Musings: May 17, 2024

A collection of musings for the week. Today I’ll be talking about Fuji’s announcement of the GFX 100S II, buying another 50S II, the 50S sensor versus the 100S sensor for people, and some upcoming travel plans.

It’s funny how things can happen at the weirdest times. Yesterday, Fuji announced the successor to the Fuji GFX 100S, the GFX 100S II. This comes about 8 months after the release of the GFX 100 II. And almost a month after I bought another GFX 100 II after I sold the original one I bought last year. As any curious, obsessed photographer would do, I skimmed the spec sheet and product description of the new release. “Faster, best image quality, improved, etc.” You know all the usual marketing buzz surrounding a camera.

The announcement came literally as I was on the phone with B&H customer service getting a return authorization for the GFX 100 II. Not because I’m going to ditch medium format again, but because I just don’t like the files from the camera. I’ll pause for the collective gasp from the audience before continuing. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the sensor from the 50S makes better images than the newer phase detect autofocus sensors of the GFX 100 series cameras.

No matter what I try, I can’t replicate the same tonality, contrast, and look of the 50S image which looks more akin to film. The GFX 100S and 100 II images look more digital. Of course it has higher resolution, is sharper, subjectively better color (14bit vs 16bit), but the image itself? The 50S sensor beats it. Maybe it’s the increased sharpeness and lesser contrast that does it? I’m not an engineer, but I’ve read there are image quality differences between sensors that feature contrast detect autofocus versus sensors with phase detect autofocus. And to my eye, especially when I tweak the images, the files of the 50S are more malleable and respond to changes better. Even skin tones have a noticeably more supple look to them than the ultra sharp look of the 100 megapixel image. Keep in mind, I’m only referring to pictures of people. If you shoot landscapes, your results may differ.

And I’m not the only one with similar findings:

Skip to the "Indoor File Comparison" section and this is exactly what I'm talking about.

I noticed a similar image quality difference when comparing images of the Panasonic S1 (contrast detect autofocus) to the S5II (phase detect autofocus) and the S1 was better. There is a trade off for phase detect autofocus which Panasonic has openly stated for years, but market pressure made them switch to phase detect.

So with that in mind, I set up a return for the GFX 100 II. With all the new bells and whistles of the 100S II, and lower price point, I considered it for a brief moment. I even told the customer service rep I would be doing an exchange of the GFX 100 II to make a pre-order of the GFX 100S II. But as I rode the subway to B&H, I listened to breakdowns of the new camera and you know what? None of the features really appealled to me, at least not enough to spend $5,000.

• Video? I’m not shooting video on these cameras. It’s not practical, nor fun. These aren’t production cameras. The GF lenses are terrible for video, rolling shutter is an issue so good luck handholding, it’s heavy so you’ll likely want a tripod. And those restricted frame rate options. IMAX this is not. Sorry, you won’t be shooting Oppenheimer on this thing.

  
  Seriously, if you want to shoot a film, there are better, more practical options like the Blackmagic Pyxis 6K(side LCD be damned). It’s an actual production camera with 6K video and only $3,000. You want autofocus? Sony or Canon have you covered with actual production level cameras. Prefer a DSLR/mirrorless camera style body and IBIS? Try the Sony FX3, S5II, or Fuji’s X-H2S. All more affordable and much more practical for filmmaking. You’ll also have a lot of money left over for other filmmaking necessities like lenses, external monitor, ND filters, etc.
  
  Specs shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when selecting a camera for your artistic needs. A drill is great for screws, but a hammer would be better for nails. An obvious distinction for tools, but cameras are similar. There’s this fallacy in thinking one camera is appropriate for everything. One camera could do everything with a certain degree of effort and difficulty, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most appropriate for the task.

Blackmagic Pyxis 6K. A production camera. No need for ridiculous rigging, it has multiple lens mount options, better exposure tools, RAW recording. It’s cheaper.
When I make another movie, I’m shooting it on something like this.

