Directed by Kim Manners "...a storyteller who spoke with his camera..." (part one)
"Whenever I see a Kim Manners' episode, I think about how beautiful it is--not just in its texture, colors, movement, and tones, not only in the way it holds a mirror up to nature, but also in the depth of its understanding and compassion even for the monsters within and among us. He was our eyes and ears, a storyteller who spoke with his camera, telling us...Pay attention now....Look there! That still and lovely lake is tricking you. It has a terrible secret, and it's waiting. Now a train is crossing an overpass. Watch it. Listen to the warning sound of its whistle because we're going to an orchard where you'll look down like a god surveying an approaching sacrifice. And that young woman, walking through the alley? Did you catch the hollow echo of her heels, the ripple of shadows on the wall just behind her? Come on. Here's how a hospital staircase feels to the dying, the terrible coldness in the ghastly light. Let me show you what it's like to see a miracle suddenly rip through the darkness like a spear from heaven and how it is to crawl out of hell only to find yourself tramping alone in the blazing heat of a lonely road. Most of all, let me show you faces--no, not that way. Not as you normally see them from a safe distance. We're going to have to move in very close to look in the eyes and search the soul." --CW Board member Spectre
It was Mr. Manners' visual imagry and his direction of the 'brotherly dynamic' that more than anything else made me fall in love with Supernatural and the Winchesters brothers.
I'm not too technically savvy about things like camera angles and how effects are captured and so on, but I have always appreciated the depth and unique vision that Mr. Manners brought to 'his' episodes.
Share with me a look back at episodes directed by Kim Manners.
Season One: Dead In the Water
Kim's first episode and we are introduced to evocative skies and panoramic 'Americana' scenery.
At this point in the series, we've barely been introduced to these guys. ;)
Shifting focus depth- always a part of a Manners' episode.
Kim always gives us an interesting view of the Winchesters' " home" base.
Not to mention the interesting angle on our Winchesters!
The camera circles around Dean and Lucas. And we get our first glimpse of depth behind the swagger of Dean Winchester. It wasn't just a clumsy pick up line -- he really does love kids!
Beautiful upwards camera angle.
Depth in the room using a mirror.
Kim uses striped light, like with the blinds here, in many different ways.
Hero.
Kim likes to use windows --
Hero.
Hello boys! We don't see those smiles very often.
And a glamour shot of the 3rd lead.
BUGS
There's the sky again.
Love this shot.
(My favorite) SCARECROW
Like I said, interesting angles on our Winchesters.
John! I love the extreme claustrophobic close-up.
The image of this fight, on a misty deserted highway has always stayed with me.
Totally alone.
Or not.
'Dude, you fugly.'
Great angles.
Great juxtoposition of the fugly and teh pretty and creepy as heck.
Kim's emphasis shots are interesting.
Kim likes to shoot through things - it's visually interesting and adds to the depth.
Windows.
Light.
Kim switches between panoramic establishing shots and extreme character close-ups.
Cool lighting.
Another shot through something.
And the brotherly dynamic.
Kim's episodes seem to have the best brotherly moments.
SHADOW
Windows, light AND depth.
I love how we get so much depth behind both of them.
Hello Sam.
Once again, we are given an intimate view of the Winchesters' 'home.'
This moment is THE moment I fell for Dean Winchester.
Shadows
Windows.
And light.
Winchester family moment.
See the love and relief.
Poor Sammy.
Emphasis shot which includes the fact John still wears his wedding ring.
Beautiful.
S1 screencaps by extremefangirl
End part one . . . .