02.29.08
For months, the cryptic date left GL viewers stumped. What could it mean? What we didn't realize was that the meaning was in the commercial the date came with. No, not what was it in, but how it was filmed. On February 29th, Guiding Light, television's oldest program, revealed a whole new way to watch Guiding Light. Instead of built-in studio sets filmed by traditional stationary cameras, hand-held camcorders (yes, those used to film home videos) will now be used to film live sets. Ellen Wheeler, producer of GL (and Emmy-winning actress), claimed that viewers wanted a realer experience. Well, it doesn't get realer than this.
Which is exactly the problem.
Guiding Light, with the new filming stuff, looks too real. It's like a home video, except the people in it are actors playing crazy characters. Guiding Light asks us to suspend our belief in reality when they air storylines such as Reva's cloning or perpetual sinner Josh becoming a priest. So, what is the point in making the production more of a reality-based experience? Yes, its significantly cheaper, but if you're not going to produce a show that's quality, then you might as well not produce one at all.
Which may be the case thanks to their "shooting themselves in the foot" mistake.
1 comment:
Not to be rude, but I totally disagree. I love the new filming! What's wrong with the reality look? The characters look so much more believable, flaws, and all. I wish all the soaps would adapt this technique. It makes me want to watch it more.
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