Top Gear Cinematography Question

MrChips · March 7th, 2006, 7:25 AM

It seems as though in most, if not all, Top Gear episodes seem to have some sort of unusual object in scenes in which the camera is at ground level. Here are some examples:

Episode [06x07] - TVR Sagaris with a flaming bit of paper

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6348/sagarisflame1fv.jpg

Episode [06x09] - BMW M5 with an orange ball

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6056/m5orangeball4fl.jpg

Episode [07x05] - Veyron with some sort of vegetable

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4157/veyronvegetable1ne.jpg

I've been wondering why the cameramen do this - is it some sort of in-joke, an "easter egg" of sorts, or is there some other significance to it?

duh · March 7th, 2006, 7:36 AM

It's probably subliminal... Metaphorically speaking.

MasterEvilAce · March 7th, 2006, 7:42 AM

I think it's some sort of internal "lol" the topgear guys have. Sort of a parody.. because old movies do this sometimes.. sort of like old cowboy movies they have the rolling twig balls (i forget the name at the moment)...

I think it sort of shows a bit of insignificance of objects.. sort of a "There's a ball in the road.. but why the fuck do you care? you're in a BMW!"

no care in the world when you're driving

wooflepoof · March 7th, 2006, 8:04 AM

it kinda just looks like something to fill the negative space to 'complete' the scene. I do it all the time in my art and if you look at quite a few professional pictures and movies theres something there to take up the space. like something happening in the background. At least here in america, they use it to comical effect, have something crazy or funny in the background to keep you entertained. (Vonage commercial comes to mind) it has a term but i forget

If you look there seem to be 3 major parts to those ictures "car, line, and object; they all seem to be arranged in sort of a triange fashion

GraemeH · March 7th, 2006, 8:46 AM

I think it's to do with depth, perspective and scale perception. If there's just road and car, you blank out the road and just see a car going past. If there's something unusual on the road your eyes become 'excited' and the part of your brain that perceives things works harder. It doesn't ADD anything to the scene, but it makes you take it in more.

Of course, they could just be bored.

TechZ · March 7th, 2006, 11:45 AM

I agree with GraemeH, it gives you that bit of perspective with those smaller objects.

mmap · March 7th, 2006, 11:54 AM

I do believe that, as mentioined, it's done for artistic reasons, and boy has it started to annoy me. Was thinking about making a thread but couldn't be bothered to make screenshots.

It's OK once and a while but when it's in every friggin thing they do...

STi Nut · March 7th, 2006, 12:35 PM

any 1 complaining about it?

vanMould · March 7th, 2006, 12:49 PM

I like random shit!

Carsightings · March 7th, 2006, 1:22 PM

i think its fantastic images/smilies/smile.gif

it really adds a lot the the frames.

Overheat · March 7th, 2006, 3:13 PM

yea, just watched the GTI one today and it had a nut in shot. I love it images/smilies/smile.gif

bone · March 7th, 2006, 3:34 PM

never noticed any of those images/smilies/blink.gif

Labcoatguy · March 7th, 2006, 3:46 PM

There's a worm crawling along the road during the DB9 challenge. No wonder the animal rights and eco-hippie people are so angry at Clarkson.

Chupacabras · March 7th, 2006, 4:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmap

I do believe that, as mentioined, it's done for artistic reasons, and boy has it started to annoy me. Was thinking about making a thread but couldn't be bothered to make screenshots.

It's OK once and a while but when it's in every friggin thing they do...

sounds like someone is easily annoyed... maybe lay off the caffeine?

No Boss · March 7th, 2006, 5:45 PM

when they took one car around the track to do it's lap time, there was a ping pong ball on the begining strait.... I think it was the Ascari.

mmap · March 7th, 2006, 6:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chupacabras

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmap

I do believe that, as mentioined, it's done for artistic reasons, and boy has it started to annoy me. Was thinking about making a thread but couldn't be bothered to make screenshots.

