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Casualty - Season 22

Continues Saturdays on BBC One (September 2007)

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DO
D-O-P
noggin posted:
For me the major problem with the lighting is that it no longer really looks like a hospital. One of the good things about the old Holby look was that it actually felt quite authentic, with quite unflattering and quiet bright lighting (albeit nicey diffused on close-ups) - Casualty currently has a similar feel. It feels like you are in a brightly lit hospital.


That's a good point - regardless of the 50i / 25p issue, the lighting really should serve the drama, which means it should look like a hospital. But I think possibly they wanted to move away from the static gantry-mounted lights look, which exists because gantry lights are quick to set up, but sometimes they do make things look a little more like a studio than a hospital.
NG
noggin Founding member
D-O-P posted:
noggin posted:
For me the major problem with the lighting is that it no longer really looks like a hospital. One of the good things about the old Holby look was that it actually felt quite authentic, with quite unflattering and quiet bright lighting (albeit nicey diffused on close-ups) - Casualty currently has a similar feel. It feels like you are in a brightly lit hospital.


That's a good point - regardless of the 50i / 25p issue, the lighting really should serve the drama, which means it should look like a hospital. But I think possibly they wanted to move away from the static gantry-mounted lights look, which exists because gantry lights are quick to set up, but sometimes they do make things look a little more like a studio than a hospital.


Except that Holby has never been shot "with gantry lights" - it is shot in an old office tower block at Elstree - not a studio. The lamps are (or were) rigged pretty similarly to real practical lighting ISTR - not on a saturated grid (as would be installed in a normal TV studio), nor even a trilight-style temporary grid (as would be installed in a temporary studio)

They lit "practically" also to allow scenes to move from one area to another dynamically - without having to worry about lighting for specific angles, and shot a number of scenes using two cameras rather than one for both time and consistency of performance.

ISTR that the major problem they had shooting Holby was that because they were shooting in a high-rise office block, they couldn't hang Rosco or ND shades on the outside windows and alter the brightness of the incoming sunlight, and instead trialled polarising filters on the windows and on the cameras. (Which precluded operating handheld) I don't think the polarising system paid enough dividends to be utilised permanently.

(Equally Holby has already shot a block of shows in HD at 1080/50i as a test to see if the sets and make-up sustained it - and ISTR they were pleasantly surprised with the results when viewing the HD rushes - though the shows they shot in HD were edited in SD AIUI)
JE
Jez Founding member
pad posted:
Every review I have read has been immensely favourable.

There seems to be a real focus on more realistic, edgy stories this year and much less on the romances of the staff. The new filming style isn't just about giving a filmic look, either, apparently the shaky camera style is much reduced and it feels much more like a drama (like Grey's Anatomy) than a soap.

Certainly, for RadioTimes to have it as Pick of the Day for both Saturday and Sunday's episodes AND for it to be drama of the week is some acheivement. I find RadioTimes a refutable critic.

Quote:
"And with passionate Barbara Machin (who has written a number of classic episodes from Charlie & Baz's wedding to the more recent BAFTA winning episodes last Christmas) at the helm as Series Consultant along with Series Producer Oliver Kent, Casualty has been rejuvenated whilst also staying true to it's roots.

'Casualty is 21 years old and it was time for reassessment,' Barbara Machin said. 'In the early days, the show made it's name with gritty, realistic, politically charged stories. That's what we loved about it, so we're going back to that.'

As well as a new camera definition, the hospital has also had a facelift and the staff wearing bolder, more flattering scrubs. And it's not just the department that's new; an influx of new characters will be joining the show over upcoming months.

'There will be stories about alcoholism, teenage mums, mental health.. and we will be pointing the fingers at bureaucracy,' says Machin. 'By definition Casualty needs to be a political show. That's it's heartbeat'."


