CompuServe Messages

Mike: >Even if your system can make the viewers TV explode, bounce off all four walls and come back together in the center off the room, it still won't save your fanny if the content sucks!!!< That's *always* been the case, I'm afraid–tho the waters have been muddied thanks to things like MTV, where often style *is* content. (Jeez, I sound like my old photography teacher!) I just flashed on all the froofrah that surrounded LOGAN'S RUN w/SF fans when it came out–folks were SOOOO impressed w/the amount of special effects in it, and got so annoyed when it was pointed out that the story stank! (Of course, so did the special effects–but that's another story…) OTOH, one of the reasons THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is a classic of the genre is because it has a strong story and well-written characters–even though the special effects are pretty minimal. >One of the biggest problems I see with programs cut on one of the new wizbang DTV systems is the over use of DVE's. I think the Toaster guys had a great term for it, they called it BURNT TOAST :-)))< ROFL! I LIKE it!!! I recently saw a tape my boss had done for him by an outside director/editor, where EVERY transition was done w/some fancy Toaster wipe. I guess it's the 90s answer to "slo-mo mania"–remember in the 70s, where EVERYBODY was using slow-motion for any action shot (cf., James Glickenhaus)? It got to the point where I swore I'd never use slow motion in anything I did…