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Post by chemikalman on Sept 5, 2008 15:44:56 GMT -5
It's a high compliment to the cinematography of TS that we just take it for granted that it will be excellent. I continue to be amazed at how skilled these guys are ... the director of photography, the cameramen, the director. It was such an honor to meet Rohn Schmidt, the director of photography, last summer, not to mention the cameramen. In addition to being incredibly talented, Billy, the younger cameraman, is quite a character ... a jokester, as you can see if you go through the board of our first set visit last summer.
The excellence of the "pictures" they give us hit me again during the scene in which Vic was giving Shane a beatdown while Mara was bound and gagged (I agree with whoever said that was great to see, LOL)--the lighting on Vic's face in that one moment when Shane told him he was trying to protect his family, the subtle use of light and shade throughout the scene, etc. The whole style of filming with the hand-held cameras and how real it makes it all look is a big part of the show's allure ... it just amazes me.
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Post by acc on Sept 5, 2008 22:33:05 GMT -5
I agree. Absolutely astonishing, cruelly underrated cinematography, chem, unquestionably.
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Post by F*ckernando on Sept 6, 2008 9:22:23 GMT -5
I agree. Absolutely astonishing, cruelly underrated cinematography, chem, unquestionably. yeea....absolute QUALITY tv ...nothing more.... is THE SHHHHHHHHHHHHHIELD!!
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Post by electroshockblues on Sept 6, 2008 10:31:06 GMT -5
Not just underrated, acc, but downright lambasted by some.
So many people hate the grainy resolution and the "shaky" camera just because it doesn't adhere to what they learnt Cinematography 101 or whatever, but its part of what makes the show unique.
Even though I'm a plot/character guy and I never really pay much attention to the choices made from a filming standpoint (shooting angles etc), one of the first things I think of when I think 'The Shield' is its distinct look.
The graininess of the resolution and the hand-held camera work really fit in with the other elements of the show such as, of course, the grim, sometimes shocking subject manner and the music choices (hard rock, punk, country stuff like Johnny Cash etc). I really cannot imagine characters like Vic, Aceveda and Shane being filmed in any other way. It wouldn't work as well. It would feel too "clean".
Like I said, I'm usually more of a plot guy, but I think for my third viewing of 'Co-efficient of Drag' I'm going to focus on the cinematography.
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Post by n00b on Sept 6, 2008 13:37:07 GMT -5
So many people hate the grainy resolution and the "shaky" camera just because it doesn't adhere to what they learnt Cinematography 101 or whatever, but its part of what makes the show unique. The graininess of the resolution and the hand-held camera work really fit in with the other elements of the show such as, of course, the grim, sometimes shocking subject manner and the music choices (hard rock, punk, country stuff like Johnny Cash etc). I really cannot imagine characters like Vic, Aceveda and Shane being filmed in any other way. It wouldn't work as well. It would feel too "clean". These points made above apply well, in reverse, to Sutter's new show "Sons of Anarchy". I couldn't put my finger on exactly what that show's pilot ep. was missing, but I think the cinematography is one of the biggest lost elements. SOA looks like any other show. Sure it's got an edgy subject matter and decent writing, but so far that's about it. No edgy "look", some of the acting is average at best (though Segal is good), just doesn't have that same "feel" as The Shield (nor should it, necessarily, don't want a direct copy, of cours). But the cinematography may be the No. 1 reason why SOA doesn't grab me like The Shield did.
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Post by acc on Sept 6, 2008 14:15:22 GMT -5
The pacing in the Sons of Anarchy pilot, compared to The Shield especially, was kind of glacial, too, especially in the intermittent middle part.
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Post by bickle on Sept 7, 2008 8:32:31 GMT -5
I re-watched The Shield pilot yesterday and it's amazing how different it is to The Shield we've come to know and love. The lighting, the use of music, the long panning shots.. It all seemed more polished and slightly more cinematic.
I also watched The Mist (new Frank Darabont/Stephen King movie) not long ago and wasn't surprised to find out that the camera crew was The Shield's camera crew! I knew I recognised that gritty realism and claustrophobic feel from somewhere!
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