Camera Tests! No laugh track! News Posted by John Hoare on 13th February 2009, 11:37 Report here. More from us later…
I love that Andrew knows just how much this picture will excite certain people. For me, that almost makes it feel more “real” than the cast photos. Also : “Back to Earth will be the first broadcast episode of Red Dwarf to be presented with no laugh track.” I know people are going to be bemoaning the lack of an audience, but if we’re not getting one, then I’m glad we’re also at least not going down the VII route.
> I know people are going to be bemoaning the lack of an audience, but if we?re not getting one, then I?m glad we?re also at least not going down the VII route. Precactly. I’m interested that the decision was party taken due to “tone”.
I’m… stunned about the laugh track announcement. I’ve gotten used to comedy with no laugh track because of Scrubs, but that show is of a vastly different style to Dwarf…
No audience or laugh track due to “appropriateness of tone”? So it’s not funny then? Nice to see Sir Ellards script there…and interesting to see that the first draft was completed in the future – December 2009. That’s very sci-fi.
The ‘tone’ comment to me implies sci-fi epic akin to the novels. This should also stop lazy journos saying that Red Dwarf is outdated. Because there is a school of thought, not one that I subscribe to mind (hello IT Crowd), that the sitcom with a laugh track is a thing of the past.
I know this is an ongoing and ever so slightly tedious discussion, but I would prefer a more VII tone than a VIII one (in the assumed absence of any chance of the show feeling like any of the first 6 series). Looks like that we’re getting. > So it?s not funny then? Heh, depends on how unkind you’re feeling. All the signs do point to these episodes concentrating a little more on the drama, though. Which is something I wasn’t expecting at all. Back on Earth (aka VII mk.2) – this time we’ll make a movie pilot that WILL get us financing for the real thing.
>Nice to see Sir Ellards script there?and interesting to see that the first draft was completed in the future – December 2009. That?s very sci-fi. It says ’21/1/09′
>It says ?21/1/09? First Draft? >I know this is an ongoing and ever so slightly tedious discussion, but I would prefer a more VII tone than a VIII one (in the assumed absence of any chance of the show feeling like any of the first 6 series). Looks like that we?re getting. Well, yeah. I’d rather it not have a high gag-rate than intended laugh-lines every 20 seconds, all of which are unfunny and infantile.
> Precactly. I?m interested that the decision was party taken due to ?tone?. They’re writing Lister out. The Corrie scene occurs at the end when they give him fake memories and fix-up a job for him as a cabbie.
I think that the fact that the lack of an audience is partly to prevent net leaks is very sensible. Anyways, we’ve only got eight weeks…
I love that Andrew knows just how much this picture will excite certain people. For me, that almost makes it feel more ?real? than the cast photos. OMG hoe lovely is that??!
>They?re writing Lister out. The Corrie scene occurs at the end when they give him fake memories and fix-up a job for him as a cabbie. I could live with that. Disappointed at the ‘no laughter track’ news, but hey, it’s another evolution of Dwarf…
>They?re writing Lister out. The Corrie scene occurs at the end when they give him fake memories and fix-up a job for him as a cabbie. Despite me hating the principal of Red Dwarf being in the same reality as Coronation Street, it would be pretty cool if this was how the specials ended. Red Dwarf fans would have to watch Coronation Street to see the continuing adventures of Dave Lister (who’s oblivious to being Dave Lister). “Appropriateness of tone” is interesting though. Plenty of sitcoms (with studio audiences/laugh tracks) have dealt with dark stuff. OFAH courted it.
I’m reminded of something I read (in an Amazon review I think) about League of Gentlemen series 3: “Oh there’s still an audience. It’s just that there’s nothing for them to be laughing at.”
I think series 7 worked better without a laugh track. Not a lot of it is laugh-out-loud funny…and it’s easier to let the duff gags pass by. The “pause for a laugh that’s not there” moments were quite odd though. Obviously this won’t be a similar issue with the specials cos no laughs are being put in aftewards. It struck me the other day that the original Hitchhiker’s series didn’t have a laugh track. A lot of that wasn’t laugh-out-loud-type funny. But it was pretty bloody well written.
I?m? stunned about the laugh track announcement. I?ve gotten used to comedy with no laugh track because of Scrubs, but that show is of a vastly different style to Dwarf? Not only that, but Scrubs has little music cues that take the place of the laughter. I quite like genuine audience reaction laughs (as opposed to the canned sort, though I got used to that on Scooby Doo), and not having it on a show I’m so used to it on will be weird; I’ve been watching a lot of M*A*S*H lately without the laugh track, and much as I’ve been enjoying it, it’s a little disconcerting there as well, especially because it doesn’t have a lot of musical cues (at least the earlier ones don’t, anyway). Funny how such a little thing can matter at all, but I’m sure as long as the writing quality is back up to par, I’ll enjoy it… hell, even if it’s just of the quality of the last two series – preferably the last – it’ll just be nice to have the Dwarfers back. :) I think the key to enjoyment for me is managing expectations, i.e. expecting the worst and hoping for the best! (By the way, as far as not wanting leaks goes, if they’d really wanted audience laughter, I would have thought they could have just recorded reaction at a screening shortly before broadcast.)
