I can't take the camera motion on the shows! After 10 minutes I feel like I'm going to hurl. Why is it necessary to zoom, swoop, make fast cuts etc. to do the show? Can't you just film a show without all the motion?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mosternaz,

Sadly, it's the current trend. Where years ago the norm was to have tripod mounted cameras and constantly adjusted lighting things are now more of a 'documentary' style. This old style is now considered 'staged' (which of course, it was) but it's now out of style. The current 'documentary' style of shooting is supposed to give more of a feel of actually being right in with what's going on. IMHO this only works for short parts of the show - too much and it's all just bouncing around.

back in 1979, I was working with a commercial department in TV that did everything in motion. if nothing was moving, they fooled around with the cameras. it was already old when AT&T started shooting their commercials hand-held and got scathing reviews.

nothing wrong with static shots in which the people move you've got flat 10 and 8 mm lenses, use 'em! get in close enough to get sawdust on the lens, and that presents more dramatically than sweepin' and swingin'.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: swschrad,

I can't take watching these shows for more than 5 minutes and I can't be the only one. Guess I need a little more Mike Holmes and Norm Abram on TOH.

something in the water.

or in the brownies...

a common phrase through the National Press Photographers Association back in the 70s was "get in close, show the sweat." one of the best shots I ever dunked in the ol' film processor was pulling my lens down to 10 mm, setting my tripod up in front of an excavation, and having the backnoe come down to black the screen out, then pull back with a big maw full of dirt and grass.

called for the editing to go backwards, using that XXCU as the set-up shot for a wide vista shot of the work zone. at city commission the next week, the mayor called out, "well, I guess they know we're working, now."

no need for monkeys on vines to hold the cameras, eh?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: swschrad,