Red Network in Australia

visceralpsyche

visceralpsyche

Well-known member
For all fellow Aussies that have put down a deposit, what do you think to having a kind of informal Red Network here, so that we can build up a good rapport with one another and potentially help each other out if something ever goes wrong with one of the cameras?

My thoughts lie along things like having the ability to cross hire each other's cameras (if you are going to hire yours out) in case of someone's camera having a problem in the middle of a shoot, meeting up online or off to discuss local developments with Red and just to help each other figure out problems etc in this neck of the woods.

Personally I plan to use my camera firstly as "A" camera for my own productions but also to hire it out along with associated lenses etc as a kit that others can use, to recoup the initial cost and potentially establish a nice earner when the camera would otherwise be idle.

Our industry here is small enough that it would be really useful to have such a network IMHO, plus if nothing else you get to meet other like minded, forward thinking individuals who don't mind shoving the odd "red" hot poker up the established players' $%^& :)

Thoughts?
 
A Red network might work well in Sydney, with such a relatively large film making industry based there. But in terms of support for those of us who live in regional areas, forums like this work as well as anything else, don't they?? A lot more people with a lot broader range of experiences...

Have you heard anything from any of the rentals houses in Sydney if they are planning/thinking of getting any Red cameras and how much they're thinking of charging for them with the associated equipment. Or for that fact, anyone else in Australia planning on getting one?
 
Yeah I definitely meant also having a forum, either here or elsewhere to chat among local Aussie filmmakers and help each other out.

I don't know whether the rental houses here are likely to buy any but I'm sure some will. Then again, Panavision hire their Genesis out for AUD$5000 A DAY for just the body, and lesser cameras such as the Sony CineAlta series etc are cheaper but still very expensive for what they are compared to buying a Red. While Panavision (and ASC, their smaller end digital offshoot) are very good to deal with, they really can't compete cost wise when you are talking about making a feature. If your shoot is going to run for more than a week, you are better off buying a Red or renting one for a far cheaper price - somewhere around mid range HDV rental prices would be the sweet spot I think.

My personal plan will probably involve having the camera with a zoom lens, cage, follow focus etc available to rent as a complete kit so that you don't need anything else except your own storage device to retain your footage prior to shooting. I guess rental price will depend on the competition but I would want to make it quite reasonable, having dealt with low budget filmmaking and knowing how hard it is here to get quality equipment at a fair price. I want to build our local industry up by giving more people the chance to show what they can do, not put up price barriers.

Two members of this board have already emailed me to tell me they too have ordered cameras and I'm sure there will be others not active here who have also ordered. That's why I'm trying to create a sort of informal list of people, to build up a contact base for each other so we can all work together instead of trying to fight our battles alone. It's hard enough to make films here. Any support is always welcome in my view!
 
One RED coming to South Australia and counting! If there are any other independents like myself in SA thinking about getting one, we should join forces! Just PM me if you are thinking about it!

As for the network, a means of keeping in touch is a good idea. Especially for that big RED multicam shoot!

Zane
 
Another thread has been talking about taxes and import duties for the RED in relation to the UK. Thought I should raise it here as I have never attempting to import anything into Australia with a value above $1500 US. It was a 10% duty payable on that. I believe that is a flat rate.

The camera would be a tax deduction (I have an ABN), but does the 10% duty get refunded or does the total camera cost, plus duty, become your deductible amount?

I'll investigate and post if I find some answers.
 
tax etc

tax etc

Hi Zane,

Your total cost will work in three ways.

1. The way I understand it is that you'll pay 10%GST on the camera when it comes in Aust - this 10% you effectively reclaim when doing your BAS statements.

2. We will have to pay additional import and custom charges - I think this comes to about 4-5% - these expenses are a tax deductable (i.e. taken off your taxable income).

3. The cost of the camera you will treat as an asset and you'll be able to depreciate it (i.e. as an expense or tax deduction) over a number of years.

cheers
wes
 
Thanks Wes,

I'm learning all this now. The answer to my main question (about the GST) depends on whether you are registered for gst or not, much like VAT discussed in another thread. Register and you can reclaim, don't and you can't, ABN or no ABN.

