A radical, positive, community-building proposal

Dear Blackmagic Design,

Here's a suggestion, which I offer for free:

Instead of sending the first few BMCC-MFT (or BMCC-EF) cameras to celebrity bloggers and well-known Directors of Photography, send the first cameras to "regular customers" in the strict order in which said customers placed their pre-orders. Be sure to contact these folks before shipping out cameras to confirm they actually still want the cameras.

But wait, there's more!

Now, here's the "radical, positive, community-building" part of my proposal:

At the same time, contact the celebrity bloggers and well-known DPs on your list, and put them in touch with the "regular" customers who were fortunate to receive the first cameras. Encourage them to work together to learn how to get the most out of the new cameras.

Wouldn't that be cool? And it would be an awesome thing for bloggers and BMD marketing people to write about!

I offer this suggestion sincerely.

Cheers.

Put the horse before the cart instead of the cart before the horse? The dog wags the tail instead of the tail wagging the dog? Pretty radical thinking there Peter.

At the same time, contact the celebrity bloggers and well-known DPs on your list, and put them in touch with the "regular" customers who were fortunate to receive the first cameras. Encourage them to work together to learn how to get the most out of the new cameras.

I agree with that part, but it's normal that they send the camera to people who can take the most of this camera and have a lot of followers to place their camera in market. It's like when an insurance company hires a celebrity to promote their products. But it would be nice to contact first all those famous DP who are really interested in the camera... I think that's why all these people get a lot of hate from people who don't get free stuff

...confirm they actually still want the cameras....

That made me chuckle :3

At the same time, contact the celebrity bloggers and well-known DPs on your list, and put them in touch with the "regular" customers who were fortunate to receive the first cameras. Encourage them to work together to learn how to get the most out of the new cameras.

I agree with that part, but it's normal that they send the camera to people who can take the most of this camera and have a lot of followers to place their camera in market. It's like when an insurance company hires a celebrity to promote their products. But it would be nice to contact first all those famous DP who are really interested in the camera... I think that's why all these people get a lot of hate from people who don't get free stuff

Not sure you get what he is saying, I THINK he means change what is the norm and give the customers the camera they paid for rather than giving away valuable sensors to "pro's" considering how late the camera is. By doing this they will show good will towards the user, their client, and in turn get the user involved with reviews with pro's.

I think it's a smart PR move. Although we all know that Grant runs the PR department as it seems to be very robotic in operation and seems to have no feeling... engineers make good camera's etc but a PR person they do not make.

To be honest, I know it's not his fault. I just think he's taking the wrong advice. I think a PR BMD reorganisation is in order.

Although we all know that Grant runs the PR department as it seems to be very robotic in operation and seems to have no feeling... engineers make good camera's etc but a PR person they do not make.

To be honest, I know it's not his fault. I just think he's taking the wrong advice. I think a PR BMD reorganisation is in order.

How do we all know what Grant does or doesnt do?

In defense of Grant and any other business person, this is what the man does for a living, its his company, and this camera situation may very well be putting a stress on the company that could see it bankrupt or worse.

As a customer, I full well know I can pull my pre-order anytime id like, walk away and buy something else... I also know that Grant doesnt have that luxury, the company invested tens of millions in r&d, pr, inventory and more.

Before you go dumping another round on Grant, have some empathy towards the companys situation.

If you think YOU are uncomfortable with the situation, imagine having your global company on the line for money, market share, and its business reputation at stake...it is likely that Grant CANNOT provide us with any better communication, hell the man probably doesnt sleep at night with this on his hands...

Ease up people.

Ease up people.

It is ridiculous to blame this on the customers. We did all we could do when we bought our cameras based on a promise. BMD owns this problem and it is up to BMD (through better communication and most importantly better performance) to make it less negative. As far behind as it is at this point, it will remain a negative and damage control is the best that can be hoped for.

If/When BMD ships several thousand cameras and the World goes nuts over them, this will be only a dark time in BMD's history. That is the only way to live this down and keep it from defining the company.

Hi Costa, english is not my mother language but I think I got what he said. But I find reasonable to give this stuff to pro people to review it, it's a good marketing campain. If I ever build something for the people I'm pretty sure I will give it to the pro's before mass production has started. I get his point as I would also like to review it by my self and share it to the world though I'm not super famous.

I hope in few weeks we all can make our own reviews

Jesus

I think we're past the stage of them sending cameras to "celebrity" bloggers. They've pretty much all received their cameras a long time ago. It's the "normal" customers that are starting to see deliveries at this point. We're past the stage of the "popular" people getting theirs.

Hi Costa, english is not my mother language but I think I got what he said. But I find reasonable to give this stuff to pro people to review it, it's a good marketing campain. If I ever build something for the people I'm pretty sure I will give it to the pro's before mass production has started. I get his point as I would also like to review it by my self and share it to the world though I'm not super famous.

I hope in few weeks we all can make our own reviews

Jesus

Hi Jesuan, I did not mean to offend just wanted to clarify for you and me as I wasn't 100% sure what was meant either:)

Dear Blackmagic Design,

Here's a suggestion, which I offer for free:

Peter, as much as I appreciate your positive outlook, the ONLY thing BMD could do right now that would have a radical, positive, and community building result is to SHIP the DAMN CAMERA, or give us all a firm availability date.

Dear Blackmagic Design,

Here's a suggestion, which I offer for free:

Peter, as much as I appreciate your positive outlook, the ONLY thing BMD could do right now that would have a radical, positive, and community building result is to SHIP the DAMN CAMERA, or give us all a firm availability date.

Hi Tony: I agree that the ideal scenario is for BMD to suddenly start shipping BMCC cameras in high volumes "immediately".

But, if that continues to not be possible near-term, my proposal is a suggestion for a genuine good-will, feel-good, strategy in which everybody wins.

Instead of just shipping the first few BMCC-MFT (and next few BMCC-EF) cams to VIP industry professionals (only), instead ship them to "regular" customers, and then arrange for mentoring sessions with those customers and nearby VIPs.

Sure, pulling this off would require extra work on the part of BMD's PR, marketing, and management, but the resulting positive publicity could be priceless.

Cheers.

-

Haven't you heard? The MFT BMCs are going to ship in mass in December because BMD still says they are shipping in December. All those people on the MFT w8ing list are going to get their cameras before any of we EF'ers see camera one.

Forgive me if this sounds rude or anything, but what makes you think working DPs and bloggers should "get in touch" with camera customers? What do non-Blackmagic employed DPs have to do with a specific company's specific product's customers? This doesn't really make sense to me.

Blackmagic Design really have nothing more to do for us other than simply ship the damn camera.

I (personally) honestly couldn't care less about anything they offer besides the actual camera I invested $3,000+ in.

Hi Nick: No offense taken. No worries.

I totally understand what you're saying.

My suggestion is for a completely voluntary "program". DPs & customers wouldn't be compelled to participate. However, some may think it would be a cool opportunity for mentoring, learning, and positive publicity.

Meanwhile, yes, of course: Job #1 for BMD is shipping BMCC cameras ASAP. Almost goes without saying. However, as that continues to be a slow slog, in the meantime my suggestion is that BMD & their VIP allies consider doing some "outside the box" marketing & good-will building.

Cheers.