MovieChat Forums > Black Gold (2008) Discussion > Worst camera shot in the history of tele...

Worst camera shot in the history of television

posted 12 years ago by annbdavis
6 replies | jump to latest

Well we all know that a lot of this stuff is scripted, as an efficiently running oil rig doesn't make for good television, so the producers have to come up with conflict, twist and turning points to keep the viewer engaged. But when the rig lost power to a supposed mystery saboteur (who writes this crap?), I just love how the camera operator had a perfect long shot of the rig just as the power went out, as if he were waiting for it. What's worse is the laughable shaky camera effect, whip panning left to right after the lights went out, to give it an authentic feel. HORRIBLE. If you idiot producers are going to script a lot of this in a writers room on some studio lot in advance, at least try to make it watchable.

[–] Ltrazordaddio 12 years ago

ann... little OT here, but I've been thinking that being a script writer for any of these pseudo-reality soap operas has to be the greatest job in the world.. just type a few words and separate them with lots of beeps.... same lines could apply to any show.

Fire Nancy Dubuc !!! History Made-up Every Day !

[–] annbdavis 12 years ago

They don't write dialogue, they just set up branching tree structures of plotlines, for instance they will tell Brandon to "fire Chester", or hire somebody in a white pickup truck to troll the oil rig.

[–] thepoet26 12 years ago

Yeah, I'm hating the whole rig sabotage "storyline", too. Little TOO fake this season, with Oscar jumping in his truck and hauling ass after some white truck that supposedly keeps "spying" on the rig. And how about Brandon telling Cheston what he needed to do to get his job back without Cheston even asking to be rehired? AS IF the producers of the show would allow either Brandon or Cheston to be fired, when in fact they are probably the main draws to the show. This show used to be a guilty pleasure of mine but I'm finding this season to be a bit over the top.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

[–] ledge12-1 12 years ago

That rig in the next field isn't edging in.... likely one guy owns the lease on the entire area. He hires the driller, its likely he hired 2 or 3 to get his wells drilled.

before a hole is started it takes several days to prep the pad which is about 200 square yards.

but before that you have to apply for a drilling permit, and those are search-able public record.

if there is sabotage its likely disgruntled former employees, those maniacs have peeved enough people its likely possible.

[–] annbdavis 12 years ago

The sabotage was concocted by writers to add drama to a usually tedious and boring profession.

[–] ledge12-1 12 years ago

Ohh yea, as if the Autry Steven's Big Dog sign wasn't a dead give away on the lease road.... not to mention you can see those rigs from miles away..... then tonight they had a guy breaking into the truck.... Confidential well location information...more BS

They should stay with showing the guy's drill and the challenges they come across, back to season one when they had the same thing he did with deadliest catch. Cover 5 crews and make a bit of a "contest" out of it.