Movie tactics

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-03-24 09:00pm

Okay, why this thread now exists. FX is showing Batman Forever. Yes, I do have loose screws in my head. They just had thier little driving sequence and something just popped into the void in that melon on my shoulders. It seems like any driving sequence that occurs at night, and subsequintially, those that occur at any time other than broad daylight are on wet roads. No clouds in the sky, no rain, just soaked roads.

Is this to help with the lighting effect. Because in every one of them, you'll notice the glaring lights of a city reflecting, which give it a great look. Does anyone know what's up with this?

Soontir C'boath · Post by **Soontir C'boath** » 2003-03-24 09:02pm

Fire hydrants blasting during the day?

Cyaround,
Jason

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-03-24 09:06pm

Maybe because it's easier to spin tires on wet pavement????
But it's wet even when they don't need dramatics like that. This has bothered me for YEARS, BTW. Hope someone can settle it for me....

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-03-24 09:06pm

Mabye is a visual thing as you suggest. Could it be that cars skid out more on wet roads and they are going for that effect?

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-03-24 09:09pm

It's probably because the tires skid better on wet roads, and it less expensive than doing something to the tires to make them skid better, I suppose. But if they're going ot do that, why don't they make it look like it was raining, or something to explain why the roads are wet other than for effect?

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-03-24 09:36pm

I am almost 100% certain it is not to skid the tires. First off, they edit the sfx in movies, so it's definitely not to skid for sound. Second, as I was watching carefully, I was wondering how they kept from hydroplaning in a high speed chase. They really don't seem to be going that damn fast. They don't slide by more than a hair. So like I said, I'm pretty certain it is NOT for skidding. Don't worry though, I thought that might be the case early on. Hopefully someone knows and will fill us in.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-24 11:49pm

Black asphalt+black night+intense local light sources like car headlights=invisible road. A camera, unlike a human eye, can't adjust for varying light levels within a frame, so dark details are washed out (take a picture of someone standing in front of a brightly lit window sometime and see what I mean). The effect would be a car gliding over a void, which would throw off the audience. Wetting the road gives the ambient light something to reflect off of and brings out details like cracks and potholes to give the road some texture. My guess is that if they didn't have to do it, they wouldn't, because having a reflective surface means they've got be careful not to catch the reflection of the camera truck's lights (if the camera is moving with the car) or the equipment setup on the side of the road (if the camera is stationary).

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-03-25 12:04am

Holy shit, not only does this asshat have a great avatar, he sounds intelligent. Well, there we have it folks. That's pretty interesting why they do it too. I'll have to watch closer next time.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-25 12:29am

I'm an asshat! Hooray!