• AI Autofocus? It has this listed in the features, but it doesn’t go into detail on how much better it is for focusing on human subjects. Especially when compared to the flagship GFX 100 II. It just says it can identify other subjects like planes, animals, etc. I don’t need that. If it focuses on and tracks people like the Sony A7RV, now we’re talking but I assume not since they’re being so vague about it. And who the heck uses “Plane” autofocus anyway? It there a big market for plane photography that I don’t know about?

• The improved EVF would be welcome, but I’m fine with the lower resolution EVF of the 50S II and original 100S. And in some ways, I think the lesser magnification of the viewfinder helps me compose better. I know that sounds odd, but I found I composed much better with the wider view of the 50S II EVF versus the closer view of the GFX 100 II.

• Reala ACE? Who freakin cares. It’s one of the most “meh” film simulations. It feels lackluster and like one they just added to tick a box.

• The new styling? It does look sexy, but not $5,000 sexy.

So by the time I reached customer service at the store, I made up my mind and decided to go with the GFX 50S II again. Yes it’s slower and doesn’t have nearly all the bells and whistles of its newer siblings. But you know what, for my purposes, it’s the best option in the GFX lineup. I don’t need to pay the premium for video features I’ll never use. The 100 Megapixels files are already a burden as they eat up hard drive space, take longer to export, and slow down retouching. And they don’t even give me the look I want! Why deal with all the shortcomings and quirks if you’re not even getting the image you seek? It’s just resolution without purpose. The cameras are technically faster, but honestly they don’t feel faster. And none of them are in the same league as my A7RV for speed. For portrait work on the street or in the studio, the GFX 50S II more than suffices. When I need speed and/or video I have my Sony cameras which are my workhorses. And I saved $5,000.

Fuji’s GFX Fragmentation Problem

Fuji currently has three 100 megapixel cameras on the market. The GFX 100 II, the GFX 100S II, and the GFX 100S. I know the 100S will probably be phased out, but there’s really not a lot to differentiate these three cameras. The 100 II has more video functionality, a modular design, and better EVF. The 100S II has less video features, a static design, and modestly lower EVF resolution. The original 100S is a minor step down from the 100S II. And the freakin’ names are making my headspin just typing them out.

The cameras are so similar in terms of feature set, it’s confusing for the customer. And they all produce the same exact image!

And look at the pricing:

• GFX 100 II - $7499

• GFX 100S II - $4999

• GFX 100S - $4399

The 100S II seems like the smarter buy if you really want 100 Megapixels. I don’t even see the value proposition of the 100 II over the 100S II unless you really want the GFX for video. The 100S II is just as fast, lighter weight (the 100 II feels like such a brick), smaller, and creates the same image. And there’s really no point for the GFX 100S if you’re buying new. Just spend the extra $600 and get the updated features.

Pictured: The GFX 50S (left), GFX 100 (middle), and GFX 50R (right). All unique designs, suited for different purposes.

Years ago, Fuji had the GFX 100, the 50S, and 50R. All cameras with different designs, suited for different purposes. Now they have three 100 megapixels cameras that essentially do the same thing. They do something similar with their APS-C cameras as well. They take one sensor and throw it into as many cameras as possible. But in my opinion, it just creates a jumbled, fragmented lineup.

I expect sales of the 100S II to completely eat up sales of the 100 II. Unless some sort of firmware update comes out that widens the gap between the two, I don’t see a point in buying the 100 II over the 100S II. They’re starting to cause confusion in the lineup and that’s never a good sign. It’s like the company is throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.

But most people don’t want nor need 100 Megapixel cameras. That’s the domain of specialists. Landscape photographers, still-life photographers. People who archive documents or artifacts for museums. It’s like a 400mm lens. Sure it looks cool having this massive lens on your camera, but it’s a specialist lens more appropriate for wildlife than photos of your kids.

50-60 megapixels is the sweet spot for high-end megapixel cameras that are practical for everyday use. I’m telling you, sorting through dozens of 100 megapixel files of mundane day-to-day stuff is not the way. If they went with a 50-60 Megapixel camera, they could make it faster, smaller, and cheaper. And they would sell like hotcakes. Plus it would actually create a different option in their lineup.

Apparently they’re coming out with a fixed lens GFX camera next year to piggyback off the success of the X100VI. Curious how many megapixels that one will be. Taking bets that it’s 100.

