Looking beyond the camera...

[jonbeeza]

What is it with people on tv, when they are talking to the camera, but not looking at it, they look beyond it? I have noticed it a lot more lately with most programs, even a history program on now. He is talking to us at home, but he will not look at the camera, he is looking beyond it, as though he were talking to someone else, off camera. They tend to keep showing the narrator from different angles, even full face on, but they refuse to look directly at the camera, why?

I find it a little off putting. Yes I know, I moan about everything.

PS

I find most programs to be doing it now, but why?

 

[Bobsyeruncle]

What is it with people on tv, when they are talking to the camera, but not looking at it, they look beyond it? I have noticed it a lot more lately with most programs, even a history program on now. He is talking to us at home, but he will not look at the camera, he is looking beyond it, as though he were talking to someone else, off camera. They tend to keep showing the narrator from different angles, even full face on, but they refuse to look directly at the camera, why?

I find it a little off putting. Yes I know, I moan about everything.

PS

I find most programs to be doing it now, but why?

The teleprompters are on top of the cameras, so I think that's why they appear to be looking beyond the cameras....

 

[Nod]

The images Google throws up suggest that the teleprompter projects on a tilted screen in front of the camera rather than on top of it. Can't say I've noticed presenters looking elsewhere, although I do notice the "artistic" side views of the presenters that some directors seem to like.

 

[Bobsyeruncle]

The images Google throws up suggest that the teleprompter projects on a tilted screen in front of the camera rather than on top of it. Can't say I've noticed presenters looking elsewhere, although I do notice the "artistic" side views of the presenters that some directors seem to like.

Yeah, I was obviously talking crap

 

[Tringa]

What is it with people on tv, when they are talking to the camera, but not looking at it, they look beyond it? I have noticed it a lot more lately with most programs, even a history program on now. He is talking to us at home, but he will not look at the camera, he is looking beyond it, as though he were talking to someone else, off camera. They tend to keep showing the narrator from different angles, even full face on, but they refuse to look directly at the camera, why?

I find it a little off putting. Yes I know, I moan about everything.

PS

I find most programs to be doing it now, but why?

I know what you mean. It doesn't bother me but I do think it looks odd as they aren't talking to another person, just, as you say, the camera.

Dave

 

[jonbeeza]

The teleprompters are on top of the cameras, so I think that's why they appear to be looking beyond the cameras....

No, what I mean is the viewers view the narrators side on. The are obviously not reading anything, either at the side or on top of camera. It is obviously the new sort of look, probably meant to be realistic. A bit like they are talking to a third party.

 

[jonbeeza]

I think I am probably spoilt by YouTube videos, where the Vloggers look at the camera, and talks to the viewers.
I don't like the way TV narrators sit slightly sideways to the camera, while talking to the camera.

The camera operators always seem to have that annoying habit, where they show different angle views of the narrator, while they continue talk to their right or left, and never in the direction of the camera.

 

[jonbeeza]

Hope it is OK to post an image of a TV program?

Watching this TV program, and the historians / narrators were telling us how events happened. Not once did they look at the camera.

 

[jonbeeza]

It was obvious they were not talking to a third party off camera, as it was clear they were talking to the viewers.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

It was obvious they were not talking to a third party off camera, as it was clear they were talking to the viewers.

I don't understand how you can know that if you weren't present at the shoot. It's common practice to have an off camera interviewer and it looks more natural, allegedly, to record from an angle rather than trying to interpose the camera between the interviewer and the interviewee.

Then there are the stunt reports to camera, so beloved of local TV stations, if only because they can go so hilariously wrong...

 

[jonbeeza]

I don't understand how you can know that if you weren't present at the shoot. It's common practice to have an off camera interviewer and it looks more natural, allegedly, to record from an angle rather than trying to interpose the camera between the interviewer and the interviewee.

Then there are the stunt reports to camera, so beloved of local TV stations, if only because they can go so hilariously wrong...

View attachment 320481

It showed one narrator looking out of the window, while talking. While another was at a book shelf while talking.
On another occasion, the narrator was facing a blank wall while talking. Strange behavior, oh well never mind, that's just what they do.

