Brought to you by an episode of Xena
May. 10th, 2010 11:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eruthrosI sometimes get all nostalgic when I watch old tv. Sometimes for the fandom as it was, sometimes for the things you could do on television then, sometimes for the hilarity of old special effects.
And sometimes for the aspect ratio.
Listen, there is nothing like 4:3 for turning every close-up, every intense conversation, every emotional moment, every attempt to get three people in the same shot while catching their facial expressions, into an opportunity to shout "make out!" at the screen. I mean, people still need to make out sometimes in 16:9, but it's not as constant -- the framing isn't as constrained.
I know old TV couldn't do anywhere near the same landscapes and scene-setting, couldn't have as much business in the background, and was way harder to put into a multivid with movies, but sometimes I regret all the lost makeouts.
Also: Did you know that you can get technical specs for shows on imdb? I find it kind of fascinating. Look! Intended aspect ratios versus aired aspect ratios! Film negative formats! Intriguing.
And sometimes for the aspect ratio.
Listen, there is nothing like 4:3 for turning every close-up, every intense conversation, every emotional moment, every attempt to get three people in the same shot while catching their facial expressions, into an opportunity to shout "make out!" at the screen. I mean, people still need to make out sometimes in 16:9, but it's not as constant -- the framing isn't as constrained.
I know old TV couldn't do anywhere near the same landscapes and scene-setting, couldn't have as much business in the background, and was way harder to put into a multivid with movies, but sometimes I regret all the lost makeouts.
Also: Did you know that you can get technical specs for shows on imdb? I find it kind of fascinating. Look! Intended aspect ratios versus aired aspect ratios! Film negative formats! Intriguing.