Another review is very favourable: "A lot of time and money was obviously spent on this pair of spectacular, nerve tingling and almost chilling episodes. In all, I'd give these episodes an A*. I do have to say it's a little odd that I've found all this week's press releases have been focusing on Georgia Taylor joining as Ruth, when really her character isn't a main feature. Matthew Needham is an excellent find and Derek Thompson was wonderfully flawless as ever. The sunshine to their character's darkened day was by far shining through the lovely Susan Cookson who portays Maggie beautifully. A fantastic job was done by everyone for this new series but if I was handing out an award, those three would take home the prize."

Overall, I am extremely excited about this new series now. I hope the quality of the episodes is not overshadowed by people squealing in anguish at the filmic effect. Embarassed


Me too - and as I said before im glad they took a proper summer break this year, not just a week like they have in the past, as it makes the start of the new series more of an "event" if its been off air for at least a month. Holby City never seem to take a break, therefore they just go from one series straight into the next.
TV
tvarksouthwest
I'm glad to hear Casualty is returning to more politically charged stories. The NHS has many problems today - not least because New Labour have made access to healthcare less accessible in many ways and completely target-driven. That is the appeal of Casualty - it should be making MPs seethe like it did back in 1986, though sadly I don't see that happening in this post-Hutton era.

Holby City should be doing the same but in other areas of the hospital. Sadly, the crossover between the two series is mere lip service these days and Rosie Marcel confirmed our suspicions in a recent interview by admitting the two shows were going their seperate ways.

As for the new series - the GMTV clip looked awful. Not just the filmic look but the awful lighting, as if some luvvy was drafted in to oversee that.
CH
chris
On GMTV was the actress who plays Tess who claims that the set has been "completely redesigned"....
TV
tvarksouthwest
It was difficult to decide whether she meant it was an "off-screen" redesign (ie. makes no difference to what the viewer sees but allows the cameras to move around more freely etc.) or a literal redesign. Given the previous series was still on air a month ago, they'd have needed the 60-Minute Makeover team in!

And what, if any, is Harry's role in the new series? Though not billed to be in this weekend's episodes, he appears in one of the new publicity photos.
JE
Jez Founding member
tvarksouthwest posted:
I'm glad to hear Casualty is returning to more politically charged stories. The NHS has many problems today - not least because New Labour have made access to healthcare less accessible in many ways and completely target-driven. That is the appeal of Casualty - it should be making MPs seethe like it did back in 1986, though sadly I don't see that happening in this post-Hutton era.

Holby City should be doing the same but in other areas of the hospital. Sadly, the crossover between the two series is mere lip service these days and Rosie Marcel confirmed our suspicions in a recent interview by admitting the two shows were going their seperate ways.



Hardly surprising really when Holby is filmed in London and Casualty in Bristol.
TV
tvarksouthwest
Well they need to get them under the same roof - and it's not as if Elstree is otherwise awash with activity.
JE
Jez Founding member
tvarksouthwest posted:
Well they need to get them under the same roof - and it's not as if Elstree is otherwise awash with activity.


Yes but it would be a shame if Casualty moved from Bristol after being there for 21 years.

I dont see the problem having them in different studios, its not as if we need to see Casualty characters in Holby City and vice versa.
TV
tvarksouthwest
We do, because that's what happens in a real hospital! The consultants go everywhere, they operate on everyone from the children to the geriatrics and would have regular dealings with the casualty department. There's not even any "phone conversations" with or mention of characters from the other show, but strangely enough, Connie Beauchamp will be in this weekend's Casualty - perhaps as acting A&E consultant?

It would be a shame if Casualty left Bristol but as I understand it the Bristol facility wouldn't have room for another show.
JO
Joe
I don't think they would have said 'complete redesign' if the viewer saw no difference.
RH
Rhysey
I've read reports on the Holby.tv site that the titles have been redesigned again this series... however, the preview video on bbc.co.uk/casualty still has the old titles animation attached, which seems odd. I would have expected them to leave it as just a clean clip if they have changed it.

Looking forward so much to the new series!

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