Poll Cinematography:

[In_Correct]

Watching episodes from the first season and enjoying the cinema styled cinematography. It changes after "The Ensigns Of Command" in the 3rd season (apparently that episode was produced first and then aired out of order). The other episodes don't appear to have cinema quality. This is also true for other Star Trek Series. Instead, they have a lighting style that resembles common video tape.

I have mentioned my favourite styles of music that I would like to hear on Discovery and any other future Star Trek programmes.

But I want to also see the extremely rare cinema style cinematography from early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, TMP, The Cage, etc. I also like the chrome walls seen in The Cage, TMP, and parts of The Enterprise D. And also the Cherry Wood Dark Red Computer Circuitry Panel Walls on the main bridge seen only in the first season. However, Ten Forward has similar doors. But with Voyager-Styled Bio Beds.

 

[Jedman67]

I just checked off all of them since i have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[In_Correct]

I suggest you pay attention.

 

[In_Correct]

Seriously people learn to read.

 

[In_Correct]

Let me try to simplify this discussion. (This discussion did not already exist and I would like to talk about it.)

What do you want Discovery to look like?
Anybody even remember the Cinema Style Cinematography?
Compare any TNG episode not made after "The Ensigns Of Command" with TMP.
See how the visual styles look similar?
See how different it looks compared to other programmes?
See Spot Run, Jane?

 

[mos6507]

I just hope to God they don't do the typical handheld shaky-cam that we've been afflicted with. Just because digital cameras are light doesn't mean we just throw tripods in the trash and forget to frame a shot.

 

[Jedman67]

Cinematography is not the same as 'set aesthetic' although the two are certainly related.
In terms of set design, I like the look of Enterprise and would be happy to see more of that set theme, perhaps upgraded slightly to reflect the TOS era.
Most dramas nowadays are filmed dark and moody, with more targeted lighting rather than pre-set fills.
It's also a different era; 30 years ago TV shows were shot on 35mm stock, and since you were always on a tight budget and a tight timeframe, sets and lighting were designed to provide the maximum benefit with the least amount of time spent on setup and takedowns.
Nowadays virtually everything is shot digitally, TV budgets are frequently higher than in the 80's and '90's, and shooting schedules are a little more relaxed.
So now, you can more easily choose episode specific lighting.
Overall, my preference is not to have cinematic lighting because i watch my tv on the tv, not on a big screen HDTV, although there is no need for the shiny bright lighting of the 90's either.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I suggest you pay attention.

Seriously people learn to read.

OP, your thread is all over the place. Cinematography, set design, music, and aesthetics are different things. Then you get hostile when people point that out. I suggest you try again with a more focused premise and poll and not react with an attitude if there's any confusion. This topic is closed.

ETA: OK, I'm going to reopen this. In_Correct, please try and find a direction you'd like to discuss and keep it civil. Thank you.

 

[Shalashaska]

I'd like my cinematography to be brown wooden doors.

 

[Jedman67]

Thank you @Locutus of Bored
I'd suggest renaming the topic to "Aesthetics" since thats broad enough to cover set design as well as lighting/filming styles.

 

[Kor]

Cinematography is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Cinematography is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad.

Seriously... I always thought the classic film-making book "The Five Cs of Cinematography" boiled down the topic quite well to the following: camera angles, continuity, cutting, close ups, and composition. Those are the types of things we should be discussing here.

I would appreciate less shaky cam, myself.

Kor

 

[Shalashaska]

Also, "cinema style cinematography" is so broad and vague, it's like saying "drama style storytelling".

 

[Jesse1066]

One of the options I selected was "chrome walls," but metal walls would be more precise. Star Trek has never had chrome walls, nor would it make sense to introduce them. Chrome is reflective, like a mirror. The corridors in TMP have a brushed metal look. Also, in my opinion, wood has no place in a 23rd century aesthetic.

 

[BlueStuff]

90% of these options have nothing to do with cinematography. Anyway, as long as DIS doesn't look like Voyager, I'll be happy.

 

[Kor]

Also, in my opinion, wood has no place in a 23rd century aesthetic.

I disagree. Natural materials keep things grounded.

Kor

 

[mdtauk]

I voted for Natural Cinema Film Light as it is one of the few I actually understand. But the doors can be in a colour too I suppose!