You’re An Engineer, Not An Artist

Your average forum engineer. Prepared to smugly tell you all about noise performance of the GFX sensor. “Well you know the photons on the sensor show….”
Oh fuck off!

Nothing against engineers, I could never do what they do or think the way they do. In the photographic community, especially in the medium format sector, there are certain people who wax lyrical about the inner workings of sensors, noise performance, sharpness, etc. They post charts and countless sample images of mundane things like brick walls, trees, far away buildings, and expect your average person to be able to interpret their findings. Said findings are meant to give us clarity on the capabilities of the camera. How it performs and why it’s sooo much better than previous and/or comparative models.

I say this: You’re an engineer. Not an artist. Art is not science, it’s magic.

There is a reason kids are drawn to old vintage video cameras over the new cameras with all the bells and whistles. Why zoomers are buying old point and shoots versus the new cameras with better optics and dozens of features. They prefer the “look” of those cameras. Here in NY, I still see countless people walking around with DSLR’s versus mirrorless cameras. At first I thought it was odd, like why wouldn’t you just get a mirrorless these days? But then I understood the preference for a certain look, a certain feel of camera. New isn’t necessarily better.

Filmmakers often clamor for lenses that are inherently flawed. Soft in the corners, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, prone to flaring, etc. That character is important. Character affects the actual image. The art you’re creating. Who cares what the chart says?

People with recency bias will never understand. “But it doesn’t have IBIS or 4K! However could one even create with such a device?”

I’m not saying using old tech is somehow better or more noble. I’m not in that camp. I much prefer digital over film for example. But I am saying, gear, the tools we use, has unique characteristics that affect the art we make. If we judged them on a chart, they wouldn’t rank higher than competing options, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Nor does it make them any less valuable to the artist than the higher priced, newer item.

Lastly, I’ll add that most of the people that sit in these discussions having bitter arguments about this stuff are men. 99% of them. Women just buy a camera off a recommendation or how it looks and get on with it. They go out and shoot pictures of their friends, do shoots, etc and you’d never even know what they use. The guys sit around getting into arguments over cameras, lenses, charts, what brand is selling better. It’s dumb and immature.

Less charts, more art.

I’m Going to Paris

In keeping with my travel plans for the year, I’m headed to Paris for a 7-10 day trip in June. It’s been a while, but it will be good to visit again. I’ll be attending a workshop, doing some shoots, and of course sightseeing as much as I can. I’ll try to get there twice this year if the old budget allows, but there are other places I plan on visiting.

I don’t pull any punches on my dislike for what New York has become so I’m making a concerted effort to get out of the city as much as possible this summer. Crime and insanity has gotten so ridiculous here that just a couple of weeks ago, I returned from a fun R&R trip, and the very next day, a 16-year old kid got shot and killed right down the street from me. Literally 20 minutes after I ran past the area on my jog. It’s awful. As I’m writing this, they just caught one of the men involved.

Anyway, Paris in June. Then Prague, England, Tokyo, Thailand, and hmmm…maybe Korea if I can swing it. One down, five more to go. Anywhere but New York this summer.

All for now.

Musings: April 26, 2024

It’s been a very busy week, so I’ve decided to drop some musings to hit my weekly quota. How lazy, I know. And I’m also spending time playing Stellar Blade all weekend so being productive is the least of my concerns. Ya gotta kick back sometime ya know? But here are some thoughts:

Photography Life

• Great clients make the job feel fulfilling. I’ve very fortunate to have had an almost month long sequence of fantastic clients. Not so much the money I’ve earned, but more so how nice and appreciative they’ve been. Must be something in the water, but I’m loving this moment. I had a corporate client the other day that was so nice, I was taken aback. It made me emotional for a second. They were so accomodating, friendly, and just downright pleasant throughout the day it was refreshing. And one of the ladies comes back into the room I was shooting in and goes, “ I just wanted to tell you, these are the best pictures I’ve ever had of myself. Thank you.” I’m not crying, you’re crying.
  
