The one where Ramsay planted a dead mouse.
-
GraceFromSoCal — 11 years ago(March 23, 2015 01:32 PM)
Both of the shots were handheld and reacted to Ramsay's actions, sosolid effort, but no dice.
I haven't seen the episode in a long time so I don't know why you're so confident that the shots were from handheld cameras. If/when I watch it again I'll pay attention to that particular part. In the meantime, I'm quite confident that remotely-controlled, stationary cameras are very capable of catching close-up actions. Have you watched any of those [totally fake] shows like "Mystery Diners" or "Restaurant Stakeout?" If so, you're aware of what I'm describing.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com -
gilbert_gumphrey — 11 years ago(March 23, 2015 02:31 PM)
I felt confident because I made my post literally while I was watching the episode at the same time. But just to make sure, I went back and looked again.
You're right in that there is also a stationary camera in there. But there is also at LEAST two handheld cameras in the same area one covers a wide just outside the entrance, one is a medium shot in the entrance, and another seems to be covering close-up's of the mouse itself (not to mention a shot outside when Ramsey first enters, although that admittedly could've been filmed at another time).
But if all of these shots happened at that time, without going back to pick-up shots, that means for the one supposedly "normal, nothing's-gonna-happen" shot of Ramsey entering the restaurant, he had 5 camera's on him. 5!!!!
That sure seems fishy to me, man. Cause I'm with ya, I can tell when they use the stationary cameras (the resolution is always a little less good). And in fact, shows like Mystery Diners and Restaurant Stakeout made me realize how fake all of these shows are sadly, including Ramsey's.
Did you ever watch the British version? There's an episode called Oscar's where the cook literally passes out and has to be taken to the hospital, butit's not captured on camera. That's life; sometimes the most dramatic things are happening when Ramsey and the camera crew are in a different room.
But that's the kind of thing you NEVER see on the American version; those camera's pick up everything,t all the time, and sometimes you can even see them filming it in a wide shot with the stationary ones, then a close-up where the stationaries would've shown he camera guys, but magically they weren't there before. Or wide-shots of an argument outside a restaurant, then suddenly BAM close ups of the same fight, except the camera guys would clearly have been in the wide, but suddenly, they're not. Pick-up shots, just like any film would do. It got more and more prevalent as the show progressed.
Reality, I'm sad to say, doesn't really exist on Kitchen Nightmares, because processed, manufactured reality isn't really the same thing. -
GraceFromSoCal — 11 years ago(March 23, 2015 11:13 PM)
Thanks for the update. Yes, that definitely does seem suspiciousI mean, WHY would they need a bunch of cameras just to catch Ramsay coming in the front door one day, right? I normally delete this episode without re-watching it, because it's not one of my favorites, but the next time it records I'll watch it.
I've seen all the UK episodes, and know exactly what you're referring to with the son/chef at Oscar's. But what about the server at Fish and Anchor? She fell and was knocked unconscious; this was on the way out of the kitchen, and we heard the fall, and the cameras immediately panned over to the commotion.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com -
gilbert_gumphrey — 11 years ago(March 24, 2015 02:09 PM)
It's funny, cause so many times they ruin the illusion of "reality" simply by overdoing it. The original BBC show might've been just as fake, or at least manipulated, but because it was filmed in such a low-key manner, I've never really questioned it. But when Fox demands 17 different camera angles on all the action so they can cut every 2 seconds for us poor ADD-affliced youngsters, it makes the suspension of belief that much harder.
I'd forgotten about the Fish and Anchor episode, true. But that's the thing with a couple camera guys running around, you'll probably catch most of the major events anyway. Why Fox overdoes it to the point of looking riduculous, I don't really understand
also reminds me, actually, of stuff like Restaurant Stakeout and Mystery Diners. For a while, I believed it, but it's the simple stuff where they just can't leave it well enough alone that makes the fakery obvious. Say, if everyone in the restaurant HAD to be subtitled, cause you couldn't hear them at all; that makes sense, and I'd believe it. But when you can hear everyone talk in the restaurant, well, it means they must be miked, which means it's fake.
Goofiness
-
GraceFromSoCal — 11 years ago(March 24, 2015 07:03 PM)
OMFG! Don't even get me started on the
ultra-fake
Mystery Diners and Restaurant Stakeout! (Well, if you're interested, you can plod through their boards. I know I posted myumTHOUGHTS about them some time ago.
) I thought they were real, too, until an episode or two in.
Regarding the camera overkill with Fox on KN, I agree, it's a bit much. But I've always chalked up the differences between RKN and KN as being due to America's [real or perceived] need for 'excitement' and conflict. When I watch RKN now, its whole demeanor is just so DIFFERENT from KN. For one thing, I like that Ramsay did the narration himself. And any 'drama' seemed genuine, and stemmed from real relationshipslike the bickering couple from Fish and Anchor. KN, on the other hand, is way too focused on conflict and drama. It's like, WTF?! Whatever happened to the COOKING part of this RESTAURANT-themed show?!
