AMERICAN CHOPPER, one annoyance at DVinfo.net

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 01:01 AM

Anyone notice on AMERICAN CHOPPER, when the people talk to the camera in an interview, not raw stuff caught on tape, that the people sound like they're reading a script or something. They talk sort of, I don't know, "staccato" or something. Everyone, except maybe Mikey.

What do you think? Their words flow smoothly otherwise, until they're in a quick interview. Seems like it's been almost scripted.

heath

Matt Stahley · January 28th, 2004, 03:00 AM

I agree. Im sure there is some writing involved.Maybe some re-working of an unscripted interview.

Matthew Laskey · January 28th, 2004, 06:58 AM

Can anyone tell me what is American Chopper?

K. Forman · January 28th, 2004, 08:28 AM

I am not 100% sure (I don't have cable), but I believe American Chopper is a show about custom motorcycle builders. As far as the interviews, some of the monotones could be caused by camera shyness? I have edited interviews, where it was unscripted, but you would swear they were reading it off a card. This was caused by fear, and the desire to not soil themselves on camera.

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 09:09 AM

Keith,

You're right about the show.

One thing though, the guys being interviewed ALL seem to be camera shy/reading off a card...

heath

ps-On Discovery Channel at 10 PM, before Monsters House and Garage at 8 and 9 PM, respectively.

Joe Gioielli · January 28th, 2004, 10:25 AM

I love to watch the exposure go all hinky when someone opens the outside door.

As for the interviews, it does go from "WhenI started to work on this bike, I had a number of concernes about the compleation timeframe" to "Don't make me shove my size 12 up yer butt." People do that. It's so hard to get people to just be themselves. All ages, all races, all classes. People are brought together by stagefreight."

Jeff Patnaude · January 28th, 2004, 01:00 PM

Hey - I like the show.
Given it has it's flaws. But after watching a re-run of the first episode, you can tell that the shop workers have gotten used to the camera being around and they are starting to capture more "real" exchanges in the shop.

I cant say anything about the crop of copycat programs coming out now, but I do enjoy watching the tension between the father and sons working.
Cool bikes too.

my 2 pesos

Jeff Patnaude

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 02:09 PM

Jeff,

yeah, it's a great show; what I'm getting at is the interviews woven in. Those seem stilted, almost scripted.

heath

Rob Zeigler · January 28th, 2004, 02:10 PM

I've noticed that they do sound a little off during some of the interviews, but I chalk it up to shyness.

I've seen in projects that I'm working on that capturing a group of people in action is one thing, but pulling one person aside and having them discuss something by themselves is a little nerve wracking.

I also agree, though, that the producers probably "hint" at what they want to be discussed.

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 02:10 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Gioielli : I love to watch the exposure go all hinky when someone opens the outside door.

As for the interviews, it does go from "WhenI started to work on this bike, I had a number of concernes about the compleation timeframe" to "Don't make me shove my size 12 up yer butt." People do that. It's so hard to get people to just be themselves. All ages, all races, all classes. People are brought together by stagefreight." -->>>

I think they shoot it on auto.

And yeah, I think you're right about the interviews. Sometimes it sounds like they're saying stuff they wouldn't normally say.

heath

Mark Jervis · January 28th, 2004, 03:05 PM

Here is a little inside information about the One on One's on American Chopper. THEY ARE SCRIPTED...sort of. One of them says something to camera, the producer (not going to say names) then takes what they said, alters it for the shows purposes and then tells whoever to read it back. They will take about 4-5 takes of them saying something. Unfortunately none of them are actors so when you get someone who can't act to read a script, it's very dry.

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 03:15 PM

I figured as much; wish they wouldn't do that, though...

Dry is a good term for it.

heath

Gary Chavez · January 28th, 2004, 03:41 PM

I like the welding and build process.
the rest of it is quite obviously for effect.
and i can see it wearing thin real soon.
notice how Mike is playing a much bigger role?
he went from being a challenged annoyance to the sharpest of the bunch.

Heath McKnight · January 28th, 2004, 04:20 PM

The ads featured Sr. and Jr., yet it's all about Sr. and Mikey... Where's Jr.?

heath

James Emory · August 23rd, 2005, 06:47 PM

Mark. I don't know about them being scripted but they are definitely planned. Those one on one's are known as OTFs or on the fly interviews. They are great for bridges to join different segments or used as intros or outs. And yes, they are definitely the moment for the field producers to get the castmember to talk dirt about the other members. Sometimes they are also used as recaps of a scene.

