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Stranger Things 3

Christoffer Glans

Christoffer Glans

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Watched through season 3 of Stranger Things, which was shot on Thalia and Monstro 8K. I noticed a lot of stuck white pixels throughout. It was visible in every scene, jumping around based on what I presume is a multi-cam setup on each set.

Why did these make it to the final delivery? First off, I think it's notable that so many of the cameras used showed that much stuck pixels, but I'm also wondering how this got through QC? It's an easy fix in post and not correcting it is really annoying. In some shots, there were stuck pixels right at the center of focus for the shot.
 
The only odd thing that I noticed when watching it was that someone seemed to have subtly digitally added film debris/dust, to give it a film-look. I mostly noticed it in the opening titles, where it stood out easily.
 
L. Langer said:
The only odd thing that I noticed when watching it was that someone seemed to have subtly digitally added film debris/dust, to give it a film-look. I mostly noticed it in the opening titles, where it stood out easily.
Click to expand...

"Someone?"

This show has had a "film treatment" applied since the beginning. The colorist is Skip Kimball, who has done the entire series, and he customizes that film treatment, sometimes on a scene by scene basis. Those effects are all by request of the producers, who are using such things to help to invoke the period nature of the story (in the case of the third season, it's 1985). It is not a "mistake", an "accident" or anything else other than a deliberate attempt to enhance the story being told.

I really don't understand why people here seem to feel a need to imply incompetence on the part of those creating shows rather than finding out why things look the way they look and accepting the results as a creative choice. Personally, the only thing I've seen (based on the first episode, the only one I've watched so far) that I would question is the brightness of the titles in the HDR version (a bit bright for my taste). But that wouldn't be a colorist's choice as the titles are usually composited by the conform/online editor.
 
Aaron Green said:
They add a lot of grain in post. The white pixels might be the addition film damage effect.
Click to expand...

It's not part of the simulated 35mm look. These are definitely stuck sensor pixels. They even move on obviously post-stabilized shots.
 
M Most said:
"Someone?"

This show has had a "film treatment" applied since the beginning. The colorist is Skip Kimball, who has done the entire series, and he customizes that film treatment, sometimes on a scene by scene basis. Those effects are all by request of the producers, who are using such things to help to invoke the period nature of the story (in the case of the third season, it's 1985). It is not a "mistake", an "accident" or anything else other than a deliberate attempt to enhance the story being told.

I really don't understand why people here seem to feel a need to imply incompetence on the part of those creating shows rather than finding out why things look the way they look and accepting the results as a creative choice. Personally, the only thing I've seen (based on the first episode, the only one I've watched so far) that I would question is the brightness of the titles in the HDR version (a bit bright for my taste). But that wouldn't be a colorist's choice as the titles are usually composited by the conform/online editor.
Click to expand...

The look of this show is perfectly on spot, it's also a show that has some of the best looking Red imagery ever made. However, the stuck pixels is a QC error if anything, they should not be there. Watching it in UHD will make them stand out like a flashlight in the dark, it's very distracting. Anyone who thinks those stuck pixels are "part of the look" has some serious biases.
 
The original firmware on the Monstro has some serious stuck pixel issues. Seems to improved a lot in the latest update. Also, They had the budget to fix the pixels or buy one more 80s song.. sooo...
 
At 3 episodes in, the images look great. The lighting and production design are excellent. The 80s come to life but the story is flagging a bit. The threats are all over the place.
 
Julen De La Serna said:
I've seen the entire season without seeing anything, have you got some frames of the pixels?
Click to expand...

i also watched it and haven't seen any pixels. but I watched in in HD, since there is no UHD available for me yet.
 
M Most said:
"Someone?"

This show has had a "film treatment" applied since the beginning. The colorist is Skip Kimball, who has done the entire series, and he customizes that film treatment, sometimes on a scene by scene basis. Those effects are all by request of the producers, who are using such things to help to invoke the period nature of the story (in the case of the third season, it's 1985). It is not a "mistake", an "accident" or anything else other than a deliberate attempt to enhance the story being told.

I really don't understand why people here seem to feel a need to imply incompetence on the part of those creating shows rather than finding out why things look the way they look and accepting the results as a creative choice. Personally, the only thing I've seen (based on the first episode, the only one I've watched so far) that I would question is the brightness of the titles in the HDR version (a bit bright for my taste). But that wouldn't be a colorist's choice as the titles are usually composited by the conform/online editor.
Click to expand...

So what's your take on the Starbucks cup in game of thrones? Those creating these shows are people.. people can make mistakes. Debating mistake or creative choice is the exact point of this forum.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that those stuck pixels are actually a result of streaming and/or consumer hardware.
There are way too many steps between filming and final stream delivery for there to be a definitive answer on stuck pixels.
 
Stranger Things once again pushes red to its very limits in terms of how phenomenal the footage looks. I watched in UHD and didn't notice any stuck pixels. Im a colorist and would have noticed that immediately. The only thing I noticed was one or two spots where the color keys had a bit of noise in them when the lights started moving and could see the color/exposure difference.
 
With so many cast members in many of the medium and wide shots the VV format showed it's strengths. To me, the geometry looked more "normal" and characters near the edge of the frame showed very little distortion. Credit to the Thalia's as well.

Cheers - #19
 
Also saw it un UHD and no dead pixels or anything of the sort by the way. Special praise to the CGI and effects team. Everything looks seamless and stunning. This is a TV stream show, and the effects are A grade, big screen stuff. This series deserve a big screen showing, and it would look better than many big budget summer blockbusters. Well done.
 
Also no dead pixels.

Ensure the cap on the bleach is securely tightened during the warm summer when watching anything :)
 
Just saw first 4 episodes, Monstro with Thalias looks great together! Didn't see any dead pixels either. Phil, don't forget about those improperly sealed paint cans as well. ;)
 
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