Mass complaining! Keep it up - lets get our show the way we want it!

PLease everyone send an official complaint - it takes about 2 minutes if you follow this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/mak...int_step1.shtml

The weirdest thing about the camera work is that the training footage on ITT is absolutely perfect, you can almost always see everything that's going on. It seems like they just work with two cameras, one on either side of the room. If they can do it like that in training, why not on the night? Maybe they should rethink all this new technology...

Yes Katie- i noticed that on ITT.We see far more of the dancing in trainig and it is a relief not to have lights flashing at the camera and the spinning.

Is ANYONE taking the hint?

I have often felt angry about the shoddy camerawork, and for what it's worth, I have added my two penn'orth:


"Please, for God's sake, let us have more static shots of the dancing and stop all this 'all over the place' nonsense. All right, I know it's not just a dance show (except that it is), but we want to see the dancing, and that means being able to focus on the action, and what is happening with their feet. Not only do the cameras fly all over the place, often missing what the dancers are doing, but now we even have the stupid 'phone in' box on the bottom left hand side of the screen to contend with, which obscures anything going on on the screen there. I do not understand why the camerawork has to be so frenetic - it absolutely ruins the show."

It remains to be seen if I get a reply!

Has anyone written to Points of View?
Perhaps Sir Terry has influence?

Here is the complaint I sent to BBC re the manic camerwork:

"The speeding camera work in this programme is making it farcical. There are
close ups of the couple dancing when what we need to see are head to toe
distance shots so we can see the whole dance movement. The speed of change of
shots is ridiculous. Viewers do have a concentration span of more than 5
seconds. Can you please keep the cameras still and focussed on the dancers for
more than 5 seconds so we can enjoy the performance instead of missing most of
it out. If this camera work continues I see no point in trying to watch this
programme."

Here is the reply I have received from the BBC:

"Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

I understand you felt that the onscreen reminder to voters obscured parts of the
dancefloor and the the camera work throughout the programme was of poor quality
and did not follow the dancers.

Please be assured that your comments have been registered on our daily audience
log. This document will be made available to the production team of 'Strictly
Come Dancing' and senior BBC management."

Where did I say anything about on screen reminders?

Clearly the BBC are not reading what they are sent!

I seem to have received your reply moorchild.
Last edited by McDancin' Feet : 27-10-2006 at 10:03

Well at LEAST they admitted that the camera work throughout was 'of poor quality' - throwing us a bone!lol!

Well - saturday is coming my fellow campaigners and if the camera work is as bad I say we, on mass, complain!

Plus fab suggestion about points of view - am going to wait until after Saturday and if they as bad gonna write there!!!

I second that!

Personally I love the camera work on SCD .. I think it's sensational.

Please tell me your being sarcastic? Either that or you ARE the cameraman who does SCD...

No in all seriousness, what is it about the camera work that you like so much?

So - TMWWT are you :
a)the camera operator

b) his /her mother

c)the producer of SCD?
You must be one of the above because it is clear that the camera work is appalling.

It would be better if they put Swirlycam on Bruce or the judges...they are still and we'd only have one source of movement to contend with.

I have long admired the camerawork on SCD so I was surprised to see this thread.

I think it adds to the dynamism of the perfomance. The whole thing is a performance not just the dancing - it includes the set, and the lighting, the music and the costumes. For me, a static camera would be dull. The "roller coaster" fast cuts and sweeps are exhilarating for me, but many people prefer a sedate walk in the park to a roller coaster. Many dance purists don't like the music choices either. SCD takes a modern and innovative approach to the whole package. Many people won't like it but then perhaps its not the show for you. Rather than lobbying for a static camera on the programme why not ask for a dance programme that takes a more clinical view of the process?

Here is the reply I have received from the BBC:

<snip reply>

Where did I say anything about on screen reminders?

Clearly the BBC are not reading what they are sent!

I seem to have received your reply moorchild.[/quote]

Bizarre! They are doing two for the price of one now!

Here's a third option you may find shocking - people like different things!

I am not a dance expert or "fan" by any means, but like most of the population I am hooked by SCD and I WANT to learn more about the technicalities.

However, it's well nigh impossible when you can't see the feet. It was obvious from the footage of Philip and Ian in their commentary box that they were having trouble too. I don't know how on earth they can comment when they can't see what's going on.

