Redshark asks if modern cinematography is too dark, and I think it absolutely is

Neil Oseman has a great article from April on Is Modern Cinematography too dark?

An interesting read, though I don’t think it goes into a main reason behind much of the issue. The color bay. Color bays today use the absolute best top of the line equipment, the best and brightest monitors and it is done in a dark room. This method of color correction makes great results for the theatrical experience, where the lights are off, and it is a very dark environment. In this “perfect” situation you can make the image much darker than you maybe should, especially for a TV show.

If you are delivery for a home experience, you should use a lighter room, because that is what most people do at home. Heck at home I have my iPad half the time, so another bright screen. I hate when a show is so dark that you are forced to turn the lights off just to see anything (I can except it with a movie, but not TV).

Oseman talked about the Game of Thrones final season which was so dark it was a joke, and then concludes that it is what the cinematographer wants, but again they should then correct in ideal situations for how they are delivering.

This is huge, deadline reports on top cinematographers calling on producers to address brutally long workdays

Deadline reported this on August 18th of this year. And this is with IATSE negotiations.

And honestly it isn’t just driving home when dangerously tired. Even just 10+ hour days makes for damage to home life. This industry pushes for more hours and doesn’t respect people’s personal lives.

Back when I was a Production Assistant. I had some long days. Over 24 hours on music videos and doing returns straight after wrap. And sure I was younger, but that doesn’t make it less dangerous.

And as an editor it is usually 10 hour days minimum, and pre-covid (and soon to be back since places are opening back up in September) easily an hour drive on each end in Los Angeles traffic, and sometimes hours. If your gonna sleep 8 hours that leaves 4 hours at home. Figure an hour to get ready in the morning, and I have 2 dogs to walk which is at least an hour. Then dinner, and how much time do you have? And with longer days, there is less time. I have had editing gigs that expect 12 hour days 6 days a week and still want more hours. The industry needs to be reigned in.