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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Best NEW TV Series of 2016 Shot on Red

Can't believe no one made a thread about this before. Shot by Tim Ives (Mr Robot) on Leica lenses (what he told me on Instagram). Looks fantastic, super high production value. Show is fucking great.
 
Robert Andriessen said:
really love the colors/look in this, been watching 5 eps back to back already.. Shot on epic according to IMDB?​
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Dragon, confirmed to me by Tim Ives. Netflix is either Sony F55 or Varicam 35 or Epic Dragon for the 4K deliverable these days.
 
Came here to find a thread on ST. Really digging the use of the EPIC on this one. Polished clean look that Dragon can give...as well as pushing a grittier sensibility in other scenes. Would love to hear Tim speak or write a bit about his approach. Big fan of both Mr Robot and Stranger Things and I think that the two of those together really show range in aesthetic.
 
Well, while everyone bickers on the July Update thread, anyone have thoughts on 2:1 aspect ratio finishing? Honestly it almost feels as though RED was a big part in making that happen...though maybe I'm under-educated. I have always felt that 16:9 didn't quite give me enough and many stories respond better to an aspect ratio less aggressive than 2.35:1. It's sort of tough as broadcast specs determine aspect ratios, understandably; however I feel like because of the digital era of filmmaking we're in it's a bit more able to be artists choice. Watching Stranger Things helps nail it down. The story might feel oppressively serious if it were framed in 2.35:1 but also too generic if in 16:9. Maybe I just have an association with crop bars, but I really do feel like the slightly more focused frame helps.

What do you all default to when it's your choice?
 
It's not 2:1. It's 1.9:1, or 4096x2160, which is sometimes referred to as "full 4K" (as opposed to 3840x2160, which is UHD). Netflix accepts either format for their delivery, but they "prefer" the "full 4K" approach.
 
Looks like 2:00 to me, same ratio used for Jurassic World. Anyway, love the aspect ratio, it might be silly, but it just makes it look even more cinematic to me, I don't know if it's eye trickery but I like my letterbox bars, even on 2:35, I'd argue I like seeing 2:35 on a 16:9 screen even more than on a fully anamorphic one. Weird. 2:35 for me is the obvious cinematic ratio, I think it makes it more legit sometimes, more epic, more movie-ish than 1:85. I kinda hate the 1:78 for all tv shows, I don't really like having the whole thing filling up the screen, on one hand, it's cool, on the other, I like having black bars, even tiny ones, it just helps. Netflix is really cool that way between Master Of None, House Of Cards & Stranger Things. Kinda wish Daredevil was shot in the same aspect ratio, I think it'd make it even more cinematic.

A shame yeah that there was no AC article or anything for that matter on the show, Tod Campbell (who took over for Tim on Mr Robot after the pilot) also shot two episodes. The Duffer brothers said they had the colorist add some film grain to get it more to that 80's look, it's especially prominent in the flashback scenes, I wish they pushed it a bit more in other places.
 
M Most said:
It's not 2:1. It's 1.9:1, or 4096x2160, which is sometimes referred to as "full 4K" (as opposed to 3840x2160, which is UHD). Netflix accepts either format for their delivery, but they "prefer" the "full 4K" approach.
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Ohhhhh, very interesting. I shoot a good bit of 4k DCI (4096x2160) on my GH4, but it's usually for a 2.35:1 finish, so my timelines are always setup that way. Don't think I've intentionally checked out the DCI on a tv screen before. I was just assuming that they were going 2:1 because of RED's affinity for high quality redcode at that aspect.
 
I totally got sucked into it. It's a great series. We are slow at work right now so I'm binging on it at my desk. I'm on Episode 8 as I type this.
Love the 80's look and the soundtrack is awesome! The set designers, costume and makeup teams are on point with real-life 80's fashion and the whole vibe.
None of that over-glammed pseudo 80's look of The Goldbergs. (don't get me wrong I love that show)

Definitely give this a watch. It's really good.
 
Milano Questa said:
Reminds me of Super8. Awesome stuff.
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Both are love letters to the 80's and the Spielbergian so I would say they both reminds of that entire era. Goonies, E.T, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Stand By Me etc.

What I think is important though is that while Super8 and many other such love letters to nostalgia is focusing hard on using lenses, filters, real 35mm film etc. to get the look of that era, Stranger Things does it right in my opinion. It's not about copying the era with the technology used, it's about getting the right set design, wardrobe, acting and story as well as how you shoot it. Most people today are too focused on filters, post production/grading, old lenses and so on and less focused on the things that actually matters for a period piece; what's in front of the camera. This is where Stranger Things does it right. They did everything well to capture the 80's feel both in culture and history, while shooting it digital, with spherical modern (at least looks like it) lenses. It's clean and high quality without any notable distortions but it still feels like the 80's.
 
Christoffer Glans said:
Both are love letters to the 80's and the Spielbergian so I would say they both reminds of that entire era. Goonies, E.T, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Stand By Me etc.

What I think is important though is that while Super8 and many other such love letters to nostalgia is focusing hard on using lenses, filters, real 35mm film etc. to get the look of that era, Stranger Things does it right in my opinion. It's not about copying the era with the technology used, it's about getting the right set design, wardrobe, acting and story as well as how you shoot it. Most people today are too focused on filters, post production/grading, old lenses and so on and less focused on the things that actually matters for a period piece; what's in front of the camera. This is where Stranger Things does it right. They did everything well to capture the 80's feel both in culture and history, while shooting it digital, with spherical modern (at least looks like it) lenses. It's clean and high quality without any notable distortions but it still feels like the 80's.
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Super8 nailed the 80s vibe spot on imo. I wish Stranger Things was shot on film...
 
Milano Questa said:
Super8 nailed the 80s vibe spot on imo. I wish Stranger Things was shot on film...
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I thought it had too many JJ.Abram camera moves and flares not present in 80's films in the same way. Stranger Things have a much more down to earth tone which is closer to how films in the 80's were shot. The rest is just simulating 80's filmstock and look by shooting on film. I thought Super8 felt pretty modern, like instagram filters on modern subjects framed within 80's kind of story.
 
Milano Questa said:
Super8 nailed the 80s vibe spot on imo. I wish Stranger Things was shot on film...
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Why does that matter? It looks fantastic. This series is what Super 8 wanted to be.
 
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