Comparative Directorial Styles: Edlund, Rohl, Singer, Scgricca, and Manners

[bowtrunckle]

This originally was intended to be a small comment for spnematography’s episode discussion for “Reading is Fundamental” (7x21), but it grew into something bigger and took me too long to post in a timely manner for the discussion prompt.  So, weeks months later, here it is.  Whoops, deadlines.

Comments

[ficwriter1966]

That was really interesting! You're going to have me paying more attention to camera angles, blocking and movement from now on. Thanks for the mini seminar. :)

[bowtrunckle]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it and let me know. :)

[galathea_snb]

Oh, that was really interesting. I admit, I like Edlund's directorial style the least. I prefer more dynamic camera work and odd angles. Apart from Manners, I think my favourite director on the show was Adam Kane (After School Special) and I am really sad that he only directed that one time. He used circling cameras and weird angles that really gave the episode a unique look.

[bowtrunckle]

I prefer more dynamic camera work and odd angles.

As do I.

You are the first person who has mentioned Adam Kane. But, OMG, I LOVED his style so much that after that episode aired I looked him up on IMDB (if I remember correctly, he was also a cinematographer, which I thought might've influenced his style). In fact, I started a mini-director meta for that episode, and it's still sitting on my computer.

He used circling cameras and weird angles that really gave the episode a unique look.

Yes. I recall an awesome shot of a tree. Hmm, sometimes I wonder about how/why I remember such seemingly random things. O_o

[sockkpuppett]

Having gone through these examples and remembering my own reactions to the visuals in these eps, I opine that Edlund should either man up and take a course in basic directing techniques, or he should stick to writing.

I loved Manners' directing, as far back as X-Files, and that umbrella shot *looks* like a piece-by-piece composition from X-Files. I'm expecting a rain of frogs. It's THAT recognizable.

[bowtrunckle]

Edlund should either man up and take a course in basic directing techniques, or he should stick to writing.

Heh. Aptly said. I can't disagree with you. I'd love it if Edlund's directing was a quirky and sharp as his writing.

I loved Manners' directing

I'm biased. Manners is my favorite SPN director period. There are very pretty episodes directed by other directors, but Manners is, IMHO, by far the director that has consistently delivered the most visually gorgeous, lyrical episodes. I just wish we had him for more years then we did. RIP.

*looks* like a piece-by-piece composition from X-FilesThe floaty camera technique, yes. I remember the X-Files episode "Home" (the freaky one with the person under the bed that was shot at the same house as SPN's "The Benders") that he directed. There was this freaky shot where the camera was floating around a dark room with holes in the wall that let pin-pricks of light in and then it zeros in on a specific section of the wall. And that's when the viewer realizes it's not a hole in

[yasminke]

Very interesting comparisons. Thank you.

[bowtrunckle]

You're welcome. :)

[bardicvoice]

I loved this! Thank you very much!

[bowtrunckle]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it!