Throughout this semester, I found myself unable to stop taking the knowledge we've been learning in class and applying to how I think production must work for one of my favorite TV shows, Parks and Recreation.
Knowing what I now know about how difficult it can be to make zooming and pulling focus look good, I am beyond amazed with this show. I mean I know they are a major professional production, but still! Look at all the stuff the camera is doing in such a short time!
And, the timing that the actors and camera people have to hit together to stay in sync, it makes my organizational brain hurt just thinking of it. Watch this scene where Leslie throws her phone and the camera pans really quickly:
Of course this movement adds so much and is practically essential to this shot being as funny as it is. They had to get it right. When I imagine our class trying to pull of a shot like this, I see it taking at least an hour just to make sure everything looks right and the focus was ok. I would love to try it sometime though.
I love this style that shows like Parks and Recreation have, the mockumentary using documentary aesthetics like zooming, handheld camera, and frequent changes in focus. I think it makes the show really interesting and visually dynamic.
I recently DPed a mockumentary project for Creative Campus, and as I was the only camera person there when we started shooting, it was too difficult to attempt shots like this. This would have required two or three more people to operate the zoom and pull focus while I just handheld the camera, panned, and got the composition right. I would love for us to try some of these shots in the future though. They just look too cool and add so much to the story to not try them.
No comments:
Post a Comment