Something I Never Got About British TV

[CMWaters]

Maybe some of you Brits can explain this to me...

I remember athing some Britcoms as we call them over here, and whenever characters would go from inside to outside, they'd change the camera used to shoot this.

How come they did that all the time?

For an example what I mean, at the end of this video:



Always just seemed jarring to me.

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Something to do with exposure I think. Basically, some cameras were better for filming indoors and others better for filming outdoors.

Also: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f-kfRREA8M#t=2m59s

[BoilerRoomBrawler]

I recall it being more to do with mobility of cameras and budget, but exposure could very well have been a (our the) factor.

As I recall, early video cameras were bulky and immobile and were made with the three-camera setup in mind. Film cameras, as an older, more evolved technology, were smaller and more mobile so they could be used outside studios.

[Bam Neeley]

Early video cameras were large and suitable for studio use only. If you wanted to shoot outside you used 16mm film which was telecined to video after shooting.

EDIT: By contrast American sitcoms were generally shot with 16/35mm film(before digital became the norm).

[FinalGwen]

It's actually the reason that Spearhead From Space, the first Doctor Who story to feature Jon Pertwee, can be given a Blu-Ray release, because it was entirely shot on location and thus on film, whereas with studio footage, DVD is about as good quality as we're ever going to get.

Also, it gave us this:

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

'Gentlemen, this entire room is surrounded by film.'

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Feb 3, 2013 11:55:23 GMT -5 BoilerRoomBrawler said:

I recall it being more to do with mobility of cameras and budget, but exposure could very well have been a (our the) factor.

As I recall, early video cameras were bulky and immobile and were made with the three-camera setup in mind. Film cameras, as an older, more evolved technology, were smaller and more mobile so they could be used outside studios.

Actually come to think of it, I do believe you're right. I remember hearing something like that and how it made making smooth cuts challenging.

[Evilution E5150]

i also remember hearing it was to do with the different unions, as when they filmed outside on locations they were requiered to also use a different crew as well as film

[CMWaters]

Interesting answers.

Do they still do this today with the advent of digital cameras and such, or do they look the same from inside to outside?

[Bam Neeley]

Probably not. Digital cameras are portable and the same crew can be used.

I believe Allo Allo and Keeping Up Appearances both had the video look in outdoor scenes as well. So that would be early 90's.

[Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill]

TV Tropes has a page on this:
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VideoInsideFilmOutside

[Hurbster]

Some American shows from the 70's, 80's and early '90s look really fuzzy when shown on British TV.

[Deleted]

Buzzkill, I officially f***ing hate you

I just got hooked to TVTropes lol

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Feb 4, 2013 3:34:07 GMT -5 cageking666 said:

Buzzkill, I officially f***ing hate you

I just got hooked to TVTropes lol

XKCD put it best by describing getting linked to TV Tropes as "like rick-rolling, but you're trapped all day".

[G✇JI☈A]

Red Dwarf was all video I believe. The earliest episode to be shot outdoors ('Better Then Life', I believe but could have been Lister's memory implanted into Rimmer in 'Thanks For The Memory') and they looked like there were video quality. That was the late 80's.

[stevieboy]

Was thinking about this in the shower the other day. Never realised it was a thing that would have a page on TVTropes. Lol.