  It’s great when you work with people who appreciate what you do, are thankful for your effort, and also have the decency to be kind and patient throughout the process. As glamorous as shooting models can be, it’s often thankless work. They don’t really care as much; with an almost jaded attitude towards the outcome. Give me a nice old person who is happy they took a great picture over a young model who can’t be bothered to stop staring at her phone while in hair and makeup anyday. Thank you to my clients this week. You all have given me new life.

• With all the research I’ve been doing on the current state of Hollywood and filmmaking, I admit I’m a bit undecided on which direction I’ll go in. Writing has been so enjoyable as of late, that I’m not as excited about making a film as I am about writing interesting stories. Sure I’ll make a film or two, but maybe my path is writing books versus making movies? Sometimes when I get in a flow while writing, I feel like it matches my personality and way of working better than being on set. Sitting quietly while I listen to music and write dialogue is so relaxing, almost therapeutic in a way. Who knows what the future holds?

• Allow yourself time for R&R. Or a vacation. Whenever I have an abnormally busy week or month, I make sure I take the time for R&R. I remember I used to stay up till the wee hours of the morning retouching, tinkering with camera stuff, or just doing anything random thing related to photography. Now, I force myself to take a break. I don’t count things like gym as a break. But sitting back playing videogames, listening to music, going somewhere new, or just sitting outside people watching helps me recenter myself and keeps me inspired. You can get way to wound up working all the time. Disconnect and just do nothing for a bit. You’ll find that passion and excitement again.

Hollywood

The Raimi Suit is still the best Spiderman suit. Fight me.

• They say that a hero will save us. Hollywood is really in trouble. It’s so bad that the number 2 film last weekend was Spider-Man 2! Yes, the 2004 Sam Raimi film starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. We could blame the strikes last year for the delay in big Hollywood releases, but I’d say this is also indicative of the desperation movies theaters have in order to get customers. This weekend, Alien(1979) and The Mummy (1999) are being re-released. While I love all three of the aforementioned films, it’s sad that things have declined so much where they have to roll out old classics to get people to even show up. Calling it now, but I expect a round of theater closures within the next year. The demand and customer interest just isn’t what it once was.

Great song. I don’t care, I liked Nickelback.

• A few articles on the Hollywood downward spiral. Check out this one by Harpers. This one by Bill Mesce. And this one by NPR. While each goes into great detail about the demise of the business from different angles, I think they miss a crucial point on why movies are so bad and customers have tuned out: politics and social agenda over story. It’s like the dismissiveness and ignorance Democrats have when they speak about people who voted for Trump. It could only be racists, sexists, homophobic people, etc. Instead of being objective and saying, okay, maybe there are some legitimate reasons people would vote for him. We should look at those things and see if we could implement that into our platform. But no, they stubbornly ignore those things and moan when voters don’t show up or go the other way.
  
  The “experts” are weighing in on the demise of Hollywood and but it’s all “streaming services”, “rising costs”, “greedy Hollywood executives”. Nary a mention of the political and social agendas that have been placed at the forefront of most Hollywood productions. Race swaps, gender swaps, completely ruining characters, feminism everywhere, preachy messages. Audiences don’t want THAT. And they have TOLD you they don’t want it. They want to be entertained you idiots. And you refuse to listen. So they tune out. And it’s unlikely you’ll ever get them back. Looking at you Disney.

Gear Talk

• I bought another GFX 100 II. Yeah, yeah, I know I said I may be done with medium format, but I couldn’t stay away. I’ll keep it this time as I have a specific use case for it.

• The Sony FX3 gets shutter angle. Sony is finally stepping up and giving the FX3 Cinema camera shutter angle capability. No more relying on the ol’ shutter speed being double the frame rate. Just set your shutter angle and choose whatever frame rate you want. You’d think this would be on all their cameras. Panasonic has had it for years, but better late than never I guess. But oddly, it won’t drop until September via a firmware update. It’s not so impressive that the FX3 is getting it, but the fact this feature may start becoming standard in most of Sony’s cameras going forward. I sure hope so.

