Don’t you just love it when you notice something that shouldn’t be in a particular shot – like the chalk mark indicating a camera position? Look to the lower right of this frame from Season 2, Episode 2 of the old NBC series, Adam 12. I’m really not that obsessive…but when I saw it, I couldn’t help passing it along.
I wonder who the camera operator was and if he was invited back to set after dailies the next day. Maybe he flagged the anomaly and was assured by the director that the shot wouldn’t be used (we’ve all heard that one before!). And yeah, it’s only a TV show. But you’d be surprised how seriously some people take issues like this.
I should know – I’m one of them!
Yeah I’ve been promised both “Oh we’ll call cut before you tilt into that” or when they just keep rolling and you’re forced to tilt or pan into a mark or off set “We’ll never use that part of the shot”. Only to be proved wrong when the film is cut together. These days, with the new attitude directors have with digital shooting and how free they want to be, I almost want to clear everything 360 degrees around the camera.
If this wasn’t a H-wood set but a real NYC street, the mark could mean anything, for example, where the electrical cables were located. Good catch Rich and I looked up obsessive in the dictionary and there was a picture of a certain ASC DP!. Happy New Year
When I was a camera assistant in the 80’s, a “red flag” would be indicated occasionally, and a director’s retort would be : “ don’t worry, the beer can will cover it”!!
I thought that was funny yet very odd response as we were all working very hard to make things perfect.
I also worked with Gil Hubbs, ASC on a few shows. When he was ready , he would ask his operator : “Are you good to go? Do you see any lights, grip stands, or sandbags in the shot?”
Sometimes in a very cramped or particularly large set, I will ask those very same questions. But now, everyone can see as well.
It happened to me few times that I flagged marks or reflections and sometimes I was told not to worry about it. I just hope no one blamed me afterwards, since I actually pointed those out. I always surrender to the cinematographer’s or director’s final decision… as long as I’m relieved from the fault.
Something I’m also wondering, are bus stops and mailboxes
allowed in fire lanes??
Good point, Ken…something an architect would surely be aware of. Happy New Year!