What's the correct OAR of "The Shield"?

Paul Markey · 09-02-2007, 08:40 PM

Ive been watching "The Shield" over these last months picking up the box sets one at a time. I live in Region 2, and all the sets from 1 to 4 are 1.78:1 Anamorphic, filling up the screen of my Widescreen TV nicely. Ive just picked up season 5 on region 1 (not out in R2 for a long time yet) to discover that it's Full Frame 1.33:1; which is a surprise. Are the R1 sets of 1-4 this ratio too? Or have the R2 sets been altered?

David Levine · 09-02-2007, 09:56 PM

From Shawn Ryan's commentary:

"Firstly, although filmed in Widescreen, The Shield is edited in Full Frame, and to maintain the documentary feel and enhance the tension on screen was always envisioned to be seen in the Full Frame aspect ratio the final editing is performed in."

So technically the OAR is WS, but it has alway meant to be seen in Full Frame. I guess you'd say the R2 sets have been "unaltered", but in a way that makes them not how they are supposed to be seen.

TravisR · 09-02-2007, 11:16 PM

Although there's one episode in S4 (I think it's episode 10- Back In The Hole) that is intended to be seen at 1.78.

Gord Lacey · 09-05-2007, 07:22 PM

If I recall correctly, the monitors the directors look at show a 1.33:1 image as well. That's the correct aspect ratio.

Gord

Richard Michael Clark · 09-08-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord Lacey

If I recall correctly, the monitors the directors look at show a 1.33:1 image as well. That's the correct aspect ratio.

Gord

The monitors (seen in the behind the scenes footage) show both ratios showing it is framed for both.
In the UK The Shield has always been broadcast in 16:9 and the dvds reflect this.
Either ratio is valid imho but I do understand the reasoning behind Shawn Ryan's 4:3 preference.

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TonyD · 09-10-2007, 06:44 PM

So docs are never filmed wide and if it is it doesnt have
" a documentary feel"
?

Katherine_K · 09-10-2007, 07:00 PM

The phrase "documentary feel" has nothing to do with the way documentaries are filmed. There are many kinds of documentaries and as many ways to present them as there are documentary film directors.

However, when a television or feature film director uses the term, he's referring to a style that is designed to mimic a camera man attempting to capture action happening around him where the framing may not always be composed. It often comes with the use of "lower" grade film stock or the appearance of lower grade film stock even if filmed on HD or similar.

All of which I suspect you knew. Being overly literal isn't a very useful trait in discussions.

TonyD · 09-10-2007, 07:14 PM

i guess you told me.
sheesh.

yes i was aware of all that.
i dont have a problem with the way the shield is filmed, i like the way it's filmed.

the discussion was the aspect ratio not the look of the
show.

the quote, "Firstly, although filmed in Widescreen, The Shield is edited in Full Frame, and to maintain the documentary feel and enhance the tension on screen was always envisioned to be seen in the Full Frame aspect ratio the final editing is performed in."

Shane_Anthony · 09-11-2007, 05:14 AM

I just finished watching season 3 on the weekend and I could of sworn a few episodes were meant to be seen in widescreen. The full frame didn't look right imo. I could be wrong.

Great show btw

"Me don't speak E-BONICS sh*thead"

Vic Mackey

Bleddyn Williams · 03-20-2008, 12:47 PM

Interestingly enough, Sony has taken over the distribution of this show from Fox. Next week, Seasons 1-5 are being reissued in the same sets as before, but the show will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, as abroad! This means that despite Shaun Ryan's preferances, the 4:3 ratio versions will no longer be offered in the US!

Without getting into the merits of one ratio over another, a few years ago I bought UK sets of season 1 & 2 to have the widescreen versions. I waited ages for 3 & 4 to come out, and gave up, buying them in the 4:3 US versions on sale. Needless to say, they finally came out widescreen abroad.

Season 6 is actually out in the UK next Monday!

TravisR · 03-20-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

This means that despite Shaun Ryan's preferances, the 4:3 ratio versions will no longer be offered in the US!

I guess that means that they're going to ruin the AR on Season Six too.

Widescreen isn't always right. Way to go, Sony!

Jeff McMillan · 03-24-2008, 04:46 PM

I'm just curious though, why would the show even be shot in widescreen if there was never an intention to show it that way in the future?