• Batteries with USB-C Charging built-in. After I bought my GFX 100 II, I was in the market for a set of extra batteries. The Fujifilm branded batteries are usually my choice, but I’m not above third-party options. B&H has the Watson line I love but they’re currently closed for Passover, so I went to Amazon and found these amazing batteries from SmallRig with a USB-C Port built-in! No more having to carry obnoxious chargers. Just plug your USB cable right into the battery and go. They have these available for Fuji, Sony, and Canon so find the model you need. If I weren’t already invested heavy in Sony batteries I’d snap these up for Sony as well. I think the original idea was from the company Nitecore as I saw them with them a couple of years ago, but Smallrig is a brand I trust so I went with them.

Videogames & Bombshells

• Stellar Blade is out and I’m playing it all weekend. As mentioned above, the controversial South Korean action game, Stellar Blade has finally released and that will be taking up a bit of my time over the weekend. The game sparked controversy and heated debates for its sexy female protagonist which caused quite the online uproar by the usual suspects who don’t want anyone to have any fun anymore. To think a sexy drawn woman is cause for debate. Jessica Rabbit is somewhere laughing to herself. So what the character’s sexy and the costume’s are ridiculous? That’s the whole point. Either lean in to whatever makes your project unique and create something that stands out or hold back because you’re afraid of offending someone and make something average. The former usually fairs better for the creative type. And Stellar Blade is just one game in an ocean of thousands. Don’t like it, play something else. Of course the game could be terrible, but after I played the demo last month, I pre-ordered immediately. Don’t like the slick and sexy veneer fool you, this game is great.
  
  Personally, I want to support companies that go against the grain and are willing to push back against all the ridiculous social and political nonsense that has seeped into every facet of American entertainment. From school curriculums and sports to films and videogames, certain groups have tried to position themselves as the authorities of what people should and should not like. From body types to ethnicities, they want to police what you find attractive and/or beautiful. I’m sick of it and it’s great to see companies throw up a middle finger and make what they want. It also helps when the game comes from another country where entitled America “puritans” can’t push their values and beauty standards onto them. South Korea is not beholden to the thoughts and whims of some liberal college grad in New York.
  
  I could write a thesis on why sexy characters like Eve from Stellar Blade as well as real-life bombshells like Sydney Sweeney are important, but who has the time. Modern America hates beauty. At least in the mainstream. It makes insecure types feel uncomfortable and threatened. While Western game developers focus their time deliberately making characters ugly, outside of the American bubble, sanity still reigns. South Korea and Japan have no problem making characters that look cool, beautiful, sexy, roguishly handsome, etc. How far we’ve fallen in the name of progressivism.

It’s okay to be hot Sydney. Make the uggies seethe.

• This song from Dragon Quest XI. After replaying and completing the game a second time, it’s officially my favorite of game all-time. The story, the themes, the characters, all the amazing, emotional moments, and the soundtrack. Chef’s kiss. I’ll leave you with this gem, With Sadness In Heart by Koichi Sugiyama.

With Sadness in Heart by Koichi Sugiyama

Till next time…

Art and Entitlement II: Hollywood Writers

As Hollywood slowly crashes and burns, I read an article via the Hollywood Reporter highlighting the troubles writers are facing in light of all the downward changes occurring in the industry at the moment. The article mainly focuses on how writers are struggling to find work and are dealing with layoffs and lack of opportunities. Some are turning to jobs such as bartending or teaching. It was very enlightening on the mindset of some of these wonderful people. Two notable quotes stood out to me:

“Nobody ever starts their career thinking that it will last forever. I never thought I’d be a writer for as long as I have, but I didn’t expect to run into a brick wall. I thought it’d be a slow tapering, but this feels like a cataclysm. It was a very emotional thing I did when I applied for teaching jobs. I don’t know if I’m ever going to forgive Hollywood for this. To go from the pandemic to the strikes to this? It feels like one war of attrition after another.”

And another:

“For writers who are trying to pay their bills, it’s really scary because we only make money if things sell. As a showrunner who is a queer woman of color and I can’t get work? That’s saying a lot. It’s very frustrating.”

The sense of entitlement exhibited by these two is amazing. I’m in awe of it.