>Not only that, but Scrubs has little music cues that take the place of the laughter. Arrested Development doesn’t, and it’s the best sitcom since I’m Alan Partridge.
was suprised to read that there will be no laugh track , though i did think to myself if there was then obviously the whole story would have been out in the open before it was on the tv, so probably a very wise decision.and looking forward to hd dwarf
As soon as we knew they were using the better-than-HD Red camera it should have been obvious there would be no audience recordings (single camera), but I just assumed there would be a screening for laughter at some point later in production. I’m GLAD there isn’t though because it almost always felt false in VII, what with the pauses left for laughter and a lot of the lines not feeling like they needed a laugh at all. I’m all for this decision, especially with this being a special. Though I hope, if there IS more Dwarf after this, that we DO see a more sitcom-like setup. I’m thinking Unplugged is going to show whether they still have it in them to make that kind of show. As far as music goes I think it will have to play a larger part now, so that would make it all the more pleasing if it was Howard Goodall onboard. He’s a busy man though, so it would be understandable if he couldn’t do it, or didn’t want to. It’s only two 24 minute episodes though (maybe a few minutes longer for any potential DVD version).
Can’t wait – good update on the TOS site! Though I do think it’s sweet Andrew photoshopped the photo of the script to have his name on it! That’s so Andrew hehe gotta love him :D
> Though I do think it?s sweet Andrew photoshopped the photo of the script to have his name on it! All highly-protected productions scripts are issued to each cast and crew member with their name as a watermark.
It looks like a photoshop job to me – I work in image creation :-x I think it’s cool tho! I’m not mocking you! :(
>?Oh there?s still an audience. It?s just that there?s nothing for them to be laughing at.? KRYTEN: Listen! Can anyone hear anything? CAT: No. KRYTEN: Precisely, no one can hear anything! And you know why we can’t hear anything? RIMMER: Why? KRYTEN: Because there are NO sounds to hear.
Not having a laugh’ track just sounds like the natural evolution of Dwarf to me. Each new series has been slightly different – it’s what’s kept things… interesting.
It looks like a photoshop job to me – I work in image creation :-x Have you considered a change in career?
I just wrote a big blurb about the lack of track in the main site forum. (I’m MDN T1. Probably why I don’t work properly. Uhhuh. huh blerrr…) I was going to copy it here rather than repeat myself… but I won’t cos it’s rather long and probably boring. In a nutshell, it’s one of those things I’ve often wished Dwarf didn’t have, yet I missed it when it wasn’t there in Tikka to Ride extended. I have my reservations with having no laugh track, but I welcome the experiment.
Haha thanks Ian – with my sharp skills at spotting the fake I am considering going into fraud work. No doubt that’s what you meant ;)
“That photo’s been Photoshop’d. I can tell by some of the pixels and having Photoshop’d a few pictures in my time.” But anyway… I for one am glad that the specials won’t have a laugh track.
I always prefered the x-tended Series VII with no laugh track (was an option of taking the laugh track of the rest of series VII ever discussed? Works well with MASH DVDs) but one thing about Series VII is it was made to have laughs added in and certain times you can see Kryten standing there waiting to make his funny reply as they second guess laughter, this will not happen this time which is a very good thing.
I just wrote a big blurb about the lack of track in the main site forum. (I?m MDN T1. Probably why I don?t work properly. Uhhuh. huh blerrr?) Bloody hell, I didn’t know this! You’ve freaked me out now…
From a viewer’s perspective, I don’t mind there not being a laugh track. I enjoy watching Tikka without, and I don’t think it makes it any less entertaining. My only reservation would be that many comedy actors actually give a better performance with an audience. I don’t think that the RD cast are any different in that respect.
I enjoy watching Tikka without See, Tikka Xtended only bothers me for the simple fact that there are obvious gaps for laughs, which is why it seems to bother me, because the laughs are meant to BE there. A special without the laughs in it, will feel like a different kind of Dwarf, but hopefully a good one.
Hyperdrive? I don’t think anyone needs to be told when to laugh, it’s a funny line or it’s not. But you could argue it gives more feel as a reaction. I don’t mind if it goes into drama now and then. Back to Reality wasn’t huge on the laughs, it was funny, but the overall the story was more dramatised.
I’m not bothered about a lack of a laugh track at all. The only reason it didn’t completely work on the Xtended was the waiting for laugh gaps. Although hopefully they will not go down the musical cues route, as those are just irritating and too arrogant, especially when they’re every other minute like on the seventh series of Scrubs. The script is exciting!
One show that i think needs a laugh track on it is Father Ted, just for the really hysterical blowouts they have to accentuate your reaction to something. the “Chinaman impression” springs to mind.
