Why you should shoot your project on an Arri Alexa or Red Epic

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Gillvane

Veteran
I read this article, same guy as in the other posts, lavideofilmmaker, and I still agree with him. He basically says if you want to get hired to direct features, start using Red Epic or Arri Alexa cameras to shoot your projects with. Not because of image quality, which isn't a big perceptible difference on youtube or vimeo. But because all things being equal, you area good director and the other guy is a good director too, the producer is going to hire the guy with experience running a crew shooting a professional camera. It seems like sound logic that's hard to argue against.

This doesn't apply to you guys making a living shooting docs, commercials, industrials, wedding vids, using your camera every day. He says that in the article.



http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/business/the-big-camera-question-for-independent-filmmakers.html
 
From the link:
A reel that was shot exclusively with DSLR cameras does not provide evidence that the director has strong leadership skills. That is a problem.

Conversely, if the director’s reel was all shot with high-end movie cameras, it is an inescapable fact that this director must have worked with substantial film crews, because it’s the only way to shoot with those cameras, which need grips, focus pullers and all manner of other personnel to manage them. Hence that director has demonstrated talent as well as solid leadership and management skills – a winning combination.
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Yeah, that's pretty fundamentally flawed assumption to make. Going by Craigslist ads many (most?) no-budget gigs in LA are using Red or Alexa and there's not a snowballs chance in hell they are working with a 'normal' sized crew.
 
Only REAL directors wear puffy directing pants on set. Directors wearing jeans show no personal growth, or the ability to command respect.
 
Wait beret or fedora? I cant decide which kind if ass to be. Or wait, maybe a walter white hat? Then i can talk about how breaking bad was an influence on my style.
 
Josh Bass said:
Wait beret or fedora? I cant decide which kind if ass to be. Or wait, maybe a walter white hat? Then i can talk about how breaking bad was an influence on my style.
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I've been thinking about making this my 'shooting day hat'... the coat and tie is just too east coast... but I think the hat will work.

porkpie.png
 
Gillvane said:
I don't disagree that the tone is snarky and condescending. But you know, if someone says the world is round in a snarky condescending tone, it's still round.
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Using a DSLR doesn't mean you have a small crew and using a Red or Alexa doesn't mean you have a big crew. It also has no bearing on how well you interact with actors and that's make or break for a director. Do Red an Alexa carry more prestige than DSLRS? Yes, but again that has no bearing on what size crew you have. The TV show "Wilfred" shoots exclusively on DSLRs and I'd wager they have a bigger crew than what my buddy used when he shot a no-budget short on an Epic.

The blogger's premise is fundamentally flawed.
 
I'm all for grabbing a camera and shooting. That's what I've done to direct, but the people I've worked with who've gone to film school, especially directors, have been pretty good and good to work with. Plus how does camera selection reflect on the abilities of the director specifically? It's a collaborative choice and I'd say the greater say goes in order of producer, cinematographer, and then director at least as I can tell.

And the article is snarky. I don't see any reason for it except to be provocative and attention grabbing.
 
I think Sam Raimi wore a suit every day on the Spider Man movies. You're not gonna let people think Sam Raimi is better than you, are you?
 
Gillvane said:
Ok. So what camera do you shoot on when you're doing a feature film?
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It depends on the budget, number of days we have to shoot, how much grip/and lighting gear we can use and a myriad of other things.

Maybe if I had time for a blog I'd be considered an expert on the subject.......
 
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Maybe different here in Toronto, but I take my DP and director's opinion into consideration...ultimately, it's my call what we shoot on.
 
sometimes having the right camera isn't enough. that's why you're going to need a director's chair and megaphone. having your title on the chair will let people know that they are being yelled at by a professional.
 
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