>>>Also the camers angles during most sitcoms during that period of time were very standard. Most epiosodes like I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver and others use a straight on approach with floor mounted cameras, as if you were watching a game show or something. On Andy Griffith they use various angles that give it a great feel and depth to the scenery.<<<
Kirk, I have noticed this, too -- very effective. In addition to the examples you mentioned, there are a number of times that a very low camera angle is used to make someone appear more authoritarian or confident, such as in "Barney Gets His Man" after Barney inadvertently knocks down the escaped convict and then goes swaggering down the street. Or a high camera angle to make someone appear smaller or at a disadvantage, such as in "Lawman Barney" when Barney confronts the farmers selling produce for the last time. The camera is shooting down from a high angle to show how much smaller Barney is than Matt and Neil, the farmers. This angle accentuates his bravery and determination in holding them to the law, despite their physical threats. Or, here's another very effective one. During "Man in a Hurry" when Mr. Tucker is trying to use the phone and getting frustrated by the Mendlebright sisters, the camera is shooting from a high enough angle to get Mr. Tucker in the foreground while also getting Andy and Barney (and, I think, Opie) in the background at the table. So we see simultaneously Mr. Tucker's frustration and the others' calm acceptance of the situation -- plus Barney's great line, "I wonder what causes that?" I don't know if TAGS ever won any Emmy awards for camera work, but it should have. Thelma Lou (Janet) _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
