Video production on DWTS II

[JohnK]

I've enjoyed all the couples' (with one recent exception, and only half of the couple) efforts so far on both seasons of DWTS; it's great our sport is getting prime time coverage!

What is a little frustrating is the video coverage of the dances - "jump-cut" editing, cute (and getting passe) for "edgy" video, but impossible to enjoy the flow of a dance. DWTS staff should watch a little PBS DanceSport coverage. They sliced a neat slide in Jerry's QS right in half with a cut, only the studio audience could appreciate it, and they don't(?) vote. ABC doesn't jump cut football plays, so why dances? How about dissolving one camera angle into another, with the momentary "double exposure" thing, so we can follow the dance???

Thanks for the opportunity to vent, hope somebody on the production staff gets the clue; feel free to flame...

[alemana]

agree. the circular camera swoops, ENOUGH.

[chachachacat]

And they didn't show the feet on a drag that I would have liked to have seen. Don't these camera peolple come to dress rehearsal?

[tsb]

And they didn't show the feet on a drag that I would have liked to have seen. Don't these camera peolple come to dress rehearsal?

actually, they did - watching them live tonight it was obvious that they knew the choreography of each routime & placed their cameras accordingly and knew when to move & follow particular figures.

i've had the opportunity to watch kenny ortega (dirty dancing) direct cameras & angles & to chat with him during a episode of gilmore girls a few years ago (he spent a lot of time with us dancers in between scenes & during meals) & i got quite a bit of insight into the kind of detail that goes into this. kenny is probably one of the exceptions in how much emphasis he places on a more organic approach (he mentioned that the scene where jennifer grey messes up is actually real - she was learning that step during the actual take); generally the goal is not the most realistic or accurate depiction of the dancing as much as it is to enhance the display for the target audience.

[chachachacat]

I am sure they try to get good shots. I know I'm pickier than than the average viewer, but I want to see the whole couple.

[Another Elizabeth]

There was also the person who walked in front of the judges while they were revealing their scores... :rolleyes:

[alemana]

live tv.so rare, so good.

[gusmahler]

It's what some people call the MTV generation of video production. The same thing happens in concert videos. Instead of long shots of the performers so you can see them play guitar or piano, you get 2-3 second shots with a lot of cutting. It's standard these days with music videos and it's spread to many other genres to.

[DancingMommy]

Thanks for the opportunity to vent, hope somebody on the production staff gets the clue; feel free to flame...

You'll get no flames from me! I despsie their camera action. Chimpanzees could do better. Or it may be that chimpanzees are actually the ones running the cameras.

ARGH! I have a background in video production, so it especially bugs....

[diputs]

Don't these camera peolple come to dress rehearsal?

Unless this show is different, the answer is no. It would be really expensive to have everyone there for the dress. The director comes to the dress rehearsal. The director sets the camera locations and the shots. You should hear the conversation over the headsets during a live TV show. There are several different headset channels. One is usually the "program" or the show feed. One is the camera director, one is the lighting director. There are usually several stage managers, deck technicians, follow spots. Sometimes the follow spots will have a rehearsal, sometimes they will not.

Anyway, I am babbling now. It is really hard to explain what happens behind the scenes for one of these shows. And even working on them you rarely see all that goes into a live show, unless you have been doing it for years, in many different jobs.

[chachachacat]

Unless this show is different, the answer is no. It would be really expensive to have everyone there for the dress. The director comes to the dress rehearsal. The director sets the camera locations and the shots. You should hear the conversation over the headsets during a live TV show. There are several different headset channels. One is usually the "program" or the show feed. One is the camera director, one is the lighting director. There are usually several stage managers, deck technicians, follow spots. Sometimes the follow spots will have a rehearsal, sometimes they will not.

Anyway, I am babbling now. It is really hard to explain what happens behind the scenes for one of these shows. And even working on them you rarely see all that goes into a live show, unless you have been doing it for years, in many different jobs.
Thanks, diputs, for all the info!
That was a smart aleck remark I made.:oops: I apologize to all techies everywhere. I used to be a techie.

Of course, the director is responsible. As a dancer, I like to see everything that's going on... full figure. Like Fred Astaire insisted on.

Last night, I saw a Yogi Bear "video" on Boomerang. They updated his song, and had four or five Yogis all over the screen - culture shock. I don't like this fast-paced shot-a-second world.

[Ralph]

You should watch the Dutch version. Compared to that, teh US version is perfectly filmed.

[SDsalsaguy]

You should watch the Dutch version. Compared to that, teh US version is perfectly filmed.
You've got to be kidding, right? :shock:

[Josh]

The problem, as has been mentioned--is making something not generally exciting to the public, like ballroom dancing, exciting to viewers. The average viewer's concept of ballroom dance is what they see in movies... and they probably want to keep it that way. Simply put, if people don't find it exciting, they won't watch, and there will be no "next season." Is it an 'adulterated' form of viewing? Yes, but would you rather not have the option to watch at all? Don't get me wrong--I'd much rather see full-body, no cuts... but none of us are in control of that.

[alemana]

just wait til ESPN deportes or whatever airs the salsa championships... i am curious to see what the editing looks like for that.

[Ralph]

You've got to be kidding, right? :shock:

Sadly enough I'm not.

[SDsalsaguy]

That's downright scary!

[JohnK]

I'm all for keeping this show "exciting" enough for the non-dancer, but there are enough controversies and subplots in this venue to keep it that way without the spastic videography.

I suspect even the non-dancer would enjoy the action more (without realizing why) if the coverage had more continuity.

[alemana]

a non-ballroom friend of mine remarked insightfully during last week's broadcast,
"They should show more whole-body shots, how can I really see what's going on with the half-body focus?"

i nodded sagely, happy she'd noticed.