 

[Jedman67]

The topic was incorrectly worded. Essentially, which a) design/theme and b) what style of filming/lighting would you like to see in Discovery? Compare TNG bridge to Generations, it's the same set with a couple of tweaks, new carpet and paint. The big difference is in the lighting - movies like to show dark and light all mixed up, while TNG was basically as bright as an operating room.

 

[mdtauk]

The topic was incorrectly worded. Essentially, which a) design/theme and b) what style of filming/lighting would you like to see in Discovery? Compare TNG bridge to Generations, it's the same set with a couple of tweaks, new carpet and paint. The big difference is in the lighting - movies like to show dark and light all mixed up, while TNG was basically as bright as an operating room.

Ok, so the filming style of TNG was tweaked slightly as the series went on (I also believe Generations showed TNG's aesthetic at its best), but was of its time. And compared to Voyager it became more dramatic and militaristic with blues and greys. (and some browns)

Enterprise was quite dark but had a more beige/copper tone until the 4th series.

Optimistic is the watch word for this series, but its era rules out the bright, cruise ship style interiors from TNG. I can't picture the more "exotic" colour palettes for the interiors and lighting from TOS.

It will be done in a modern style, so that leans towards cinematic. But I think there is a high chance that Bryan Fuller will make use of interesting filmic styles when the plot/planet/races warrant it. So it wont be as safe as the Berman era, not the exotic style of TOS, but will still try to avoid being too dark and military in tone.

 

[skip bittman]

If they want to be cinematic they should shoot on celluloid. I just miss more shows being done on 35mm. Breaking Bad looked so epic on it, altho I love Bob Odenkirk dearly -- digital Better Call Saul looks so much flimsier in exterior shots, which will show on them canyony alien planets on this show! The crap contrast ratio always makes the skies look so blown out... tho I suppose in this case they'll coat it in "alien" colors.

On film we can scan it at higher resolutions later... and it just looks so much better, mooder when it needs to be. People look better, crap forehead prosthetics blend better.

If I can still (barely) afford to do features on film, freakin' CBS can. JJ knew the same when it was time to work on something he REALLY loved: Star Wars.

Get some Kodak.

 

[In_Correct]

I do not appreciate anybody voting every single option instead of asking me to be more specific. By doing so makes it impossible to know who really likes and hates the style.

The topic is meant to be about the styles, or production designs, but specifically the lighting style that matches The Cage, TOS Films (very recognizable in TMP), and parts of TNG. Yes I am aware that the main reason for the lighting style is because of Edward Brown was in charge of this. But then by the end of "The Ensigns Of Command", they had Marvin Rush take over. (both are credited as Cinematography.) I already mentioned in a different thread my wish for non-wallpaper music. My second request is a wish to return to the lighting style that I have mentioned. I do not know what to recommend for this to happen. If the issue is with Marvin Rush, then I recommend and request to not rehire Marvin Rush.

I also read someplace that the position of the "Brown" lighting caused a glare or reflection on the consoles at the aft of the bridge. This is why they used black construction paper, and it is probably why Worf was cast: His main role for most of season 1 seemed to stand in front of the glare. I don't remember which episode it is. I think it is "Too Short A Season" that you can notice the light shining on the console and then Worf quickly moves to stand in front of it. They changed this with the "Rush" lighting, but it became so bright that Star Trek TNG, etc. looks like they are filmed with Video Tape.

Somebody asked what I meant by "cinema style cinematography". Just about any film prior to the mid 1990s (or TV shot on Film) used this lighting. I do not know what the actual term is. Natural Lighting?? There are some occasions that even Video Tape tried to use this lighting, but by the 1990s just about anything used a very large amount of bright lighting.

The Brushed Metal and Cherry Wood is easy to associate with this lighting style. They were together. That is why I mentioned The Cage: It tried to have a more metallic look. Brushed Metal is all over the place on TMP (with the exception of some dark orange or red or brown padded walls). Brushed Metal carried over to TNG as well. But by the time they changed the lighting on TNG, the brushed metal seemed to disappear as well. Also, Beverly Crusher (Cheryl Gates McFadden) hair colour seemed to change from dark red to light orange. So I am not sure if they actually changed the Brushed Metal walls. For some reason with the new lighting, the walls started to look as purple as TOS.