Additional duty, I suppose will depend on the classification of the equipment. I haven't found much info on this on Australian sites, but a figure of 3.7% was mention in another thread: (see post #26)

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=67406&page=3

Maybe I am naive (actually I pretty sure of it), but I imported that $1500US DV camera a few years back, paid the GST and thought that was that for this type of equipment! My budget tops out at $30,000 AU. Things like this and the AU dollar value will have a big impact on the number of bells and whistles I'll be getting.

Cheers
 
Gday Cail,

good to see another unit making its way down this end of the world :)

We may be a small group but I plan on being a group that gets noticed for the quality of films we put out, not just in image quality but also because I think as a forward thinking, non-conformist group we are also more likely to make films that are a bit edgier than your standard Aussie fare.
 
As I mentioned a few months ago, I've made several long production trips to Australia, and I plan to go back to "Oz" many times in the future. I'm based in California and the flights from L.A. or the Bay Area keep getting more affordable all the time.

I'd like to network with all you Aussies. Since I'll be getting my RED camera long before any of you (#8), I'll plan on making a trip down to Australia soon after I get my camera. If I do, I'll post when I'll be there on DVX User and DV Info, and anyone who wants to check out the camera and get some "stick time" on it will be welcome.

G-day mates!

Gibby
RED #8
www.cut4.tv
www.4umat.com
 
Forget Australia Gibby, It's too hot and too many things can kill you and they can't play rugby.

Tell the pilot to keep going to New Zealand.

We're RED#23 & RED TBC, bring your camera and we'll see if Peter Jackson wants a demo.

I think New Zealand will be leading the amount of orders for population base from what I hear.

Barry G will vouch for our hospitality. Look forward to a visit one day.
 
Hey Rocketeer,

I've also spent some time in New Zealand before - loved it! Thanks for the invite. While I'm down that way it would make super sense to go to NZ also. Consider it done. I'm hoping to be down there in January, right in the middle of your Summer.

Barry G. is a good friend of mine. I heard he had an awesome stay in NZ for the HVX seminar.

I'll update you as we get closer. Meanwhile, stay in touch by email...

Gibby
RED #8
www.cut4.tv
www.4umat.com
 
Hi Gibby, that's outstanding :) Count me in for that preview of Red #8. Only 370 cameras after that I'll have my own....

I'm in Sydney (which I assume would be your main port of call?) however the others here are from all over the place, though interstate flights here are pretty cheap these days!

Be good to have a US connection, from our point of view :)
 
No worries Paul. I've worked all over Australia on previous trips: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, etc. Even been to Darwin! I'll definately come to Sydney first. I have a business alliance there. I hope to spend at least two weeks in Oz, traveling around and shooting. Anyone in the RED "family" is more than welcome to hook up with me, check out the camera, and go out shooting with me. I'm all about networking...

For specifics, you guys can communicate with me at any time on my email address: steve@cut4.tv

Good on ya!

Gibby
RED #8
www.cut4.tv
www.4umat.com
 
gibby downunder

gibby downunder

Bring yu board Gibby (or least bring a wetsuit and we'll sort you out).
Let's have a RED party!:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Don't go walking down any dark alleys with your RED though - Zane, Paul and I will be right behind yu swinging bats! :nads:

cheers
 
Howzit braddah Nalu

Oh yeah...I'll bring a wettie and hopefully you can dig me up a Mal somewhere. You're down in Torguay. I know Bells or Winkipop don't break in January, but we'll find some waves somewhere - maybe fly up to Queensland for some cyclone lines!

That will be your chance for me to shoot 4k footage of you surfing, with my new RED 300mm lens, and a 2x extender handy. Practice up mate!

Ha ha - you'll need more than bats to get my RED camera away from me! I'll leave some great images with you, but not the camera...I'm leaving Oz with it!

You know the famous scene in Crocodile Dundee where Paul Hogan says "That's not a knife mate...this here's a knife!" (as he pulls out his gigantic knife). I think we'll need to stage a spoof of that that goes: "That not a camera mate...this here's a camera!" (pulls out RED camera from behind his back)

Gibby
RED #8
www.cut4.tv
www.4umat.com
 
Hehe... sadly north Queensland has a great big reef parked offshore that prevents large waves, but the Gold Coast might turn it on for you depending on the weather.

Like your spoof idea :) Only problem is, what would you film the spoof on if Red was in shot?!
 
Cool more Aussies joining these forums. Perhaps we could find somewhere to list cameras, other equipment and help each other in a broader spectrum also. Im in tokyo at the moment but will return home next year.
 
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