It's OK once and a while but when it's in every friggin thing they do...

sounds like someone is easily annoyed... maybe lay off the caffeine?

Sadly, I am aware of my problem images/smilies/sad.gif

But I just think that repetition has totally killed any positive effect this "thing" has had on the visuals of TG. It seems like they are doing it just for the sake of doing it, which is a horrible reason for doing anything.

Can you imagine for example a character of Lost saying "I want home" etc. in every single episode, Might be funny for a few episodes but after that it would just be annoying as hell, and you'd start to hate the character, no?

klutch · March 7th, 2006, 9:17 PM

Have you seen Super Troopers? Specifically, the scene where the cop pulls over the stoners, and the other cop pushes him to see how many times he can say "meow" while reprimanding them?
I think its the same here...an inside joke between the producers and the production team to see how much random crap they can film, and pass it off as artistic. I think they should put some dogshit in the next one...

No Boss · March 7th, 2006, 9:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klutch

I think they should put some dogshit in the next one...

No..... a Clarkson bobblehead.

Lilleput · March 7th, 2006, 9:59 PM

^^ Tell us where to get a Clarkson bobblehead!.. Damn that would own images/smilies/tongue.gif

Webmonkey · March 8th, 2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmap

Can you imagine for example a character of Lost saying "I want home" etc. in every single episode, Might be funny for a few episodes but after that it would just be annoying as hell, and you'd start to hate the character, no?

You've picked a terrible example there, because about 9 million episodes of Lost started with a close up of someones eye.

Did you fit about that too?

March 7th, 2006, 7:25 AM	#1
MrChips Joined: Dec 10th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Calgary, AB Canada Posts: 131 Car: 2009 BMW E82 135i, 1973 BMW 2002tii (in pieces) Rep Power: 19	Top Gear Cinematography Question It seems as though in most, if not all, Top Gear episodes seem to have some sort of unusual object in scenes in which the camera is at ground level. Here are some examples: Episode [06x07] - TVR Sagaris with a flaming bit of paper Episode [06x09] - BMW M5 with an orange ball Episode [07x05] - Veyron with some sort of vegetable I've been wondering why the cameramen do this - is it some sort of in-joke, an "easter egg" of sorts, or is there some other significance to it?

March 7th, 2006, 7:36 AM	#2
duh Joined: Apr 22nd, 2005 Last Online: December 17th, 2008 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	It's probably subliminal... Metaphorically speaking. __________________

March 7th, 2006, 8:04 AM	#4
wooflepoof Square with a title Joined: Jul 18th, 2005 Last Online: 5:16 AM Location: Texas, but I go to school in RI,Canada Age: 22 Posts: 4,167 Car: 1990 BMW 735iL Rep Power: 60	it kinda just looks like something to fill the negative space to 'complete' the scene. I do it all the time in my art and if you look at quite a few professional pictures and movies theres something there to take up the space. like something happening in the background. At least here in america, they use it to comical effect, have something crazy or funny in the background to keep you entertained. (Vonage commercial comes to mind) it has a term but i forget If you look there seem to be 3 major parts to those ictures "car, line, and object; they all seem to be arranged in sort of a triange fashion __________________

March 7th, 2006, 8:46 AM	#5
GraemeH Joined: Apr 19th, 2005 Last Online: 4:43 AM Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 2,068 Car: Toyota Corolla. Rawrr. LFS Status: Rep Power: 34	I think it's to do with depth, perspective and scale perception. If there's just road and car, you blank out the road and just see a car going past. If there's something unusual on the road your eyes become 'excited' and the part of your brain that perceives things works harder. It doesn't ADD anything to the scene, but it makes you take it in more. Of course, they could just be bored. __________________

March 7th, 2006, 11:45 AM	#6
TechZ Captain Internet Joined: Dec 19th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bahrain Age: 25 Posts: 2,921 Car: Audi TT '08 Rep Power: 200	I agree with GraemeH, it gives you that bit of perspective with those smaller objects. __________________ techzonline.net