I started watchin VII again last night, and I felt the tone of the entire series could have worked without a laugh track, even with the awkward pauses. The whole feel of it was different, more dramatic, and I found I actually liked it more than I remembered. Given that if the new shows take into account that they don’t need to put in the pauses for laughs and try that same “movie” feel, to them, they’ll probably pull them off really well. I would welcome a move in that direction. I agree that it would just contribute to the evolution of Dwarf. The Office doesn’t have a laugh track, and it pretty much stands on it’s own.
The Office doesn?t have a laugh track, and it pretty much stands on it?s own. But isn’t that due to the fact the production style, and it’s delivery is meant to mimic those which wouldn’t require a laugh track though?
True, but I can see the same being done for Dwarf. I have faith that it can be done. Not in the same documentary style, but I think that it could be done successfully.
Thing is, with just the odd exception, the laugh track is pretty much out of fashion these days. If RD is ever going to go beyond a couple of specials then it has to go along with that trend.
> You?ve freaked me out now? Yes, me too. Why? Now I’m feeling slightly freaked out… or.. ok you’re messing with me. You scamps you. Ok, laugh track. Overall I’m looking forward to seeing how they do in the (slightly) new format.
> Thing is, with just the odd exception, the laugh track is pretty much out of fashion these days. Absolutely not. > If RD is ever going to go beyond a couple of specials then it has to go along with that trend. Absolutely not with bells on.
>It may seem odd but I just? never realised! I hope that doesn?t offend you. No worries. I just got a bit paranoid MDN had gotten a bad rep somehow. :)
Nah, I’m freaked out as well, but only because I might have been mean to you on the Webboard at some point ;-)
That picture is actually one of the first times I’ve been able to see Robert through the mask. Before, I’ve just not been able to.
Nah, I?m freaked out as well, but only because I might have been mean to you on the Webboard at some point ;-) No, not as far as I can remember, anyway. Don’t worry about it. >http://twitpic.com/1h1qo That is a good picture. I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but Kryten’s eyes look baggier than I remember. Then I compared Robert’s eyes… I just didn’t realize that much of the area surrounding his eyes wasn’t covered. The magic of make-up… (or the mask just got crinkly at the end of the day. ;) .)
Although the mask does look great, being pretty much exactly the same as previously, they should try and get the area around the eyes looking a bit better next time they shoot. After all, I want it to look real when I’m watching it on my 65″ 4K screen in 10 years time. Incidentally, if they ARE shooting at 4K that means they’ll be doing it 25fps progressively, i.e. film effect, because the Red camera doesn’t support frame rates higher than 30fps in 4K mode (most likely because it would probably stutter due to the amount of information being recorded). It should look great though. Now we know about the lack of laughter on the episodes, partly due to ‘tone’, film effect is pretty much a given.
I agree that the lack of the audience laughter track recorded after like in 7 is a good move. I am gonna miss genuine audience reaction in the previous seasons though. But Im still up for anything at this point, whatever they want to try with Dwarf… I say do It! Just do It good! This is VERY much a movie pilot me thinks. Though at this point, Im not bothered on a movie either way. The Dave specials could be the last, and Im happy with that either way.
Hey hey! Check this out. Its not what, Its where: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/entertainment_enl_1234524090/html/1.stm At time of posting, this was ‘The Big Piture’ on the right of this page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/default.stm Good to see the BBC acknowledge the existance since they snubbed It!
>This is VERY much a movie pilot me thinks. Though at this point, Im not bothered on a movie either way. I’ve just finished watching Lost In La Mancha, and it got thinking about how it’d be great to see a DVD documentary on The Movie That Never Was
The Xtended series 7 episodes worked (for me at least) without a laugh track because of the cinematic feel of those episodes, lighting/set/film effect/tone wise. Presumably a large percentage of the new specials will be shot on location, which again, personal preference, works better for me without a laugh track. I always found it awkward on shows like Porridge and One Foot In The Grave when there’d be an obvious skip between studio action and outdoor scenes, all the while taking the audience/laugh track with them. I couldn’t see the majority of series 3-6 episodes working as well without the audience though.
I wouldn’t put it past Doug to have cannibalized the movie script for Back to Earth. That said, Red Dwarf documentaries are amazingly watchable so yes, documentary plz!
They?re writing Lister out. The Corrie scene occurs at the end when they give him fake memories and fix-up a job for him as a cabbie. I would actually really like that, it’s very reminiscent of the ending of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers.
I?ve just finished watching Lost In La Mancha, and it got thinking about how it?d be great to see a DVD documentary on The Movie That Never Was There is – it’s on the Series VII DVD.
Now we know about the lack of laughter on the episodes, partly due to ?tone?, film effect is pretty much a given. Except this won’t be film *effect*, it’ll be real film. (ignore the digital bit. I really hope more films get made using 4k cameras. It always feels a bit pointless watching a film made on film on a digital print)