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com -
GraceFromSoCal — 11 years ago(April 03, 2015 10:57 AM)
Okay, as promised, I re-watched "Blackberry's" and paid special attention to the shot we're debating.
You're right in that there is also a stationary camera in there. But there is also at LEAST two handheld cameras in the same area one covers a wide just outside the entrance, one is a medium shot in the entrance, and another seems to be covering close-up's of the mouse itself (not to mention a shot outside when Ramsey first enters, although that admittedly could've been filmed at another time).
I disagree! Sorry, but I do. I watched and re-watched that segment, and I see ZERO signs of handheld cameras. What I do see is what I imagine is zooming in/out and panning from the stationary cameras installed around the restaurant, including the entryway. I compared the 'suspicious' shot to the innocuous early shot when Ramsay first enters the restaurant, and as far as camera shots go, they seem to be taken with the same cameras. The only difference is that in the first shot, there's no mouse to zoom in on, so the cameras don't.
Also, if you notice when the suspicious segment is happening, the shot changes from closeups to a long shot of Ramsay. The long shot is originating from way inside the restaurant, because we can see Gordon in the entryway plus a lot of the restaurant, and people in the restaurant. So where are the handheld operators that should be plainly visible? They had to be RIGHT THERE with Ramsay in the entryway, so how did they disappear when the camera shot changed?
Regardless, in light of the fact that Blackberry's had an exterminator who came in on a regular basisto keep vermin at bayAND one of the employees mentioned that it's very common to see mice in the restaurant, I don't see the point of planting a mouse. I just don't. Your opinion may vary, and that's fine. I love talking about shows even when I disagree with someone!
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com -
falconefans — 11 years ago(April 03, 2015 07:07 AM)
There have been many instances where they show Ramsay entering or exiting the restaurant. They probably have cameras everywhere and just edit it down to the interesting/dramatic parts.
I'm not sure if the mouse was there or was planted. What i do remember from that episode was the place wasn't that clean to begin with. It's not out of the question that there'd be a dead mouse around, especially if they have an exterminator or put down their own bait traps.
Ramsay found dead mice at Oceana and no one ever questioned that. And i'm sure he didn't bring in a pocketful of cockroaches into Dillon's. Rodents and insects are going to be in places where there's food and shelter. It's up to the owners to try to keep on top of it as much as possible.
Remember when he lifted up the seat in the booth in some restaurant and found a pair of old shoes in there? I forget which one that was, but the owners didn't seem too surprised about it. There have also been plenty of places where there was an inch of grime and dust in the kitchen and dining room. Again the owners were not surprised it was there and even claimed to have had the place professionally cleaned just before his arrival.
There were so many things already wrong in this particular restaurant. He didn't need to plant a dead mouse or anything else for that matter. They were already sunk by the owners laziness and complacency.
Fraaaank. FRANK! Get my jean bin. Susie wants my jeans.
No she doesnt. -
electricrat66 — 11 years ago(March 27, 2015 04:14 AM)
You can believe whatever you want, but I used to live in Plainfield and the area that restaurant was in is very old and run down (as is much of the town). A LOT of very old warehouses and a lot of litter. I have little doubt the mouse died where they found it. I'm just surprised it wasn't actually a rat. The place had a lousy reputation because it was terrible and that is why it closed.
I grew up 4 miles from Plainfield before I moved there in the early 2000's (not this part of town) and it only got better starting on the mid 90'sbut in the 70's and 80's you didn't venture there because it wasn't safe. Mice and rats were a result of decades of neglect. Do a street view search of the restaurant's address and you will understand why a mouse is not out of the question.
The town government has tried to revitalize Plainfield for years, but the reputation has made that next to impossible. The gays came in and restored many of the old Victorian homes in various residential areas of the town, and did a great job with those, but NOBODY shopped in town. Nearby Westfield is beautiful and much cleaner. Plainfield has such a bad rap that there is not even a major grocery store chain there. That should be very telling.
Could it have been planted? I supposebut I seriously doubt it.
I could have been at a barbecue! -
GraceFromSoCal — 11 years ago(March 31, 2015 02:07 PM)
Thanks for the personal observation/information, electricrat66. It's very enlightening for those of us who have no personal experience with the area. Based on your post, I'm even more confident now that Ramsay didn't need to plant a dead mouse for the 'wow!' factor.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com -
SkiesAreBlue — 10 years ago(March 24, 2016 09:55 PM)
I worked in an office with a warehouse below. We had pest control regularly because of pallets of products coming from o/s via shipping containers. One morning our sales manager went into his office and was confronted with a dead rat on his window sill. It happens.
SkiesAreBlue