This was written by Efosa Osaghae and originally published in The Rough Cut by Eddie AI. Click here for the full essay. What would you say if we told you that one of the most influential camera companies of all time—RED—wasn’t just created by a Hollywood outsider, but by someone with zero film experience at all?Nearly 20 years ago, Jim Jannard, the billionaire founder of Oakley (yep, the sunglasses brand), and his team of industry bandits changed cinema forever. And hardly anyone knows what really happened behind the scenes...An exit from Oakley and the start of a new frontierThere are a few key dates we need to establish from Jim Jannard’s career:He founded Oakley in 1976 — naming the company after his English setter, he took his first steps in business by selling motorcycle parts out of his van. In the 1980s, Jannard turned his attention to sports equipment, apparel, and the sunglasses Oakley is famous for today.By 1995, Oakley had gone public, raising $230 million in the process.And lastly, in 2007, Jim sold the company for $2.1 billion to Italian eyewear manufacturer Luxottica. Somewhere between Oakley’s IPO and its eventual sale, Jim started looking to the next frontier. As a bonafide camera nut, ideas man, and entrepreneur, he set himself a new target:Create the world’s most powerful (digital) cinema camera. “Insane.” “Crazy.” “Stupid.” These were the words lobbied at Jannard when he first spoke of his dream — and they weren’t exactly wrong. Film cameras had a 95% share...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 21 March