I hate this sort of camera work on any show, and find it very frustrating, as they always seem to miss the bit of action/facial expression that you want to see, but on a dance show, when the audience is supposed to be a) watching the dance and b) forming an opinion so as to vote, it really is bizarre.

Sometimes you don't see enough of the feet or even the facial expressions to know what the h*ll is going on. The only positive point is that with any luck there will be an almighty accident, the cameraman (but hopefully no dancers) will be injured, and they will have to stop this for health and safety reasons. I'm not surprised that the celebs are so tense - they have enough to think about without having to play Dodgems...

I find the Beeb's response quite patronising, actually. They don't appreciate how interested the audience are. To be honest, after 4 years, I am more interested in the dancing and the dancers than the celebs now.
Last edited by Helbrown : 27-10-2006 at 16:33

Duplicate post

I think the feet are generally visible - most people's complaints have been about the fast cuts and sweeps. However I will make a particular note of the percentage of time they are off screen tomorrow.

I suppose that's my MAIN complaint on any show, I really can't see the need for instrusive fancy stuff, but on this show in particular it's even more annoying.

On the other side, on X Factor, the performers are also working hard at performing for the audience at home but often their performance is lost because the camera is focusing on some part of the set with the performers at a distance. Just as frustrating.

I DO find that shocking!lol! No seriously - I take your point. I am genuinely surprised to find that people like the style of camera work - but thats good if you do. they are clearly cateering for you!

I just find the quick cuts and the way the camera man runs directly at the couples (as we see his shadow on the floor often) and the way he literally leaps out the way as he narrowly avoids an elbow in the face SO irritating.

I mean the main thing is that I don't feel we get to appreciate the dance.

I agree with what others were saying about how the camera work on ITT when they show the training footage just perfect!

People do like different things,of course- but in this case ,if we could enjoy the whole of the action ,my enjoyment would be enhanced and yours would not be impaired.

I think the best production work is the work you are not aware of-subtle support of the entertainment,rather than obstruction of the view.

The dancers clearly work so hard,it is a pity not to see the whole of the performance imho.

, 23:24 #265
CAMBER
Forum Member


Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 874 Diary of would -be artistic camerman Jones 21st October

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Number of drinks -can't remember
Number of times have searched for conact lenses-98

7-00
Wake up and watch favourite film, The Blair Witch project. Just love the way everybody bobs around and you have to guess what's going on.

9-00
Off to SCD studio. Meeting with director of SCD after unpleasant comments last week about camera work. Has no bloody idea about artistic use of camera. Doesn't know viewers much prefer not to see the dancers' feet in the quickstep, gives them an opportunity to contribute artistically by having to guess what's going on.

10-00
Phone call from marketing director of Sealegs thanking self for increase in sales as everybody feels seasick on Saturday Night. Glad to be of help to national economy.

2-00
Re-arrange chairs round dance floor so heads of audience will be obscuring views of dancers' feet. Make sure plenty of cables are lying around so will have lots of opportunities to trip up thus adding artistic tension to camera work.

3-00
Put on rollar skates so can practise spinning round at high speed. Must remember not to eat until after show.

5-00
Have a few drinks. Can't beat shaky hands in my job.

5-45
Hic. Here we go

6-00
Matt and Lilia
Nice footwork there. Must make sure don't show it. Thank goodness for the audience's heads.

6-10
Jan and Anton
God-hope the camera doesn't crack. Rubbish footwork-will show it all.

6-20
Emma and Darren
Glad did rollar coaster training so can fling camera round and give everyone feeling have spent all day at Alton Towers.

9-45
Put camera in pocket and go home. Hope BBC never tries to introduce cameras on tripods as will spoil lovely artistic shaking and bobbing.


11-00
Up the stairs to Bedfordshire to deam of Emmys and Oscars. Make mental note to phone director of Brokeback Mountain tomorrow as bound to want national television cameraman with such artistic talent on next movie.

I thought this was so funny hope it's ok to quote

YES! Absolutely. Whereas the current camera work tends toward the obtrusive, "wahey, look what I can do with this camera" end of the scale.

The occasional swoop or glide is one thing, but come on, do they BBC really think that we all only have 5 second attention spans???

I'm afraid they do think that.

OKay guys! Tonights the night - lets see if the camera work is at all different! (I hope, rather then it expect, it to be!)

Back on this thread afterwards for mass war on BBC if nothing has changed! Complaining at the ready!