March 7th, 2006, 7:42 AM	#3
MasterEvilAce Joined: Sep 21st, 2005 Last Online: August 17th, 2009 Posts: 151 Rep Power: 0	I think it's some sort of internal "lol" the topgear guys have. Sort of a parody.. because old movies do this sometimes.. sort of like old cowboy movies they have the rolling twig balls (i forget the name at the moment)... I think it sort of shows a bit of insignificance of objects.. sort of a "There's a ball in the road.. but why the fuck do you care? you're in a BMW!" no care in the world when you're driving

March 7th, 2006, 11:54 AM	#7
mmap Joined: Sep 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 30 Posts: 1,302 Car: BMW / Suzuki VX800 Rep Power: 23	I do believe that, as mentioined, it's done for artistic reasons, and boy has it started to annoy me. Was thinking about making a thread but couldn't be bothered to make screenshots. It's OK once and a while but when it's in every friggin thing they do...

March 7th, 2006, 12:35 PM	#8
STi Nut Joined: Dec 30th, 2005 Last Online: November 18th, 2009 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 988 Car: 2008 Toyota Yaris 1.3L 5 Door Auto Rep Power: 17	any 1 complaining about it?

March 7th, 2006, 12:49 PM	#9
vanMould Joined: Apr 19th, 2005 Last Online: 1:10 AM Location: Södertälje, Sweden Age: 22 Posts: 898 Car: Volvo 480ES -88 Rep Power: 25	I like random shit!

March 7th, 2006, 1:22 PM	#10
Carsightings Joined: Dec 25th, 2005 Last Online: July 25th, 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 1,017 Rep Power: 0	i think its fantastic it really adds a lot the the frames. __________________ Some one has been fucking with my profile.

March 7th, 2006, 3:13 PM	#11
Overheat Joined: Sep 7th, 2004 Last Online: September 30th, 2008 Location: Bradford, UK Posts: 5,735 Rep Power: 29	yea, just watched the GTI one today and it had a nut in shot. I love it __________________

March 7th, 2006, 3:34 PM	#12
bone "bangle for president" Joined: Jan 14th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: belgium!! Age: 25 Posts: 6,506 Car: yamaha banshee (and an opel astra from work) Rep Power: 40	never noticed any of those

March 7th, 2006, 3:46 PM	#13
Labcoatguy Joined: Mar 27th, 2005 Last Online: 4:20 AM Location: Boston, MA Age: 26 Posts: 4,427 Car: A Jaaaaaaaag. Rep Power: 236	There's a worm crawling along the road during the DB9 challenge. No wonder the animal rights and eco-hippie people are so angry at Clarkson.

March 7th, 2006, 5:45 PM	#15
No Boss Neener, neener, I banned your title! Joined: Oct 8th, 2005 Last Online: November 8th, 2009 Location: 'mericuh, someday the UK. Age: 24 Posts: 6,859 Car: 2005 Volvo S60 R Rep Power: 86	when they took one car around the track to do it's lap time, there was a ping pong ball on the begining strait.... I think it was the Ascari. __________________

March 7th, 2006, 9:17 PM	#17
klutch Courteous urinator Joined: Jan 6th, 2006 Last Online: November 16th, 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,879 Car: Whatever's in the press fleet. Rep Power: 45	Have you seen Super Troopers? Specifically, the scene where the cop pulls over the stoners, and the other cop pushes him to see how many times he can say "meow" while reprimanding them? I think its the same here...an inside joke between the producers and the production team to see how much random crap they can film, and pass it off as artistic. I think they should put some dogshit in the next one...

Welcome to the FinalGear.com Forums!

March 7th, 2006, 9:59 PM	#19
Lilleput Evo-less Joined: Jun 10th, 2005 Last Online: November 15th, 2009 Location: United Kingdom of Denmark Age: 26 Posts: 3,019 Car: Ford S-Max Titanium - 268hp Rep Power: 77	^^ Tell us where to get a Clarkson bobblehead!.. Damn that would own __________________

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