Joe Schwartz
Second Unit
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2001
- Messages
- 449
I just saw Changing Lanes yesterday, and I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if the damn camera would just stand still! I have no problem with handheld cameras when they make sense -- when they're following a moving character, for instance. But in a simple two-shot or close-up where nobody is moving, don't use a handheld camera! It's driving me crazy!
I literally cannot watch something like NYPD Blue where the camera jerks every five seconds in every scene. Sometimes I think they jerk the camera on purpose, just to remind the viewer how "edgy" they are. Instead, it looks like the cameraman drank ten espressos before shooting.
Fortunately, there aren't many films that overuse handheld cameras. Before Changing Lanes, the last one I remember was Traffic. I could barely pay attention to many of the scenes, because I was so annoyed by the gratuitous camera jerking. Am I the only one with this affliction?
I literally cannot watch something like NYPD Blue where the camera jerks every five seconds in every scene. Sometimes I think they jerk the camera on purpose, just to remind the viewer how "edgy" they are. Instead, it looks like the cameraman drank ten espressos before shooting.
Fortunately, there aren't many films that overuse handheld cameras. Before Changing Lanes, the last one I remember was Traffic. I could barely pay attention to many of the scenes, because I was so annoyed by the gratuitous camera jerking. Am I the only one with this affliction?