Posts: 863
Threads: 49
Joined: January 2, 2021
Reputation:
11
Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 8:56 am
How do you feel about movies and tv shows that include references/acknowledge the pandemic in their fictional reality?
Like, crime procedurals or comedy shows, or movies set in modern times. Do you like it when they mention the pandemic?
On the one hand, it's a bit of a downer. In real life, everyone is wearing masks and now, in your newest fav tv show/movie, everyone is wearing masks in there too. There's no escape from the dreadful thing that is plaguing our world. Especially if they go full realism and decide to include vaccine deniers and how dangerous that is. It's a bit depressing.
But on the other hand, if they don't include the Covid pandemic, yet the movie is set in modern times, then it's this odd historical piece where everything is still pre-2020, Trump is still president, and none of these people have relatable problems because they haven't been touched by the worldwide pandemic yet. Or it's this strange alternate universe where it IS 2021 but the pandemic never happened. In some ways, escapism is important but in others, there's something comforting about seeing your tv shows miming and dealing and surviving the pandemic, with masks and talk of vaccines.
What do you think?
Posts: 5843
Threads: 51
Joined: September 25, 2018
Reputation:
20
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 9:08 am
What's is popular, and on everyone's mind, will eventually find it's way into arts of that given time. I can just change the channel if I desire.
Posts: 27373
Threads: 519
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 9:42 am
You make me pine for the 60's and 70's when all we had was war, civil rights issues and crippling recession.
Thank god for disco and Ronald Regan.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Posts: 11782
Threads: 125
Joined: January 11, 2010
Reputation:
45
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 10:12 am
(This post was last modified: November 9, 2021 at 10:21 am by Rev. Rye.)
Watching the last season of Shameless was kind of surreal, especially when everyone wearing masks kinda made it hard to understand the dialogue, although, let’s be real, finding out that Frank died of COVID was no surprise.
As someone who writes fiction, honestly, there’s currently so much up in the air about how human interactions are going to look when it’s all over that I’m currently holding off on writing fiction that takes place in modern times until we know what they’re going to look like when it’s all over.
Also, how likely is it that future audiences are going to think “surely, there’s no way that the President is going to take such a ‘let them die’ approach to the pandemic. And is he dumb enough to think he can get people to consume bleach as a core?”
Comparing the Universal Oneness of All Life to Yo Mama since 2010.
I was born with the gift of laughter and a sense the world is mad.
Posts: 863
Threads: 49
Joined: January 2, 2021
Reputation:
11
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 10:21 am
(November 9, 2021 at 10:12 am)Rev. Rye Wrote: Watching the last season of Shameless was kind of surreal, especially when everyone wearing masks kinda made it hard to understand the dialogue, although, let’s be real, finding out that Frank died of COVID was no surprise.
As someone who writes fiction, honestly, there’s currently so much up in the air about how human interactions are going to look when it’s all over that I’m currently holding off on writing fiction that takes place in modern times until we know what they’re going to look like when it’s all over.
Yeah, that was something that occurred to me too. Both of those things.
Like, the oddness of seeing characters interact on screen with surgical masks...it's kind of boring. Because we like expressions and we like faces and we're missing half while the masks are on. And often actors will refuse roles or change roles(ala Will Smith as Deadshot) to make it so they don't have to wear a mask during production because it obscures their face, reducing the recognizability factor.
And that other thing, we're still trying to stay on top of it, trying to make sure the correct information gets out there. But so many people are against it, it must be hard to know what the right thing to say about the pandemic must be, from a capitalist studio/corporate standpoint. Because it's been so polarized, you risk losing a chunk of audience if you take a stance either way. I'm sure that's part of the consideration on whether to include Covid in fictional stories or not.
Posts: 15314
Threads: 116
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation:
65
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 10:45 am
I have noticed it on a few shows. To me it's just a marker in time. I don't see it as all that different from other period piece costuming in that it's a representation of what's going on.
Missing facial expressions is a thing now. I think of that when I greet someone...I know I am smiling but they don't.
It's part of the costume of 2020 and 2021 - and hopefully will end soon.
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
Posts: 27373
Threads: 519
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 11:25 am
(November 9, 2021 at 10:45 am)arewethereyet Wrote: I have noticed it on a few shows. To me it's just a marker in time. I don't see it as all that different from other period piece costuming in that it's a representation of what's going on.
Missing facial expressions is a thing now. I think of that when I greet someone...I know I am smiling but they don't.
It's part of the costume of 2020 and 2021 - and hopefully will end soon.
You have to do the exaggerated smile so that the corners of your eyes wrinkle.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Posts: 15314
Threads: 116
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation:
65
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 11:26 am
(November 9, 2021 at 11:25 am)brewer Wrote: (November 9, 2021 at 10:45 am)arewethereyet Wrote: I have noticed it on a few shows. To me it's just a marker in time. I don't see it as all that different from other period piece costuming in that it's a representation of what's going on.
Missing facial expressions is a thing now. I think of that when I greet someone...I know I am smiling but they don't.
It's part of the costume of 2020 and 2021 - and hopefully will end soon.
You have to do the exaggerated smile so that the corners of your eyes wrinkle.
Honey, I am old enough that I don't have to do that much to make my eyes wrinkle.
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
Posts: 27373
Threads: 519
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 11:28 am
(This post was last modified: November 9, 2021 at 11:38 am by brewer.)
(November 9, 2021 at 11:26 am)arewethereyet Wrote: (November 9, 2021 at 11:25 am)brewer Wrote: You have to do the exaggerated smile so that the corners of your eyes wrinkle.
Honey, I am old enough that I don't have to do that much to make my eyes wrinkle.
Old schmold.
Smile big enough to bunch them together and look like a shock of corn.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Posts: 770
Threads: 37
Joined: November 2, 2013
Reputation:
22
RE: Covid on tv/in movies
November 9, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I was under the assumption that some of them had to wear the masks just to be able to film again. While other shows go on like the COVID doesn't even exist. Which is mostly CW shows from my knowledge. Old Supergirl don't have to worry about no stinking COVID.
|