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The Amazing Race season 14

#31
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2/17/09 at 10:35am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Jason:

I haven't heard that. I've read that when the teams buy their airline tickets and we see them ask for two tickets...they have actually asked for four tickets but they actually re-shoot that part of the transaction to perpetuate the illusion that there are no production people along for the ride. That's how they got the shots of the teams on the plane, etc. I'd be awfully surprised if they farm that work out to outside shops.

My understanding is that each team has a two-man production team (cameraman and audio guy) attached to their hip the entire way. The techies may trade off along the way for breaks and to avoid becoming too attached to a particular pair.

This is exactly what happens (you used to be able to look this stuff up on the official site, no clue if you still can). They refilm almost everything to involve just the teams, even though in reality the crew is taken along for the plan rides. They often shoot the "handing of the tickets" multiple times, like any non-reality show, so they can get the "right take."

Also, you are correct in stating the 2-person crew switch off - I believe it's every check-in at the mat. There are also tons of delays for technical reasons, that are not shown, like the incident last season when the wallet/passports were left in a cab. It was technically the fault (at least in part) of the tech team.
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#32
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2/17/09 at 11:15am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

From what I gather, they have the two-person teams for each team, but they also hire local production people for other things - Phil's pieces, extra angles at the various challenges, exterior shots of teams in cars. I seem to recall that one of the reasons the Family Edition was less effective was that the people they hire internationally tended to be members of documentary crews and video journalists, while local video production in the US gets you guys who work on local TV commercials (at least, at the money spent).

I imagine there's also a risk question. If one of the cameras breaks down in sub-Saharan Africa, you're much more likely to be able to get service or replacement on SD equipment than HD on the very short notice they'd have to give.
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#33
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2/17/09 at 5:32pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

This show is crying out to be shown in HD. It's, funny - not long ago HD was a novelty, now it's jarring to see the black bars on the side of the screen for new shows.
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#34
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2/17/09 at 5:37pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

So basically it all boils down to the following, unless every film crew everywhere they go are HD capable the show can never be in HD.

Is that it in a nutshell?
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#35
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2/17/09 at 8:17pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inspector Hammer!
So basically it all boils down to the following, unless every film crew everywhere they go are HD capable the show can never be in HD.

Is that it in a nutshell?

I'm not buying that. HD gear is relatively cheap. CBS can spring for some equipment to follow around the teams and to follow around Phil and also do some preliminary scout shoots for B-roll purposes.

I cannot fathom why this show is not in HD. It's CBS for gosh' sake. And a profitable, award-winning show for the network to boot. I also never understood what took Survivor so long.

There are shows on TLC which have been shooting on HD for years...long before many major network shows were doing likewise.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#36
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2/18/09 at 1:41am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
I cannot fathom why this show is not in HD.
If there are 11 teams that's 11 crews filming 18-20hrs a day, plus at least one more with Phil at the pit stop. And there are probably a couple standby crews in case something happens. That's a LOT of footage to edit and transport. I assume the data is written to a hard drive in the camera which can't be cheap. Then take into account the harsh filming conditions. There's a lot to go wrong. I can understand how HD might not be financially viable just yet.

Vs Survivor where it's probably the same number of camera crews but they're in one location the entire time with a home base not too far away to resolve any technical issues that come up.

Quote:
...and then we saw them running with wheelie suitcases. Suitcases? Are they out their minds??? Considering some of the locales they go to if they last very long those wheelies are going to become a real problem.

They appeared to be wheelie backpacks. Surely they can't hold as much as a proper camping backpack like the other teams have.
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#37
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2/18/09 at 7:43am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul D G
If there are 11 teams that's 11 crews filming 18-20hrs a day, plus at least one more with Phil at the pit stop. And there are probably a couple standby crews in case something happens. That's a LOT of footage to edit and transport. I assume the data is written to a hard drive in the camera which can't be cheap. Then take into account the harsh filming conditions. There's a lot to go wrong. I can understand how HD might not be financially viable just yet.

But there's the rub. It IS cheaper...and easier. Crews don't have massive amounts of tape to carry around.

But don't get confused between HD and digital. HD is simply the resolution, etc. Digital is simply the media upon which the video is shot. SD cameras can also shoot to digital media.

HD cameras actually can provide a number of advantages that SD camera don't...outside of the improved resolution. HD cameras can be much smaller than their SD counterparts (while, at the same time, providing an improved image).