 

[JohnC6]

Not quite the same as the above observation but there are two aspects of TV interviews which really annoy me . Firstly. Invariably, the cameraman zooms in on the hands on the interviewee to show they are stressed My thoughts are that if someone is trying to look calm but,in reality are a bit stressed by the subject they will grip their own hands or clench them. If this is true on the part of the camerman..directed to do so by the producer,I'm sure, I think it's a bit below the belt ..I know.. No comments please. It's the phrase best-suited. It could be relevant,I suppose, if someone who has been involved in something untoward or illegal and is trying to justify it or lie but for the most part it's just ordinary people telling a tale of an experience that has caused them stress or trauma. I think 'bravo' to those who could possibly be aware of this underhand tactic and either don't clasp their hands together ..best option, one place a hand on each knee in a relaxed manner.

The other issue. Someone is about to be interviewed in an outdoor location so they are (obviously) instructed to go a short distance away and walk towards the camera. The shot stops and re-opens with the interview. Those doing it can't be natural so they look 'wooden' , 'awkward' I can't see the point of it.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

...so they look 'wooden' , 'awkward' I can't see the point of it.

'Cause it's like, "art", innit?

 

[jonbeeza]

Not quite the same as the above observation but there are two aspects of TV interviews which really annoy me . Firstly. Invariably, the cameraman zooms in on the hands on the interviewee to show they are stressed My thoughts are that if someone is trying to look calm but,in reality are a bit stressed by the subject they will grip their own hands or clench them. If this is true oin the part of the camerman..directed to do so by the producer,I'm sure, I think it's a bit below the belt ..I know.. No comments please. It's the phrase best-suited. It could be relevant,I suppose, if someone who has been involved in something untoward or illegal and is trying to justify it or lie but for the most part it's just ordinary people telling a tale of an experience that has caused them stress or trauma. I think 'bravo' to those who could possibly be aware of this underhand tactic and either don't clasp their hands together ..best option, one place a hand on each knee in a relaxed manner.

The other issue. Someone is about to be interviewed in an outdoor location so they are (obviously) instructed to go a short distance away and walk towards the camera. The shot stops and re-opens with the interview. Those doing it can't be natural so they look 'wooden' , 'awkward' I can't see the point of it.

Reminds me a bit like the programs that show the reactions of a family, such as when a reporter / journalist turns up at their home.
We are viewing inside the house when the reporter knocks on the door, and the husband says to the wife, " who can that be?".

Me and the missus always say to ourselves, camera crew in living room should give them a clue.

 

[JohnC6]

'Cause it's like, "art", innit?

It's one of those things where there doesn't seem to be a rational answer so it might just as well be 'art' .Here's what's expected of a TV cameraman.https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/television-camera-operator

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Here's what's expected of a TV cameraman.

When I was forced to go to "photo ops", I generally found that the news cameramen were good blokes and mostly laid back. Me not being very tall, it seemed that they quite liked my standing in front of them, so that no one taller could get in and spoil their shot!

 

[JohnC6]

Reminds me a bit like the programs that show the reactions of a family, such as when a reporter / journalist turns up at their home.
We are viewing inside the house when the reporter knocks on the door, and the husband says to the wife, " who can that be?".

Me and the missus always say to ourselves, camera crew in living room should give them a clue.

Oh..don't get me started on those situations..lol.

What annoys me is that they take us for fools. I just want straight-forward reporting. At least they don't shove a microphone in the face of a parent anymore and ask how they feel having just been told a drunken driver has killed one of their children or that they've been killed in an air crash.

I have actually brought this up before on here. Remember the dreadful floods in Somerset about 5 years ago. Time flies Ugh. The reporter was standing outside the flooded home of a resident in a village and the resident was relating how the floods had affected his friends and neighbours. The reporter asked. "Have you been flooded ?' Knowing full well he has as they've already been chatting about it and bear in mind the water was lapping around the front door behind them. "Oh yes" replied the man in the most scripted way you could imagine. He'd never make an actor that's for sure...lol. Why couldn't the reporter have just said "You've told me that you've been flooded yourself could you outline the extent of it and how it's a going to affect you ? "

I'm always shouting at the tele especially the reporters of our regioinal programme Points West which ,to my despair my wife likes to watch. That and the BBC News which I don't like to watch either. ITV is better and so is Sky. It all just comes across as manipulation.

One more..I turn the tv off or change channels the moment a reporter goes to a college as the students are opening the envelopes with their exam results inside. I'm sure I don't have to elaborate on that set up.