Ancient Engineer
Well-Known Member
I was originally going to post this in the thread by JohnHuntington about Spectacle Snobbery and realized at the end that I had fallen off the tracks, so I made a new thread.
And... Go.
My careers have spanned "big" technical theatre, little black boxes, motion pictures, television, broadcast engineering (purt-neer lost art IMHO), business theater, schooling (and all that implies), supervision, management, and producing.
Every day I learn stuff, I have not come close to doing "everything".
I have always worked towards professionalism (which is doing what needs to be done regardless of how you feel about it) and excellence (because perfection is impossible and leads to frustration and failure).
Tastes change. I have seen it many times across the course of my careers.
SOME of the current trends in theatre/music/movies make me nutty... but I get it.
I have seen more live shows and movies that are simply unpleasant to watch. Now what they are doing is, in fact, very cool. But as an audience member it verges on unpleasant and occasionally dangerous.
By example (and NOT rant, which I want to avoid. Really.)
1. SPLs have become so dramatic that when actors are delivering their lines they are essentially inaudible and then the music/effects roll in over 102dB (sometimes dangerously higher) and I have to jam fingers in my ears. Or everything RMSs out over 104dB and it is dangerous loud. Concerts are almost always this way now. I saw (famous band) and was far away from the stage and speakers and the show was clocking over 106dB on average...yipes.
2. Movies are sooooooo over-edited. I blame technology for this. It used to be a process to insert a cut, now it takes one click... The reason Jackie Chan fight scenes are awesome is that they hold the shot long enough so the audience can see the action develop. Today there'd be 243 jump cuts in there nauseating the audience. (and inciting me to walk out most likely)
3. The current propensity to back light EVERYTHING live because beams man... I saw a recent theater production in a major market and there was essentially NO light on the actors/action, but the hazer was pumping away and we had sweeping beams and blinders (that parked in my face for up to 5 minutes... I ran my stopwatch, nuthin' else to do, couldn't see anything), just awful from a patron experience. This is pervasive and I get it... beams are cool.... sometimes. I'd rather see the performers (band, orchestra, actors, anyone on stage) than have a Sharpy parked in my face with color wheel on "spasm". Dancing with The Has Beens is awful for this. Essentially every concert is like this now. Please, lets illuminate the stage and not the audience. (except for the occasional string of Fays waaay up yonder so (lead singer) can see the audience briefly)
4. Flash and Trash becoming the defacto lighting for "serious" dramas. I have been asked a few times now in a non-musical drama theatre setting to add some "flashing and colors"... I ask the director how that is advancing the story and they either snap out of it or 12 Angry Men now has a disco scene suddenly... Ugh.
So, am I snobby about wanting to "see" the show?
I could care less whether it is monster trucks (I have some great friends who also happen to be awesome techs who work for Feld) or serious drama.
Whadya think?
<sigh> This veers dangerously close to a rant... Moderators, feel free to squelch this. I have no pride. Or shame...
Hmmm... Tasteful Spectacle - Could be the name of mine and Ron Hebbard's new international company... LOL
And... Go.
My careers have spanned "big" technical theatre, little black boxes, motion pictures, television, broadcast engineering (purt-neer lost art IMHO), business theater, schooling (and all that implies), supervision, management, and producing.
Every day I learn stuff, I have not come close to doing "everything".
I have always worked towards professionalism (which is doing what needs to be done regardless of how you feel about it) and excellence (because perfection is impossible and leads to frustration and failure).
Tastes change. I have seen it many times across the course of my careers.
SOME of the current trends in theatre/music/movies make me nutty... but I get it.
I have seen more live shows and movies that are simply unpleasant to watch. Now what they are doing is, in fact, very cool. But as an audience member it verges on unpleasant and occasionally dangerous.
By example (and NOT rant, which I want to avoid. Really.)
1. SPLs have become so dramatic that when actors are delivering their lines they are essentially inaudible and then the music/effects roll in over 102dB (sometimes dangerously higher) and I have to jam fingers in my ears. Or everything RMSs out over 104dB and it is dangerous loud. Concerts are almost always this way now. I saw (famous band) and was far away from the stage and speakers and the show was clocking over 106dB on average...yipes.
2. Movies are sooooooo over-edited. I blame technology for this. It used to be a process to insert a cut, now it takes one click... The reason Jackie Chan fight scenes are awesome is that they hold the shot long enough so the audience can see the action develop. Today there'd be 243 jump cuts in there nauseating the audience. (and inciting me to walk out most likely)
3. The current propensity to back light EVERYTHING live because beams man... I saw a recent theater production in a major market and there was essentially NO light on the actors/action, but the hazer was pumping away and we had sweeping beams and blinders (that parked in my face for up to 5 minutes... I ran my stopwatch, nuthin' else to do, couldn't see anything), just awful from a patron experience. This is pervasive and I get it... beams are cool.... sometimes. I'd rather see the performers (band, orchestra, actors, anyone on stage) than have a Sharpy parked in my face with color wheel on "spasm". Dancing with The Has Beens is awful for this. Essentially every concert is like this now. Please, lets illuminate the stage and not the audience. (except for the occasional string of Fays waaay up yonder so (lead singer) can see the audience briefly)
4. Flash and Trash becoming the defacto lighting for "serious" dramas. I have been asked a few times now in a non-musical drama theatre setting to add some "flashing and colors"... I ask the director how that is advancing the story and they either snap out of it or 12 Angry Men now has a disco scene suddenly... Ugh.
So, am I snobby about wanting to "see" the show?
I could care less whether it is monster trucks (I have some great friends who also happen to be awesome techs who work for Feld) or serious drama.
Whadya think?
<sigh> This veers dangerously close to a rant... Moderators, feel free to squelch this. I have no pride. Or shame...
Hmmm... Tasteful Spectacle - Could be the name of mine and Ron Hebbard's new international company... LOL
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