January 28th, 2004, 01:01 AM	#1
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	AMERICAN CHOPPER, one annoyance Anyone notice on AMERICAN CHOPPER, when the people talk to the camera in an interview, not raw stuff caught on tape, that the people sound like they're reading a script or something. They talk sort of, I don't know, "staccato" or something. Everyone, except maybe Mikey. What do you think? Their words flow smoothly otherwise, until they're in a quick interview. Seems like it's been almost scripted. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 28th, 2004, 09:09 AM	#5
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Keith, You're right about the show. One thing though, the guys being interviewed ALL seem to be camera shy/reading off a card... heath ps-On Discovery Channel at 10 PM, before Monsters House and Garage at 8 and 9 PM, respectively. __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 28th, 2004, 10:25 AM	#6
Joe Gioielli Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 142	I love to watch the exposure go all hinky when someone opens the outside door. As for the interviews, it does go from "WhenI started to work on this bike, I had a number of concernes about the compleation timeframe" to "Don't make me shove my size 12 up yer butt." People do that. It's so hard to get people to just be themselves. All ages, all races, all classes. People are brought together by stagefreight." __________________ Why ask me? I thought you were in charge!

January 28th, 2004, 02:09 PM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Jeff, yeah, it's a great show; what I'm getting at is the interviews woven in. Those seem stilted, almost scripted. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 28th, 2004, 02:10 PM	#9
Rob Zeigler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 87	I've noticed that they do sound a little off during some of the interviews, but I chalk it up to shyness. I've seen in projects that I'm working on that capturing a group of people in action is one thing, but pulling one person aside and having them discuss something by themselves is a little nerve wracking. I also agree, though, that the producers probably "hint" at what they want to be discussed. __________________ Rob Zeigler http://www.robzeigler.com

January 28th, 2004, 03:00 AM	#2
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	I agree. Im sure there is some writing involved.Maybe some re-working of an unscripted interview.

January 28th, 2004, 06:58 AM	#3
Matthew Laskey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NY Posts: 37	Can anyone tell me what is American Chopper?

January 28th, 2004, 08:28 AM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I am not 100% sure (I don't have cable), but I believe American Chopper is a show about custom motorcycle builders. As far as the interviews, some of the monotones could be caused by camera shyness? I have edited interviews, where it was unscripted, but you would swear they were reading it off a card. This was caused by fear, and the desire to not soil themselves on camera.

January 28th, 2004, 01:00 PM	#7
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	Hey - I like the show. Given it has it's flaws. But after watching a re-run of the first episode, you can tell that the shop workers have gotten used to the camera being around and they are starting to capture more "real" exchanges in the shop. I cant say anything about the crop of copycat programs coming out now, but I do enjoy watching the tension between the father and sons working. Cool bikes too. my 2 pesos Jeff Patnaude

January 28th, 2004, 03:05 PM	#11
Mark Jervis Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 66	Here is a little inside information about the One on One's on American Chopper. THEY ARE SCRIPTED...sort of. One of them says something to camera, the producer (not going to say names) then takes what they said, alters it for the shows purposes and then tells whoever to read it back. They will take about 4-5 takes of them saying something. Unfortunately none of them are actors so when you get someone who can't act to read a script, it's very dry.

January 28th, 2004, 03:15 PM	#12
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I figured as much; wish they wouldn't do that, though... Dry is a good term for it. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 28th, 2004, 03:41 PM	#13
Gary Chavez Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 355	I like the welding and build process. the rest of it is quite obviously for effect. and i can see it wearing thin real soon. notice how Mike is playing a much bigger role? he went from being a challenged annoyance to the sharpest of the bunch.

January 28th, 2004, 04:20 PM	#14
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	The ads featured Sr. and Jr., yet it's all about Sr. and Mikey... Where's Jr.? heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 23rd, 2005, 06:47 PM	#15
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Mark. I don't know about them being scripted but they are definitely planned. Those one on one's are known as OTFs or on the fly interviews. They are great for bridges to join different segments or used as intros or outs. And yes, they are definitely the moment for the field producers to get the castmember to talk dirt about the other members. Sometimes they are also used as recaps of a scene.