How cheap can that leading subscription entertainment service be? Their new show, which isn't that great, takes place in two cities. One expensive to film in, the other cheap to film in. Most of the interior scenes that take place in the expensive city are actually filmed in the cheaper city on the other side of the world. If you look closely, you can see that the supposed American sets don't look quite right--the brands and sizes of the appliances in kitchen scenes, products in the back, the furniture, etc. Then, of course, is the fact that they don't have to pay pesky union fees and can hire locally sourced guest actors who don't always fit quite in with the standards of the network's other shows (although one or two guest actors do shine). The result is a very disjointed viewing experience with a bizarre mix of actors.
Netflix?
ReplyDeleteManiac? Netflix?
ReplyDeleteNetflix has shows from all different countries. There's the German version of Stranger Things, that they did as well, plenty of Korean shows - I thought that was a cool thing? I'm sure it lets them cherry pick sets/items since they already have it set up from other shows?
ReplyDeleteEh, it's a Netflix show. No one's watching that close for consistency or quality. That's like raising a fuss because the pickles aren't evenly spaced on your Big Mac.
ReplyDeleteAll the interior scenes in Magnum p.i. were filmed on sets in L.A. I guess it was cheaper to fly back and forth to Hawaii than to film everything out there. Didn't hurt that show any.
There is a German version of Stranger Things? I would love to see that
ReplyDeleteI’m on episode three of Maniac and it’s such a waste of time and money. Netflix needs to invest in GOOD SHOWS instead of absolute trash. I’m sure they could’ve created an interesting show with Jonah and Emma
ReplyDeleteHey we look the other way when we see things that don't match for all the shows set in the US that film in Canada, this is no biggie.
ReplyDeleteSo, they spend irresponsibly and at the same time are cheap. Got it.
ReplyDeletemaniac is awful.
ReplyDeleteSteveD, the point is Netflix spends wildly but it isn't showing up on screen, so it's going into somebody's pocket...
ReplyDeleteCali - all of Magnum P.I 1980-88 was shot in Hawaii on location. All but one Episode with Dana Delaney in Season 8. All interiors of Magnum Magnums cottage, Higgins Den, Interior Robins Nest were shot on sound studios in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteit's 'a taiwanese tale of two cities' on netflix
ReplyDelete@Carlina: Dark is the German show which has a Stranger Things vibe.
ReplyDeleteWho actually gives the fuck in the background furniture of some Netflix show isn't super expensive? People seriously care about that? Wow.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't anything new in the TV/Film Production business.
ReplyDeleteThey shoot where they can as inexpensively as possible.
yeah it's Maniac. I tried watching and it's "not good" even with Emma Stone.
ReplyDeleteI turned it off after 10 minutes. It could have worked. They give absolutely no back story to what is happening to allow the viewer to make any sense of what they are watching. After 10-15 minutes of watching a well scripted show, viewers should know what the hell is going on. Also watched Manifest on NBC too (unrelated) and after all the hype I was a little disappointed. Maybe the next episode will be better.
@Spider Rico, interesting. I'd always read they shot the interiors in LA. It would make more sense to me if they didn't, though. I need to pick up Larry Manetti's book sometime.
ReplyDeleteIvan............. did you see the sunrise this morning?
ReplyDeleteI haven't even tried to watch Maniac. Seems self-indulgent, weird for weird's sake, but "oh look Emma Stone is being edgy, Jonah Hill is kind of serious and the guy that did True Detective Season 1 is directing."
ReplyDeleteYup. Spot on.
DeleteThe new magnum wasn't bad. Weird that some people were expecting the original actors? They are in their 70's by now, and that the new Higgins is a woman.
ReplyDeleteIt took a few episodes for the original to move past cheesy and catch its stride, so maybe this one will do the same.
I wasn't thrilled with the low grade mission impossible type action stunts. Hopefully those go away in favor of realism.
What did everyone else think? (and yes, I don't care about some Netflix show saving money)
Dark is brilliant and much 'darker' than Stranger Things. Better too in my opinion
ReplyDeletePS I think the Higgins sexual tension with Magnum might be a plus in the long run.
ReplyDeletes. s.
ReplyDelete"the point is Netflix spends wildly but it isn't showing up on screen, so it's going into somebody's pocket..."
Mainly the stockholders' pockets, which is happening everywhere. Airlines are charging more but giving us less space and nickle&diming the customers with luggage and seat fees. The accompanying profits from such activity keeps the stock high. Everyone is doing it.
Just look for the power outlets and the appliance brands, that'll at least let you figure out what continent if you can find them.
ReplyDeleteThe show Maniac got very good reviews (although I couldn't make it through ep, 1) and the Hollywood Reporter just named Netflix as one of the top 'most powerful' 100 list. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteIf this is Maniac, how can you even tell? The whole aesthetics is like 80s scifi. That's why I don't think this is the show. Out of all the things going on, I doubt anyone would notice or be distracted by the appliance brand.
