I have this burning hatred inside of me. This burning hatred of mine comes back periodically and then disappears because I forget about it. But I frequently see a type of film/video/tv concert/etc and it rears its ugly head. I realize that concerts are filmed in a piss-poor manner. And I want to know where this trend came from. Maybe one of my LA film friends will know. But as they say on the Topless Robot blog- WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS?!
So what the hell am I ranting about? Well, here’s an example- Ronak mentioned she saw a band (Rodrigo y Gabriela) last night, so I immediately looked them up on youtube and found a video.
They’re talented, they seem fun live….
but then I’m overwhelmed with a desire to find anyone associated with filming and/or directing that video and beating them senseless. Could they cut it up more?
Is it because I play guitar and want to see their fingers that it bugs me more than the average viewer? Am I wrong, tell me? Is it because it makes two people sitting down seem more edgy and dynamic?
I don’t remember when I *first* started seeing this type of style. But some memories stand out. Here are some most recent recollections.
-I remember wanting to figure out how the guitar player in Muse was playing a song, and found out they had a concert film of their H.A.A.R.P. show at Wembley. So I looked that up. Just about every time there was a guitar solo, they’d pan away to the bass player or the drummer. Just about every time the drummer was about to play a fill, they’d cut to the crowd, etc.
-I remember there was (is?) a series called Sounstage on PBS that would re-run late in Cali-time. I distinctly remember a Tom Petty episode/concert that suffered the same problems.
Tom’s about to open his mouth to sing? Ok, cut to Benmont Tench about to change chords on keyboard. Hey, that’s cool and all, but show Benmont during his keyboard solos. Did they do that? Nope. Did they show Mike Campbell when he was about to play a solo? Nope, they’d cut to the crowd or the bass player.
I think that was in 2003. (also, there were a few Petty episodes, the earlier ones were worse IIRC, so maybe they got complaints)
-I remember an article from The Guardian in the UK (I think, I know it was a UK paper) lamenting the fast “MTV-style cuts” that were ruining performances of … wait for it… a Michael “Lord of the Dance” Flatley show (~1998?) that was on PBS in the US.
[again on PBS- is there a PBS or UK connection?]
I should note that MTV wasn’t showing many videos by 98, and the “videos” would have fast cuts, but I know the “concert videos” didn’t.
Now, I can give a pass to some concert events. It’s one thing to be hired to film something like the Superbowl and not get a good shot of Springsteen playing guitar (but can get his crotch on camera) because you’re not really having more than 1 rehearsal and you have to film the motha fuggin’ Superbowl… I’ll even give a pass to quickly put together shows like Live Aid or that Freddie Mercury Tribute show (you have to pull back a lot because it’s impressive seeing how full Wembley is with everyone singing along…). I get that
But that Muse example? C’mon, that’s a rehearsed show. That Tom Petty example? C’mon, EVERYONE knows those songs, even if they’re not Tom Petty fans. His stuff is on the radio so much you should know that a solo’s coming up… And you could make yourself watch a re-run of the Sheryl Crow Soundstage show if you don’t believe me.
So for now I’m only annoyed and left with conspiracy theories.
-I think there’s a small group of directors who can get jobs for concerts and they don’t know much about music. They know how to deliver a show in the can on time (or whatever that lingo is) maybe, but not much else.
-I think this started in the mid-90s
-I definitely think there’s a bbc & pbs connection (which also goes to my small community of directors thing).
-I think people now are still copying that style, and it’s time it passed.
But hey, there’s hope. I know there are concert shows (even on PBS) like Austin City Limits that get it right. Letterman gets it right…
What do you think?