The first quote, “I don’t know if I’m ever going to forgive Hollywood for this.” So dramatic. Hollywood doesn’t owe you anything. They don’t owe you a job. Maybe what you’re writing isn’t good enough. Maybe you’re difficult to deal with. Maybe there just isn’t any openings for you to fill at the moment. You lost your job, and that sucks, but they didn’t commit some heinous act against you. Being unemployed sucks, I know. Not knowing how you’re going to cover your bills, rents, etc. is frightening and my heart goes out to people struggling financially. I’m not being insensitive here. But the industry doesn’t owe you anything. Stop looking for someone to blame and focus on finding another job. Use your energy productively. Go pen your next masterpiece. Maybe this will be the best thing that happened to you! But feeling entitled to it? That’s not going to help you right now.

The second quote, “As a showrunner who is a queer woman of color and I can’t get work?” Wow. So do those two qualities entitle you to a job? More so than other people? I like how she didn’t describe how brilliant of a writer she is, but instead focused on her identity. Apparently, her identity alone is the reason she deserves the job.

Identity politics is one of the big reasons Hollywood is dying. The industry has been infiltrated by some of the most whiny, entitled, cowardly people in our society who only see things through the lens of their identity. Who are now in positions to determine the creative direction of popular entertainment. It’s no wonder so much of it is terrible. When your identity is your primary character trait, I don’t have much faith in your creative abilities. You’re too focused inward(on self) versus outward(on the world around you) as the best artists seem to be. You can’t write compelling stories because you “need to see yourself in them” or these stories need to be fixing all the ills of society. Get over yourself and write to entertain. To make people laugh, cry, or get excited to go on a grand adventure of their own. Your identity doesn’t matter more than producing great stories. And you are not entitled to a job because of it.

It’s okay to feel like you deserve, say, a certain salary due to your knowledge and years of experience. Or to be paid appropriately for your services because you do great work. But a company does not owe you a job. Regardless of your talent, they have the right to choose whoever they want. If you’re not picked you have to keep searching. Actors deal with this all the time. When you find another job, guess what? You denied someone else that position. How do you think they feel? Not so good huh?

Entitlement does nothing to help you grow. It doesn’t hold you accountable for your own failings as an artist. And it will cause you not to work as hard as you should. You just expect a positive outcome. You don’t expect to work hard for it.

I hope these writers are able to find work, but I also hope they see how entitled they come across from this article. It definitely doesn’t endear them to the people in a position to hire them. A little change in perspective, a positive attitude, and far less entitlement will go a long way.

LA and the Demise of Hollywood

There’s a lot I could say on this topic, and believe me I have a lot of thoughts about it, but Los Angeles and to a greater extent, Hollywood is not the place to be anymore. You could point to countless events: people moving out in droves due to taxes, lowering quality of life, dumb politics changing the landscape of the city with homeless encampments popping up all over, criminals being given a slap on the wrist and rising costs for law abiding citizens. It’s like the people who run these places have utter contempt for the populace. New York’s not much different and worse in a lot of ways.

For the burgeoning artist who wants to work in film though, even the incentive of Hollywood being there, is no longer enough. Streaming is failing(Disney is hemorraghing money with their platform), mass layoffs occurring at many of the major studios (I think Paramount is looking to sell itself), producers focusing on identity and agenda over storytelling, and the demise of the “Hollywood” celebrity have completely changed the landscape. Things have drastically changed.

Not to mention the rise of disruptive technology like A.I. Of course there’s ChatGPT, the software that absolutely terrifies the writers in Hollywood.

But have you seen Sora?

Amazing? Scary? Yes. Inevitable? Also, yes.

Sora is so pervasive that Tyler Perry cancelled his plans to build an $800 Million dollar studio citing how powerful the software is. Although it’s still not ready for primetime, in about 3-4 years it will be. Studios will no longer need massive backlots with expensive overheads. They will no longer need to employee hundreds of production people. Of course, people will whine about the loss of jobs and how A.I. is dangerous to society, but I must stress this very real fact: You. Cannot. Stop. It.

I expect other studios to eventually downsize in relation to the new technological changes. Perry saw the writing on the wall and got out least he make a huge financial investment that completely sinks his business.

Sure, people will complain about A.I., but I see it no more “fake” than all the greenscreen Disney uses in most of its productions.

Black Widow (2021). They greenscreened a bar. Yes, a bar.

