Why overexpose?

I totally agree with having as much visual information as possible. I'm saying that I overexpose to get that, even when using video. I'm not saying overexposure=blowouts. I've been able to control my image enough that I blow out the image when and where I have to (windows during day interiors, specifically), and I overexpose the rest of the image by 1/2 a stop (at least), to one full stop (at the most).

BTW, anybody seen "My Name is Earl" lately? It looks like they're doing the same thing. Lots of hot spots on the actors' faces.
 
The reason for over exposure is usually to overexpose certain things like windows. For example: Lets say you have a scene with someone standing inside by a window. Usually to get propper exposure levels you want to bring down the level outside of the window by gelling it with ND filters. But say the director wants to focus on a dramatic effect and make the window be white so that nothing can be seen out the window. Then the DP would overexpose the window. They would expose for the subject and not bring down the light level on the window. Basically it would turn white due to the overexposure. This is usually a stylistic thing and NOT general practice. You can overexpose in many different ways, even the whole image like others here said. I think you might be misreading the material and need to look into more concerning cinematographers and overexposure. With video you don't want to overexpose because you loose detail in the image. Unless the scene calls for it. Once you loose the detail you can never get it. Unlike underexposing where you can brighten (not too much) and detail will come out. But once you overexpose, you're stuck with the loss of detail in the image. It will darken but literally turn flat in the overexposed areas. Hope this answers your question.
 
Hmm. That's interesting. I had always heard the rule for video was not to underexpose in order no to loose that information in the whites. But I completely understand the logic for overexposing too.

and "My Name is Earl" is a really funny show.
 
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