Can we learn from modern tv?

It is an interesting study to note differences in movie photographic techniques seen on TV. I call it. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” I have a recording entitled “Movie Camera Study Examples” where I have copied interesting shots and short scenes that to me are outstanding. When watching a program or drama that is well made, the standard should be of such quality that one can almost forget there is a camera and crew involved. This is how it should be. In the past, at the. cinema, you would not have seen all those whiz pans, swoop zooms and Dutch tilts, not to mention shaky hand held camera work, that has the look of a rank beginner! Is this the way people are taught on the Media Studies courses these days? It is well worth paying attention to the best examples - I’ve always said that the TV is a good medium to study. I think it is fun to learn from the good and criticise the bad.

In my holiday videos, I use whiz pans if, for instance, I am filming a conversation. Then I cut out the whiz when editing. In some TV productions, there are whiz pans deliberately left in. as if they couldn’t afford two camerasTo me it is a disturbing distraction that is impossible not to notice, especially when the rapid pan goes just a little too far and returns to the required position. This makes one very conscious of the gimmicky camera work, or is it gimmicky editing. I think the standard is getting worse in some prime time programs. It has to be up to all keen amateurs to follow the top standards and not some of these trendy whiz kids.

That said, it is still so important to have the good ideas that make a watchable film. A story line that grips the audience, acted well. A documentary that makes its point on an interesting subject and intrigues the viewer to the extent that he or she wants to know more. Once this has been worked out and scripted, it is then that seamless camera technique and editing produces the result required.

I have always thought that the best advice to give regarding the use of movie cameras, was to say just look and observe how the professionals do it.

Well now, that still holds to a great extent for most well made dramas and documentaries seen on TV or at the cinema. There can be no better lesson in how to frame up a shot, how to light and compose a picture. Then most important, good editing etc. I’ve heard it said about a well made film, “What wonderful photography, every shot like an oil painting.” There are a great number of examples that we can all quote from films going way back into the past. Now we have to beware of too many gimmicks. There always were special effects, and it is amazing what was achieved before electronic wizardry, digitalisation and special video effects came into extensive use. New inventions are great if used to improve and make the visuals more realistic and speed up production. When the Russian production of Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ was made at enormous cost at the time, I should think the Battle of Borodino could have been filmed without using so many Russian soldiers with the techniques we have today.

I don't know how ‘Media Studies’ students are trained these days. But at times I can’t help comparing some of what is seen, especially on television, with a child who has just been given a new toy to play with. Must try out all the gadgets.

A prime example is an historic series on TV running at present, the facts are correct, but are lost in production. Every gimmicky shot in the (“how not to”) book is there. After a few minutes viewing you feel dizzy watching in and out zooms, wobbly fast pans back and forth and of course the inevitable Dutch Tilt. Having watched the first episode of what should have been a riveting documentary, I gave up. If this had been entered into a Premier Amateur Competition, I hope it would not have made the short list.

I know ‘THEY’ say we should all move with the times, but surely, only if the end production is watchable!

Jon