The future is coming whether you embrace it or not. And A.I. technology for filmmaking and other creative endeavors will become standard practice in the years to come. I’m calling it now, Sora or whatever A.I. program takes over the film industry will be used to bring people back from the dead.

—————

Wait…something just came across my desk.

It looks like actor James Deen, the handsome leading man of yesteryear who died in a car crash in 1955 will be appearing in a new film. Yes, you heard that right. James Deen is set to make his return in an upcoming film.

Only a matter of time before Audrey Hepburn, Bruce Lee, and Marilyn Monroe make their returns. You just know Marilyn Monroe will be back with how much her image has saturated entertainment media over the years. Even in death, they leech off you.

I digress. Back to the topic.

—————

Hollywood also has had its share of scandals plaguing it which has soured its image over the years. High-profile criminal convictions, sleazy producers, shady parties with the elites doing all sorts of weirdo and illegal behavior, celebrities singing “Imagine” during Covid. It’s just a mess.

The parties aren’t as F. Scott Fitzgerald as this anymore, but the vibe is. IYKYK

And lastly, the decline of movie theaters to a younger generation of viewers. I turned 39 this year which places me 20 years ahead of many college students today. Many of my actor clients fall into this age group and I often ask them about shows they’re watching, movies they’ve seen or are excited for. Many of them barely watch tv shows and a majority of them rarely go to the movies. My age group, when we were their age?! The movies was the place to be! Now, they’d rather chill at home and watch TikTok videos. Not knocking it at all, just pointing out that the viewership has changed. They don’t care about Hollywood as much as Hollywood thinks they do. The Hollywood celebrity is far less influential to the youth than the social media celebrity. Which in turn, makes Hollywood irrelevant. It no longer has its hand on the pulse of the culture and is desperately playing catch up. Fighting with every ounce of energy left in order to hold people’s interest.

“Look at me! I’m still here! I did all the things you wanted! Love me!” Hollywood desperately screams to the youth, who stares coldly into the abyss of their iPhone 15 as some zoomer dances on TikTok.

When I go to the theater now, it’s like a ghost town. Even on supposedly busy Friday/Saturday nights. Unless it’s a really huge release(Dune 2 for example), people aren’t showing up as much anymore. It makes me sad, but that’s just time moving forward.

I feel you Harry Styles. I feel you bro.

When I was in film school pre-2010, Hollywood had this veneer of sophistication. It was the standard of quality storytelling, featuring our very best artists showing what imagination and vision could be with a big machine behind it. The sort of moving pictures we got back then inspired millions nationwide and the world over. It was the place to be and everyone was clamoring to be there. Fast forward well over a decade later and it’s becoming a desert wasteland. *watches tumbleweed roll across Sunset Boulevard*

If Ariel was performing Part of Your World, she’d rise out of the ocean and see the Los Angeles landscape be more reminscent of Fallout, not Beverly Hills 90210.

Hollywood, 2024. Still want to be here Ariel?

So what does this all mean? Does that mean one shouldn’t move to Los Angeles? Maybe, maybe not. It’s hard to say. We have to take a hard look at these things and determine if it’s still viable. I’m not moving there anytime soon, not because I prefer New York(I don’t), but I don’t want to upend my operation to go to a place where the party may already be over. Maybe in the next year things will change and I’ll reconsider.

But for now, it’s too uncertain. For me and for Hollywood.

Shilling Is Ruining Our Industry: Thoughts on MPB's GFX 100 II Review

I’d like to begin this post by stating that I think Amy, the presenter, is one of the best in the business. She’s passionate, knows her stuff, takes beautiful photographs, and delivers information with enthusiasm that rivals any network television presenter. She’s fantastic. This post isn’t about her. You are loved Amy. I loved your videos with WEX and it’s great to see you with MPB. WEX lost a good one. I know you’re just doing your job.

I’d also like to add that I love MPB and they are my preferred place to trade camera gear. They give great rates for used gear, offer free shipping, and a hassle free experience. I sold my Panasonic S1R to them a several months ago and was very pleased with my experience.