It just CAN'T be a question of whether the technology is "financially viable." In many cases, it is simply cheaper to shoot digitally and be able to do non-linear editing.

Local news stations are actually making the move to shoot and edit HD and replace their studio cameras with HD cams. CBS (and, certainly, Jerry Bruckheimer Productions) can do it, too. Why they don't is a mystery to me.

=========

I've just made a couple of phone calls to other people in the TV production industry (I'm in a pretty low level end of the business) to ask their opinion and the best guess they can give is that the specific production crews may just be resistant to change they way they've been doing things in past seasons. In other words a sort of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

But I'm not sure they've got the luxury to continue that stance as HD becomes the standard.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#38
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2/18/09 at 7:57am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

No new ground here, but HERE is the interview which quotes the executive producer last year as saying HD is just not "a priority."

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#39
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2/18/09 at 9:41pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

This is from Tuesday:
Quote:
Q. Regarding broadcasting in high-definition, you’ve (Bertram) previously stated that "I don’t think it’s a priority." With the digital transition looming, phasing out of CRTs in favor of LCDs, and the continuous rise in high-def TV sales, do you foresee Amazing Race to ever be shown in high-definition in the future? — Taylor
A. BvM: There’s no reason we shouldn’t do it but right now the equipment is a little cumbersome for us. The battery packs on these cameras are very, very heavy. We have human beings who have to shoot the show 7 days a week, 24 hours a day so there’s a technical aspect. If you’re in one location filming, that’s much easier of course. But we are racing around the world — 40,000 miles in 21 days, shooting 12 (episodes), so there’s a practical aspect to it. And I’d like to mention we are the only reality show that has one two Emmys for cinematography in a reality show and it was unrelated to the HD part.
ED: Bertram has a very good point, Just think, when you see a contestant running, that there is a cameraman running right alongside with a 40-pound camera on his back. I wish we could do a behind the scenes because people would just be sitting there with their mouths open watching how these guys do it.

'The Amazing Race': 'The outcome for us is a surprise every time' - Season Pass on Variety.com

They answered a bunch of my questions too
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#40
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2/19/09 at 8:02am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Anthony: You rock with the latest info (as always)!

But as I read their answers...the only part of their response which really applies to the question is: There’s no reason we shouldn’t do it...

None of the rest of it seems to really speak to a transition from SD to HD. HD cameras/batteries are no heavier than their SD counterparts.

When she adds, "I wish we could do a behind-the-scenes...", I'm screaming to myself, "Why CAN'T you?!?" We would all love to see that!

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#41
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2/19/09 at 8:09am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyC

They answered a bunch of my questions too

Did you mean that as: "The 'Anthony' who asked some of those questions was actually me."

Or, "They happened to discuss a lot of things I was wondering about."


There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#42
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2/19/09 at 8:17am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
When she adds, "I wish we could do a behind-the-scenes...", I'm screaming to myself, "Why CAN'T you?!?" We would all love to see that!

I for one would be absolutely riveted!

I've been saying to my best friend forever how I would love to know how one of these races is planned and put together. It must be an undertaking of Hurculean proportions.
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#43
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2/19/09 at 10:12am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Wow, Jennifer Hopka has posed in the buff for Playboy in the past. You may get lucky with a google search on her name (safe search off).

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#44
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2/19/09 at 4:29pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Did you mean that as: "The 'Anthony' who asked some of those questions was actually me."

This.

Jennifer was cute, but Jaime from the NFL cheerleaders...wow. She's even better than whichever one of Kelly and Christy it was that I loved last year.
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#45
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2/19/09 at 4:46pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

You know what, as hot as some of the women are this season, no one even comes close to Starr from last season...dayum I miss her.

I never imagined that camoflag and combat green could look so sexy.

They need to do another all-star edition and bring her back pronto!
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#46
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3/2/09 at 7:31am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

If "Team Asia" doesn't deal with stubbornness issues then one of the duos that I thought would go very, very far in this race might just parlay their hardheadedness into a much earlier exit than expected.

Just my two cents.
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#47
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3/2/09 at 8:30am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Wow how hardheaded can you be?

They're very fortunate not to be going home. If the older couple didn't have the flight delay, they would be gone now.
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#48
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3/7/09 at 3:17am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry*P
Wow how hardheaded can you be?

They're very fortunate not to be going home. If the older couple didn't have the flight delay, they would be gone now.

