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"Southland" to be shot on RED?

Curran Giddens

Curran Giddens

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I just saw an ad on NBC for a new series from the producers of "ER" called "Southland."

Looks interesting....

Will it be shot on RED?

http://www.nbc.com/Video/preview/clips/on-the-set-of-southland/1045861/

545_1236270394.png
 
I preface this by saying that I've only seen the promotional spots for Southland- I do have it queued up on the PVR... but those spots have left me wincing a little.

I'm guessing that the blown highlights are a combination of rushed turn around times and an aesthetic choice. Almost every scene had; a hot spot on an actors face, a window or the sky- blown out completely.

In the darker scenes, I could see a fair bit of the fixed pattern sensor noise that can usually be processed out if you have the time to carefully render the R3Ds.

I really don't like saying anything negative about other people's work and I am hoping that the promotional material was put together with the Quicktime proxies or DNxHD 36 and that they'll take the edit list back to the R3Ds to give the aired episodes the care and attention that they deserve.
 
I watched the ER finale (on a crappy tv mind you) and thought it looked great overall... However, I watched the promo for Southland, and was not impressed with the look at all overall.

Quite a contrast imo.

Later,
Jason
 
Zakaree Sandberg said:
aesthetic choice
Click to expand...
I really enjoy this type of cinematography... seems to be many on the opposite fence which is fair; I could see why some might think it looks more sloppy then well done, but I think the style conveys a certain realism and tension... excited to see how this style develops/ compliment more traditional styles of shooting.
 
I saw the first episode and I was thinking the same thing that it was a little sloppy. Not a very good use of the Red camera because I know they could have made it look way better than what I saw. But if that's their creative choice then so be it.
 
I can see where over exposing can give it a hot, gritty, almost abrasive feel to push an immediacy into the viewers face. It isn't an effect that I am particularly fond of but this project may call for that.

But sensor noise vexes me mightily and the one clip- a night shot where a person reaches down to pick up a pistol... that set my teeth on edge. I have trouble seeing that as a creative choice.

Then again, maybe that is a failure of my imagination.
 
Clint Johnson said:
I can see where over exposing can give it a hot, gritty, almost abrasive feel to push an immediacy into the viewers face. It isn't an effect that I am particularly fond of but this project may call for that.

But sensor noise vexes me mightily and the one clip- a night shot where a person reaches down to pick up a pistol... that set my teeth on edge. I have trouble seeing that as a creative choice.

Then again, maybe that is a failure of my imagination.
Click to expand...
Same could be said when it comes to film... using cheaper film stock that was more sensitive to light made the film more grainy.. many people loved that as a creative style (i.e. natural born killers) maybe this is the next generation of it... time will tell...
 
We treat the camera very aggressively on Southland. If ER was one end of the spectrum, Southland is very much on the other end. Everything you're seeing [overexposure, underexposure, open shutter, etc] is a creative choice.

The pilot is now available on iTunes.
 
Brook Willard said:
We treat the camera very aggressively on Southland. If ER was one end of the spectrum, Southland is very much on the other end. Everything you're seeing [overexposure, underexposure, open shutter, etc] is a creative choice.

The pilot is now available on iTunes.
Click to expand...

That was the other thing that bugged me was the open shutter on some of those shots. Mainly because that's how I steer people away from the F23. Most of the shows I've seen shot with the F23, F900 and so on seem to suffer from a lot of open shutter shots, which I think looks horrible. Not sure how that would be a creative choice. Seems like its more of a, I don't want to put up any more lights or have a faster lens, choice.
 
It gives the shot an entirely different look. Getting that look is the choice. Some dig it, I personally do... others don't. Thats the reality of any choice...


Not putting up any more lights is just a perk of that look hah :thumbsup:
 
Tanner Field said:
It gives the shot an entirely different look. Getting that look is the choice. Some dig it, I personally do... others don't. Thats the reality of any choice...


Not putting up any more lights is just a perk of that look hah :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

See I just don't see how anyone would want that look. It could see it being fine if people were just sitting in chairs talking to each other. But when you have action going on or the camera is on the move and the image is blured because the shutter is off...how does that look good. If your going to shoot it like that why even shoot it at 24fps. Its very self-defeating to shoot at 24fps and then turn the shutter off.
 
The show is making a visual choice that I wouldn't; but I am not The Arbiter of Aesthetics (read that with a deep spooky voice) and so I will relax and just let them take me where they want to go. As long as the DOP, Show Runner and the Network are happy with what the Red is giving them then all is shiny.

I suppose we should embrace the show and celebrate that spectrum of which Brook spoke- the showcasing of Red's range. So I'll give it a quick and genuine, if mildly awkward, embrace... but not a big, wet, sloppy kiss.
 
Brook Willard said:
We treat the camera very aggressively on Southland. If ER was one end of the spectrum, Southland is very much on the other end. Everything you're seeing [overexposure, underexposure, open shutter, etc] is a creative choice.

The pilot is now available on iTunes.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the show. My wife and I really liked it. Now hopefully people watch unlike Boomtown
 
aidenvfx said:
Congrats on the show. My wife and I really liked it. Now hopefully people watch unlike Boomtown
Click to expand...

Here as well. It's my wife's replacement for ER and my replacement for, what looks like, the loss of Terminator:TSCC and Life.

Quite the aesthetic choices they're making. Low-light shots, lots of blur, a "video" look like in Collateral.

Still, enjoying this show greatly. Certainly different from our small-town policing here in the GWN.

sincerely,

ian
 
hi there ... i really like this show ... i like the look and "feel" and i think in the end its not about the sensor noise or the shutter ...

for me it looks like the scenery just happens and the RED is quite accidentally nearby ... and beginns to shoot in what mode ever ;-) thats a creative choice ! and i think it worked quite well

don't misunderstand ... i love dolly and crane shots as well a steadycams but the camera work and placement is really unique for an TV show ...

so ... there might be some technical "contradictions" but in the end it doesn't matter - its the statement that counts.

and by the way in real life there are no dollys and perfectly lit environments ;-)

all i can say ... great job !

p.s. sorry if my english is a little too "german" and the spelling is lame but i'm german and remember its the statement that counts ! :-)
 
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