Now, I must define for the normies what a shill is. A shill is a person who pushes products/services due to some sort of financial incentive while being disguised as someone who genuinely loves said product/service. They could have a contract with a company or be an affiliate or be granted exclusive access to products, events, etc. But their m.o. is always to push things for the brand in order to get you to buy them. They will expouse all the wonderful upsides of the product/service and encourage you to part with your hard earned money.

The shill lacks integrity. The shill won’t be critical of the product because their partnership with the brand will be at stake. The shill wants that sweet affiliate revenue. The shill doesn’t want to lose out on paid for trips to cool events in cool cities. And the shill does not give a shit about you or if the product/service they’re reviewing will actually help you. Notice how the shill recoils and is incensed if you call them out for what they are.

Sadly, shills are everywhere. They are rampant in the photography/video industry but you will also see them in gaming, film, music, cosmetics, fashion, tourism, travel, and more. Most influencers are shills. Paid for people who are just there to promote a product instead of offering an honest review of the product so you, the consumer, can make a smart purchasing decision. I find it insulting, irresponsible, and dishonest.

So in the video above, the title is “Is Bigger Always Better? Fujifilm GFX 100 II Review”. Review being the operative word. A review, in the actual sense of the word offers a critique of the thing it’s reviewing. The pros, the cons, the benefits, the downsides, probably comparisons to other products. With a title like “Is Bigger Always Better”, you’d think there would be extensive comparison to smaller formats or previous cameras in the lineup, but no.

There’s no critical look at any of the cameras features. The weight. How it feels in the hand. The file sizes. The shooting speed. The limitations of all the various video formats. How it compares to previous models or competitor products.

A review is not a promotional video or product showcase that just reads off the specs, constantly praising every little feature, while not pointing out any downsides or looking at alternatives. For this video it’s just “100 Megapixels!” “The video features!” “It’s incredible!” “We have a new film simulation!”

Just praise, praise, praise. This is not a review. This is shilling for Fujifilm and of course, for MPB.

If you truly want to do good by your customers, it would be better to offer an unbiased, real review. If you’re a YouTuber who does reviews of any sort, you fall into this as well. If you begin your review with “Fujifilm was kind enough to send me the camera for a couple of weeks.” You’re probably a shill and your review is probably dishonest.

Please stop doing this. Shilling doesn’t help the consumer and just leads to a lot of buyer’s remorse and irresponsible spending. Or an innocent buyer purchasing a product completely wrong for their needs. Shilling also doesn’t help brands. While it may move a few products in the short-term, long-term it doesn’t cause them to make any changes or refinements to improve the product. Critique is not “hating” or “being negative”. Critique when done objectively is extremely useful in helping consumers make informed purchases while also improving the product, service, film, game, etc.

If you’re a brand, stand by the quality of your product and stop this business practice of buying people just so they can give you a favorable review. The GFX 100 II is an amazing camera that will be loved by many, but it’s not appropriate for everyone and being honest about this in reviews will help improve your brand’s image. Reviewers can easily recommend a Fuji X-T5 or X-H2S as alternatives for those on a budget or if they want lighter, smaller, faster. What happens with disingenuous reviews besides consumers wasting money is they grow a resentment towards the product because it wasn’t what they expected. Then they post bad reviews which hurts both the company and product’s image because someone made a misguided, misinformed purchase.

I’ve seen replies to these reviews with comments like, “Man that camera is a beast!”. It is. And so are the files. You probably don’t need it, won’t enjoy it, and will lose money when you inevitably sell it for a more appropriate camera for your needs. Going off on a tangent, but every camera isn’t appropriate for everything. You don’t use a tank when a rifle will suffice. The GFX 100 II isn’t really made for snapshots, to take everywhere, and to do everything. It’s not meant for sports. Or wildlife. Or street photography. You could use it for those things but there are better options and pros in this space understand this. There are different cameras for different purposes. Please understand this and buy accordingly.

End tangent. Back to shilling.

Sadly, the photography industry is rampant with these sort of reviews as “shilling” is a potential path to earning money. It’s not as lucrative as it once was, but every year, more photographers create a YouTube channel to review gear, hoping to earn money from being an affiliate or through ad revenue. And companies see this as the best way to sell their product. We have to do better.

This is not the way.