A very unfortunate set back for them that just had no chance of being overcome. It is too bad. They were a strong team and treated each other well. I thought they would go much further.

Dave

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#49
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3/9/09 at 3:25pm
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

That U-turn was mean! I couldn't believe they did that. And what about the stunt guys looking for the house that was right in front of them for the entire day?!
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#50
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3/10/09 at 10:11am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

I thought the U-turn was terrible.

With these type of shows you try to use whatever you can to get ahead, but using the U-turn was just a cowardly, nasty way to do things.

Hope karma comes around and bites the deaf guy in the ass. What a jerk.

Stan

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#51
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3/10/09 at 10:17am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Amanda and Kris did NOT deserve that U-Turn. They never did anything to the other teams on the race to warrant that kind of treatment. In addition, there goes the best piece of eye candy on the race(Amanda).

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

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#52
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3/10/09 at 10:54am
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re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan
With these type of shows you try to use whatever you can to get ahead, but using the U-turn was just a cowardly, nasty way to do things.

I don't get this attitude. It's built into the game. If you don't like it, blame the producers who invented it.

If a football player sacks the other team's QB, is that a "cowardly, nasty way to do things" or is it a legitimate play?
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#53
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3/10/09 at 11:19am
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood
I don't get this attitude. It's built into the game. If you don't like it, blame the producers who invented it.

If a football player sacks the other team's QB, is that a "cowardly, nasty way to do things" or is it a legitimate play?

Yeah. I was pretty much thinking the same as Chris.

The promo for next week makes it look as if Luke and his mom let it get out that they were the ones who did the U-turn (maybe to let the redheads know they wre looking out for them?). If so, that was pretty stupid.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#54
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3/10/09 at 1:58pm
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

I can see situations where the U-Turn is necessary, but in this instance there was absolutely ZERO reason to use it on Amanda & Kris. Pretty low move IMHO.

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

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#55
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3/10/09 at 2:28pm
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

To rub salt into the wound, I read an interview that as a result of being U-turned, they checked in to the pitstop only 10 minutes behind the team in front of them. D'oh!
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#56
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3/10/09 at 3:43pm
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Amanda and Kris did NOT deserve that U-Turn. They never did anything to the other teams on the race to warrant that kind of treatment.
Margie&Luke's rationale is that Kris in particular was the "strongest" competitor. Amanda&Kris falling behind at the Detour, which they started slightly before them, made them vulnerable.

Quote:
I read an interview that as a result of being U-turned, they checked in to the pitstop only 10 minutes behind the team in front of them.
The sky seemed quite a bit darker for them. But if accurate, then it really made the difference.
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#57
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3/10/09 at 10:35pm
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Lee
To rub salt into the wound, I read an interview that as a result of being U-turned, they checked in to the pitstop only 10 minutes behind the team in front of them. D'oh!

Guess what? If they had gotten to the U-Turn faster, that other team would not have been able to do that do them... just like if the quarterback hands off the ball in time, he doesn't get sacked.

I didn't want them to get eliminated, either, but to blame a team for taking an option offered to them is crazy.

The "best competitor" should have been able to do better than last place.

If the other team had cheated to cause them to come in last, that would have been a different matter.

What about the girls on the phone posing as airline employees?
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#58
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3/13/09 at 4:34am
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood
just like if the quarterback hands off the ball in time, he doesn't get sacked.

Since when? Doesn't really make any sense, since there is always the high risk of fumbling.



I have no problem with the U-Turn. But eliminated by 10 minutes - ouch!
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#59
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3/13/09 at 7:51am
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt_A
That U-turn was mean! I couldn't believe they did that. And what about the stunt guys looking for the house that was right in front of them for the entire day?!

This isn't a charity event. They're playing for $1 million. Well played and smart.

What shocked me was the producers still eliminated them. The tension could have been fun next week.
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#60
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3/13/09 at 7:59am
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Re: The Amazing Race season 14

Quote:
Originally Posted by aldamon
What shocked me was the producers still eliminated them. The tension could have been fun next week.
The producers have stated--on a number of occasions--that the non-elimination legs are decided (and set in concrete) well before the race begins. Any sort of tampering with the outcome of that sort would result in huge outcries of "fixing" and criminal investigations.

This was one of the things covered in the interview with Bertram van Munster that was talked about at the beginning of this thread in the high-def discussion. EDIT: Link is in post #39.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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