ReplyDeleteCail - yeah Larry's book is excellent and he was the one in fact who told me that. Spent a lot of time with him. Good guy and great show.
ReplyDeleteAlso check out www.magnummania.com for interesting tidbits.
Cheers!
The action shots on the new Magnum looked terrible in my opinion. They looked like 10 year old video games intercut with dialogue.
ReplyDeleteis this thing on?? it's not maniac - it's 'a Taiwanese tale of two cities'
ReplyDeletemaniac is all in new york
TTTC is in Taiwan and san francisco. it's in the title...
lol +1 Boozie - haven't watched either myself but that fits
ReplyDeleteGenerally, except for Superbad and Zombieland, Emma Stone seems like a harbinger of bad things. Like if I see her name on something it probably isn't going to be very good. Like Emilia Clarke on films. Jonah Hill is hit-or-miss. Justin Theroux is best in roles where HE CAN GIT IT! GIT IT JUSTIN GIT IT! the more button-down subdued type roles don't seem to suit his strengths.
ReplyDeleteOoo! You guys are talking about Dark, right? The "German Stranger Things"? That show is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at images from Maniac, and I think the overall effect is meant to be unsettling. The incongruous set pieces would work in that context. If this is supposed to be about Maniac, it's a nothing blind.
ReplyDeleteDark is so different from Stranger Things, though, much more psychological.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Netflix actually produced Dark. They are picking up lots of foreign shows, produced by others, and putting them on Netflix, which I really like.
Yeah, Dark was infinitely better than Stranger Things for sure. And surprisingly, Netflix DID produce it!
DeleteDark is an amazing show! Storyline is nothing like Stranger Things so I don’t see why it is being compared. It is one of those sleeper hits that is a must watch! Counting down the days for the next season!
Delete"This subscription service I totally hate for some reason (but I won't admit it's because they turned down a project I had for them) is at it again. In their new show, there are two leading actors, both A-/B+ in film. Of course, they share a lot of scenes together.
ReplyDeleteBut what the service won't publicize is that the two actors weren't actually on set all the time for these scenes. That's right. The two leads may hate each other, or the service can't pay for their entire screen time. So, when the two are supposed to be onscreen together, you can notice that you just see the back of the head of one character. But it isn't always the big name actor, sometimes it's just a look-alike, a cheap actor who just "stands in" so the audience assume it's the actual actor.
The show is actually manipulative enough to mix in some footage with the other actor in some kind of reverse shot, and they edit the sound and the shots together to give the illusion there was a real conversation, and that both actors were on the same set at the same time. Also, there isn't an actual orchestra that plays on the set when you hear music in the show."
Taking advantage of a cheaper country, with some cheaper studio, apart from a few exterior scenes is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The guy who wrote this has definitely never seen a recent mid budget action movie that takes place in London or New York. Most of it is usually shot in Romania or Bulgaria. London Has Fallen, for instance, is 90% shot in Sofia. I'm pretty sure somebody connected with the entertainment industry and who is the first to inform us that an actress got some pap smear is supposed to know this...
A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities?
ReplyDeleteCities being Taipei and San Francisco. Lots of local guest actors and Taiwan has a close relationship with the US (even the accent has the similar rolling 'r' to American accents as well as a strong "American culture" influence).
I forgot to add that a few Taiwanese-based acting colleagues I know have talked about discord between wages
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ReplyDeleteI tried to like Maniac, but it was so over the top pretentious. I am guessing the running joke is that Netflix greenlights anything?
ReplyDelete@ So Outrageous
ReplyDeleteRegarding Maniac you make the valid point that "After 10-15 minutes of watching a well scripted show, viewers should know what the hell is going on."
The problem is that shows are now hooked on the JJ Abrams mystery box (look it up on youtube) style of story writing, where you with hold facts from the audience to 'keep them hooked.' It's a cheap and easy form of story writing as it can be used to cover up a pretty rubbish story. Once I see it happening in a story I switch off as I know it's not worth waiting for the pay off for 1/2/3/4/5 seasons. Or in the case of Lost-no pay off at all!
I don't think this is Maniac. The whole point is that it's an alternate universe and the technology & clothing is kind of all over the place. Also, both Jonah Hill & Emma Stone produced it. I have to believe they put a part of themselves in the project considering it is coming from their own pockets.
ReplyDeleteHere's my rule: No moustache, no Magnum P.I.
ReplyDelete@reese
ReplyDeleteAbrams magic box, from I Robot to The Affair to Fringe, all the shows are doing it. Such a colossal bore. Thanks for giving it a name. At least others see it, too.
I wish that Netflix would pass that savings on to me and lower their price.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they have a tier where you don't get the originals that I don't watch anyway? They're junk to me. I don't care. Just give me movies. Good ones. Not garbage tier stuff. The horror section is 90% junk. Where are the 70s and 80s classics? More of those and less cobbled together Syfy tier junk for 2013+