PurgeTV
Member
Would anyone have any information on the technical production end of things for Top Gear? Such as... on what format the on-track sequences are shot and on what format the in-studio stuff is shot?
wooflepoof said:uhm, video format
PurgeTV said:Yeah, okay... THAT helps... NOT.
No Boss said:PurgeTV said:Yeah, okay... THAT helps... NOT.
oh boy...
PurgeTV said:The on-track / on-road stuff looks like it was shot on film (although I can't be sure until I get a qualified answer)... wondering if it indeed is film or another format... and what format they shoot the in-studio stuff... obviously there are lots of variations... DV, HDV, HDCam, DVCam, DVCPro, DVCPro HD, Betacam, Betacam Digital, etc. I wrote an email to the general Top Gear addy a month ago but never received a reply. I DO know that it's all shot in 16:9, 24p... but want to know more technical production end of things.
Wintermute said:PurgeTV said:The on-track / on-road stuff looks like it was shot on film (although I can't be sure until I get a qualified answer)... wondering if it indeed is film or another format... and what format they shoot the in-studio stuff... obviously there are lots of variations... DV, HDV, HDCam, DVCam, DVCPro, DVCPro HD, Betacam, Betacam Digital, etc. I wrote an email to the general Top Gear addy a month ago but never received a reply. I DO know that it's all shot in 16:9, 24p... but want to know more technical production end of things.
I don't know necessarily that it would be shot in 24p, seeing as the PAL television format is 25p. Interpolating that extra frame in post doesn't seem to make much sense. There was a discussion a while back about if the show would ever air in HD (which it ought to) but it seemed like the consensus was that BBC wouldn't have the infrastructure to broadcast in HD for several more years, nixxing that idea. BUt the other discussion was that the shpw had recently gone "all digital" so we should be content with the production qualities for some time.
Every now and again you see a camera in one of the studio segments, and judging fromthe camera, I'd figure its DVCam, HDCam, Betacam or DigiBeta. I'd doubt that the prefilmed segments are shot on actual film - even though they would have the time to, the cost just doesn't justify the means. I just figure there's lots of digital trickery and lens filters to make it look like film. I'm sure the production costs for TG are already astronomical, throwing a film production budget on top of that just doesn't make sense.
PurgeTV said:Hmm... I'm guessing something like the Sony DVW-790WS. I do have to add, however, that when you actually keep your eye on the credit reel, they actually have a separate credit list for film cameras and cameras. If everything is indeed shot on digital betacam, then why would they list a separate credit list for film camera? Makes no sense... Well, I still haven't heard back from the person at BBC I wrote to. Stay tuned!
PurgeTV said:Hmm... I'm guessing something like the Sony DVW-790WS. I do have to add, however, that when you actually keep your eye on the credit reel, they actually have a separate credit list for film cameras and cameras. If everything is indeed shot on digital betacam, then why would they list a separate credit list for film camera? Makes no sense... Well, I still haven't heard back from the person at BBC I wrote to. Stay tuned!
Mr-Stabby said:As good as it looks, the location stuff is definitely not shot on film. Not even Doctor Who, the highest budget program BBC1 do has that honour. Cheapskates!