SPN Director Meta: Serge Ladouceur (8x12)

[bowtrunckle]

“As Time Goes By” (8x12) was Serge Ladouceur’s, SPN’s Director of Photography, first solo directing gig.  I thought it was well done.  Not only was it filled with pleasantly surprising choices but also showed an understanding of how to exploit the camera to tell a complimentary visual story to the scripted story, making it feel like he really

Comments

[bowtrunckle]

I feel like the first two seasons were prettier

I feel like the early seasons paid a lot more attention to scenic shots (epic driving shots) and the larger world Sam and Dean were in, which were very pretty. Maybe this was done bec. SPN had to establish the visual style and now that's not so necessary. Another answer may have to do with the change in show runners and what their preferences were. For example, with Kripke gone, the classic rock soundtrack, which was so distinctive, has all but fallen away. But what I think it really boils down to is Kim Manners. SPN lost something when he passed away--"Dead in the Water" (what I think you're referring to as "Black Water"?) was the first SPN episode he directed and it was esp. pretty with lovely framing and interesting angels. I noticed "Playthings" was shot in a very distinct manner, too, and is very striking. In fact, I'm working on a visual meta about why that episode looked the way it did and how that was a result of the Gothic underpinnings of that storyline. Now if I could only find a chunk of time to finish it....

And Season 4 definitely had a lot more noir influence.

*nods* I love when there are subtle nods to the storyline like that.