lambert%cod@NOSC.MIL (06/22/87)
Re: Why did $6M man run so slowly? Why would a producer use slow motion to depict very fast movement? I suggest the following reasons be added to the list: 1. ACHIEVE THE TECHNICAL EFFECT. The slow motion points out to the viewer the fact that the flow of time is different. The context around the slow-motion scene makes the magnitude and direction of this change obvious. This is all the viewer really needs to sense the effect that the $6M man is moving much faster than normal. 2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIEWER'S IMAGINATION. The slow motion gives the viewer's mind time to realize that fast motion is being represented, and to appreciate the non-triviality of it (unlike a realtime presentation which would tend to make it seem easy). It allows the viewer's imagination to be creative, to draw on previous experience, and to construct the concepts and images necessary to represent something so complex and magnificently-engineered happening so fast. This increases the impact on the viewer by enhancing appreciation of the $6M man's feats. Indeed, it can give the viewer an experience far beyond what the producer can actually achieve on the screen. 3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIEWER'S INTEREST IN LEARNING ABOUT HIMSELF. The viewer is treated to a slow-motion presentation of human qualities difficult or impossible to observe at normal or faster speeds. This allows him to learn new things about the actor, himself, and other humans. 4. ACHIEVE ARTISTIC EFFECT. The producer also achieves beautiful artistic effect by allowing viewing of the visible signs of forces and motion, observation of facial expressions, and contemplation of the beauty of the $6M man's athletic qualities such as speed, power, grace, and coordination. lambert@cod.nosc.mil (David R. Lambert)
lee@chinet.UUCP (Lee Morehead) (07/01/87)
It is interesting to note that in the recent sequel movie to the $6M man, his son could run with speeds measured in the hundreds of mph. While Steve and Jamie retained the slow motion special effect, his son was given the video blur special effect to indicate the several times greater speed of his father. Interesting. -- Lee Morehead ...!ihnp4!chinet!lee "One size fits all." Just who is this "all" person anyway, and why is he wearing my clothes?