Does anybody else think Dexter looks like crap...

Adam J McKay

Adam J McKay

Veteran
I want to start by saying I am a huge fan of the show. However I often find myself distracted by the technical limitations of HD capture. The show has always been shot on HD, and this season they switched from the F900 to the cinealta F23 and some EX1's. Maybe it's because I am getting more and more into photography and cinematography, but I am really hating the HD look, especially for this show.
 
I'm also a big fan of the show. I never noticed a change. Now I'll have to watch closer. What specifically do you dislike about the "HD look"?
 
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I find the lack of dynamic range kind of annoying, I also think the make up department needs to do a better job because with close ups, you can see the layers of make up and it looks greasy and disgusting. Apparently they shoot with pro mist filters to try and soften the look, but I don't know if it's doing much good.
 
zergtherobot said:
I find the lack of dynamic range kind of annoying, I also think the make up department needs to do a better job because with close ups, you can see the layers of make up and it looks greasy and disgusting. Apparently they shoot with pro mist filters to try and soften the look, but I don't know if it's doing much good.
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I love the show too. But I no longer have showtime. I wish I could still watch it, I was hooked and then it was ripped away from me! :violin:.
Great show though, I never had any issues with the look; i'll have to pay more attention if theres ever a next time I watch it.
 
Don't blame the format. I'm willing to bed it's the same cinematography team, and they haven't learned how to properly use HD acquisition yet. The camera is the least of the process, as I'm sure you know, it's just a question of adapting to limitations. And every format has limitations.
 
I've noticed a change in how it looks, for sure! It does bother me...a bit...but I get caught up in the story and the acting it hasn't been a dealbreaker for me.

It looks like they need to change the way the show is lit. Highlights on flesh look awful. Blown out and the highlights either turn blue or pink.

Not so sure it's just the "HD Look," but more a BIG change in the way the footage is acquired, and not so much adjusting lighting and composition for that big change.
 
I dont even have Showtime, but I do love the show. I have seasons 1-3 on Blu Ray. I've seen some of the season 4 material, but from what I have seen from the first 3 seasons are:
a) awesome acting, b) great storyline, c) brilliant cinematography.
Romeo Tirone is slowly becoming one of my favorite TV DPs. I love the way he uses natural light sources (the great florida sun or even like a tungsten overhead lamp) to create sort of a "pool of light" key ala Robert Richardson for like 90% of his shots. Its different than say almost all the other shows I watch, e.g House, which is very well light using very composed (mostly shot indoors hence controlled lighting) keys/fills/back lights and great color correction. Dexter has A LOT of outdoors stuff and they look brilliant.
Agree to disagree with zerg about the dynamic range issue. I think there is enough range to satisfy anyone. The exposure latitude Tirone sets is damned brilliant, sometimes like a 128:1 ratio, unheard of in TV land. However, there is a lack of contrast and sometimes the highlights overexposed, but maybe thats what the Dex peeps want for more of a video look rather than film. And...they do use Arri 435s for slo mo shots, which intercut really well with the Sonys. If anything, switching to the F23 actually gave the show better sharpness and more dynamic range (like I said I've seen some 128:1 shots....f'in awesome)
 
Cause it is supposed to. :)

But I would certainly not say it looks like crap. It works, it is a perfect show IMO.
 
I dont think it looks that bad but think the writing and acting really took a downward spiral after season one.
 
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