A show’s look is a powerful storytelling cue. In general, comedies look sharper, bluer, and more immediate. Dramas look more diffused, warmer, and past tense. The shooter’s responsibility is to create a look that is consistent with the program’s intended genre starting with the very first frame.
For many shooters the old mind-set applies: Are we shooting film or video? The two media suggest different sensibilities. In film, the look conveys a dreamier, more transcendent feel whereas video suggests greater immediacy and is thus more appropriate for news and nonfiction programs.
I entertain this mental wrangling before every shoot, as I settle on a look and adjust my camera setup accordingly. Today, given ...
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