The things you pick up from the Internet

In between writing assignments, and other work, I would scroll through my You Tube feed for interesting stuff. That's usually BTS videos, or clips of interviews, both serious and funny. The former is to feed my curiosity, the latter to learn something new.

If I can watch a movie or an episode of anything multiple times, I do. Of course, these must be things I'm interested in to begin with. I do it not just to follow the story or plot but also for the technical and creative aspects.

One thing that really piqued my curiosity is how a scene is shot or executed, in terms of camera work. I understand there are shows shot with multiple cameras, particularly those filmed before a live audience, but mostly these are filmed using a single camera. It is the single camera that really boggles my mind especially when the final cut shows several angles for one scene. Why?

There is such a thing as continuity in film work. Whether it's the blocking or wardrobe or position of actors as they enact a scene. Over time, I learned to watch out for these even if I just view something once.

I'd see the actor leaning sideways in one angle, then leaning back in the next shot, for a single scene. Or the arm would be positioned one way in one angle, and another for a second angle or a long shot. So, it distracts me when I catch such stuff.

Yes, filming is hard work and entails very long hours, so these little details are probably taken for granted if they don't impact the show or scene in a big way. But it makes me wonder if such things are caught during playback by either the director, or assistant, and the director of photography.

An editor would probably see it but by then it would be post production already and shooting is over so if they can do something in the splicing, they might fix it... or not.

Anyway, that's just the film geek in me talking and it must be boring for others.

Watching interview clips or talk shows that aren't available on local cable channels is another pastime. For instance, I thoroughly enjoy the Graham Norton Show. It's British, but he has on all kinds of A-list celebrities - both Hollywood stars and British actors and personalities.

Graham is not only entertaining but is excellent at handling his guests, even when two or three are big name celebrities seated on his signature red couch. While he does enjoy occasionally needling his guests with all sorts of embarrassing or hilarious stuff, which they take good-naturedly, he also has the uncanny ability to just ask one or two questions then let the interviewees take off on their own, and banter among themselves.

Now THAT is how a television host should be - shining the spotlight on the guests and not themselves, which most American hosts do - cutting off stars as they speak or going off tangent with the questions that can be quite uncomfortable.

And unlike American TV talk shows where guests are only given water, Graham offers his guest their choice of beverage, so some would have wine, or juice or club soda and whatever they prefer. It does help relax the people before sitting for an hour, not totally knowing what to expect.

Between the drinks and Graham's manner, most of the guests are quite comfortable enough to share their experiences or anecdotes even when it makes them appear like a dolt. But credit it to the atmosphere in the studio and the affable host.

So, for this particular episode that I caught, on the couch were Hollywood actors Will Smith, Octavia Spencer, and Kevin Hart, and British newbie Naomi Scott. Naomi and Will were there to promote the live action movie "Aladdin."

Graham brought up that both Will and Kevin often shared motivational clips on Instagram and challenged the two to help out audience members, who shared their issues.

The first was a woman who had a fear of feet. And this was real because she absolutely looked squeamish at the mere mention of feet. Will Smith was hilarious and took off his shoe and would've stripped off his sock if not for the look of horror on the woman's face. He wanted her to "face her fear."

When it was Kevin's turn, surprisingly the comedian turned serious and dispensed this advice:

"Here's the best way to get over your fear of feet," he began. "You can't take steps in life without feet. Your fear is prohibiting you from progression. The minute you can look at your feet and understand that your feet are simply what move you forward, you will put your fear behind you."

Wow! And he thought of that spontaneously, in the middle of a room that was rowdy. What a genius, right? But then again, I've always held the belief that good comedians are extremely intelligent, especially when they do stand-up comedy.

Remember, it is three times as difficult to make people laugh than it is to make them feel other emotions. The late American icon Betty White said so herself, and she should know after 60 years of making people laugh.

I've picked up a ton of other stuff watching You Tube and FB, too. The ones that stick are those that stir emotion, like uncontrollable laughter, and those that make me pause and think. Always, there's a different perspective to things or issues that seem ordinary or mundane.

When I get stuck on what to write, I guess that's a good source of material...

Images from Unsplash