artistic vision, we can only go so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top