The most viewed film of all time is Abraham Zapruder’s footage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It lasts just 28 seconds and it’s full of technical errors. There are camera shakes, the framing is poor, and the hand held footage is continually out of focus. And right at the crucial moment when a bullet strikes, the image nearly disappears from the bottom of the frame.
Now imagine that you have to explain this to a client. That you are about to film one of the most important historical events in the 20th century and you’re planning on shooting it on the fly. One camera. Handheld. And it’ll come out grainy and full of judders and wobbles. There’s every chance the end result will look a bit rough and ready. No surprises if the client tells you to scrap your plans and give it the full gloss production please.
As creative people we’d probably agree with the client because it’s in our blood to do things as well as we can. But if Zapruder’s footage had been shot properly would the result have been so dramatic – so compelling? Rather than detract from the content, the mistakes bring a rawness that helps bring the content to life. Rather than diminish the experience, the rough edges enhance it. They make it feel immediate and vital.
Interesting fact: Should Abraham Zupruder have been charging an hourly rate for his 28 seconds of rough and ready film, his hourly rate would have been over one billion, nine hundred million, two hundred thousand dollars an hour ….give or take a few million.
@fountainjohn
