Comments | bowtrunckle: SPN Director Meta: Serge Ladouceur (8x12)

bowtrunckle

SPN Director Meta: Serge Ladouceur (8x12)

Feb 23, 2013 16:07

“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 ( Read more... )

supernatural meta, spnematography, 8x12, spnematography episode prompt, my ginormous nerd hat, spn

Comments 15

yourlibrarian February 23 2013, 22:20:23 UTC

something I feel like we haven’t seen to such a degree since the unfortunately and untimely departure of Kim Manners (RIP, Kim)

I remember that when, was it Adam Glass? directed ASS I felt something similar -- it had some very distinctive shots. Neat look at the choices here. I wonder though, even if we hadn't lost Manners if he'd still be working on the show going on 9 years. It's a tougher schedule for those behind the scenes than those in front of the camera.

bowtrunckle February 23 2013, 22:30:05 UTC

It was Adam Kane, and, yes, that was a great episode with lots of striking shots and heavily used deep space cues (in fact, that was the one that really started me on the cinematography stuff in the first place). He interestingly enough was also a cinematographer before he started directing.

I wonder though, even if we hadn't lost Manners if he'd still be working on the show going on 9 years.

I don't know. Maybe retirement would've become a factor? I think it's a testament that the crew is still paying tribute to him, just recently Russ Hamilton took a picture of the PCAs at Manners' favorite tree for him.

galwithglasses February 23 2013, 23:30:44 UTC

I love it when you post entries like this because I learn so much. I thought Serge did a really good job. I never thought about how many different shots there would be in the hallway scene. I was just impressed with how many different locations they had to go to. I liked the background behind all three Winchesters when we found out he was their Grandpa. The vertical lines continue on behind Henry with whatever he's pictured in front of. That last bit at the cemetery also stood out for me. They look like there is a lot of weight to being a legacy and it will come to bear on them too. That gets repeated in some of the images from the next episode.

bowtrunckle February 25 2013, 04:02:34 UTC

I love it when you post entries like this because I learn so much.

Oh, yay! :D

The vertical lines continue on behind Henry with whatever he's pictured in front of.

Good catch. I totally spaced that out. It would be interesting to see if that motif kept popping up throughout the episode.

They look like there is a lot of weight to being a legacy and it will come to bear on them too.

I hope so, I'd love to see more about the MoL Legacy with regards to Sam and Dean (and angel bloodlines affiliated with the Winchester line). I suppose, though, that would unearth the destiny vs. free will idea all over again.

That gets repeated in some of the images from the next episode.

Oh, really?! Cool. Care to elaborate? :)

galwithglasses February 25 2013, 04:22:02 UTC

When the guys first get to the batcave, there is the shot up the side of the big industrial building. It's enormous and brick and it looms over them. Then they have to go down to the base of the building to the small door where they can go in. That's the best example I could think of. There is also a shot as the guys look into the room with the lit tables where the camera draws way back and up and leaves the guys looking small in the entrance even though neither it nor they are. I think also because of the lack of windows to the outside, I was always aware that there was a lot of weight above them. I really like how both 8.12 and 8.13 were filmed.

thunderroad84 February 24 2013, 06:16:48 UTC

This was fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and insight. I love learning about the technical aspects of the show. The last scene stayed with me after the episode ended. I also noticed how small and alone it made them seem, bringing to mind the enormity of the tasks they have undertaken and those they still face.

bowtrunckle February 25 2013, 04:33:22 UTC

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love that this fandom has such wide interests that I can nerd out with others on something so subsidiary to canon-related meta.

and those they still face

Dun dun duunnnnn. :)

Thanks for leaving your thoughts.

hugemind February 25 2013, 23:49:09 UTC

I hadn't thought about it at all, but the curiously framed phone conversation in Cool scene 3 (love how you named them!) and screen caps 34 and 35 really does pack a double punch. Showing Sam unconscious on the floor behind Abaddon is a nice reminder of how the stakes are now high, because the evil demon has Sam. The view of Dean is then symmetrical in the way it's framed, but the empty space behind Dean looks odd, because we're used to seeing Sam there. And the lack of Sam where he should be is another OMG moment. Also, now that the caps are shown on top of each other, it kind of looks like Dean's behind Abaddon's back, looking at Sammy lying on the floor. D:

This post is awesome. \o/ I just want to roll around in it to feel the Show love. :)

bowtrunckle March 13 2013, 17:08:39 UTC

the empty space behind Dean looks odd, because we're used to seeing Sam there ... it kind of looks like Dean's behind Abaddon's back, looking at Sammy lying on the floor. D:

Cool observations! I love that. Heh, that does look like an incarnation of Dean's "OMG, SAMMY!" face.

I just want to roll around in it to feel the Show love. :)

*rolls around with you* Yay, now I stink of Show! XD

thursdaysisters March 3 2013, 19:02:49 UTC

It's been interesting to watch the camera work change over the years, I feel like the first two seasons were prettier for some reason (especially any watery rescue scenes like in "Black Water" or "Playthings"). And Season 4 definitely had a lot more noir influence.

bowtrunckle March 13 2013, 17:21:33 UTC

I feel like the first two seasons were prettierI 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 ( ... )