Cinematography in 9.16

[ash48]

There were some fabulous shots in this episode, which is not surprising as Serge Ladouceur directed it.

Here's a little appreciation pic spam. :)

I have to start with this one because look at all those lights on in the bunker! Ceiling lights, wall lights and lamps. I suppose it makes sense considering they are underground (that little window wouldn't provide much light). I wonder if they get an electricity bill? Nice shot of the lamp between them. It feels like a return to the warmth we saw earlier in the bunker. Having the brothers work so closely together is visual evidence that they have been able to put their differences aside at the moment. Gorgeous sunset shot. It's probably a filter, but it sure looks pretty. The lights on this building are fabulous. I have to figure that Serge isn't responsible for that but making the choice to have an exterior shot like this is. The blue and red of the building matching the blue and red on the flag. This also makes me think of heaven and hell. This is my favourite. This whole scene is beautifully shot. That light through the trees is stunning. It's curious that they chose to have Sam perched on the bench in this scene. A person being higher than another is usually about status (well, it is on the stage). Sam is tall anyway but to have him in a position that makes him even taller suggests he holds a certain level of power over Dean. I'm not sure if there's any message in that, or just that it looked interesting. It probably just looked awkward having them both sit on the bench - far too comfortable considering the state of their relationship. Some atmosphere pools of light. These round lights are often used (the panic room, the "stone number one" warehouse and in Castiel's entrance in 4.01 come to mind). I also love Sam and Dean's looming shadows. The Impala is so clean she can create reflections. Either there's lots of washing going on (please!) or that magical garage offers a free spit and polish service. Facial lighting. *guh* SO much love for this picture placement. It's so threatening. It's hard to tell if it's foreshadowing Sam's (potential) future or it was giving us an indication that someone was about to lose their head. I also love that it's Medusa - famous for her snake hair. Maybe it was just a way of poking a little fun at Jared. Whatever it means, it sure is cool. So much love for this little moment. Isn't it curious how grounded the Impala makes Dean? They also share something - Dean's "marked" and so is his baby. It looks like Dean cares more about her than he does about himself. A lovely connection. And how cool is this?! This is freakin' awesome! I was curious why there was that "crown" outside of the apartment. I knew I had seen that sign somewhere before and lo and behold it's from the "King's Lair Motel" (2.15 Tall Tales). Ha! This is why I love this show!! :D

Comments

[stir-of-echoes.livejournal.com]

Woah, that is so cool, I never noticed the crown at all.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

The crown is so cool! That HAD to be deliberate. :))

[stir-of-echoes.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think it would have been now that you mention it. They're pretty on point with things like that.

[kazluvsbooks.livejournal.com]

You are awesome ash, and i love you!!

I also noticed the framing and position of people in the shots was EXCELLENT!!!Well done Serge!!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

He did such a great job! :DD

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Dean and his baby are both marked!!! Great catch. And you already know how I feel about the Samedusa painting...

[ash48.livejournal.com]

The marking connection just occurred to me. I wondered what the significance might have been. I wonder if it was deliberate. I'd LOVE LOVE it if it was.

Hee! Samedusa. I actually think it does look a lot like Sam. And I think there might well be some foreshadowing. We'll see!

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I thought of you as soon as I saw that crown out the window. Such a gorgeous episode.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw the crown I was like "I've seen that before!". I went searching and was delighted that it was from a motel called King's Lair (though I could have sworn I'd seen it somewhere else also...)

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I swear we've seen it lit up before. Don't know if that was from 2.15 or not. Seems like later because I wasn't really paying attention then so maybe they've used it more than once before.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh good. I'm no the only one. I looked through the 2.15 ep and I couldn't see it (though I might have missed it). I also went through all my motel posts but didn't spot it there. (you know it's going to nag me until I find it...;D)

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I think I might have stumbled over this in 7.13. I still think they may have used it another time.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ooh, do you know where? just did a quick scan and couldn't see it.

Also...thinking I might start on the S8 motels soon. I'm thinking that season will be quicker than the others because I'm sure there were even fewer motels than in the past and I'm just going to concentrate on motel/hotels and squats. :)

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

Great set of stills, it was one of those really pretty episodes.

We have discussed the Dean moment - I love the symmetry of them both being marked and for once it wasn't played for laughs, there was a depth there of something so much more that really caught my eye and breath.

Is it just me or have there been a few moments just lately that have emphasized Sam's stature? I'd have to look to check but I'm sure there have been more 'look how much taller Sam is' moments, one I think with Crowley and one I'm sure I noticed with Dean. Now you're making me think if those were deliberate too. The Crowley one, most likely, but usually with Dean next to him they pull back on the height difference. But hey, maybe I'm just brain lagged...

The building lighting really looked like dying angels...

[ash48.livejournal.com]

for once it wasn't played for laughs,

I think that's why it stood out. There was something incredibly sad about it.


I've wondered about Sam's height also. I never really notice it in episodes (I think they do try to even them up) but I've noticed it more and more. Certainly when he was gadreel, but to have him so much higher than Dean in this moment is curious. I wondered by they didn't put Dean on the top - but some how it just seems right with Sam there. It might just be there to diminish his status because later on, when his will is sapped, he looks so vulnerable. It's like he's being stripped back (not literally unfortunately...;D) so he can be used as a weapon (man, I over think things.../o\).

The building lighting really looked like dying angels...

Oooh yeah. It's such a gorgeous shot.

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

It might just be there to diminish his status because later on, when his will is sapped, he looks so vulnerable.

Oh, I hope so, I hope it's also about Sam being confident again in his own skin. I love me some snarky Sam, it's always so satisfactory and I'm also hoping his new status gives him some inner peace to bring out his dry humour again.

I did love the director choices in this one. Kim Manners set some high standards of style in this show that many others reflect, but I haven't been impressed with such an understated elegance for some time, I prefer that to flashy stylish direction, but that's me - give me a simple bias cut 1930s gown in a Fred and Ginger number any day. :))

Bravo Mr Ladouceur - your skills are my enjoyment.

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there's any hint of Swan Song parallels where Dean's bond with the car could be important. I'm probably overthinking it, but he's stripped down his room at the bunker -- he seems to be withdrawing from that home attachment -- but the Impala is an older, deeper association. Maybe it both echoes what happens to him and helps keep him connected to his history and emotions.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

ooh,ohh, I just wrote my reply to El1ie and said a similar thing. It's like he's being stripped back. There's a sense of being emptied (or something) so he can be used. It's what I got from the bench sitting positions (hee..yep, I'm probably over thinking it too...;D). There's a vulnerability that's going to allow the Mark to take more of a hold.

It's also pretty sad - it's like he's hanging on to the one thing that's still tangible. Something he understands.

(overthinking be damned!)

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

PS by "foreshadowing Sam's potential future," I hope you mean a minor risk like the possibility of decapitation, not anything really awful like snake-hair.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

This plays beautifully into fannishliss's meta about Sam as chalice and Dean as sword. We're pretty sure Carver is flipping and paralleling the demonblood storyline, so maybe Dean is slowly emptying out, heading towards chalice-hood. Which, conversely, means Sam might need to gather up his nerve and become a sword for a change. This might also lend credence to observations that they've been slowly emphasizing Sam's height, his dominance. The blocking in the bench scene, while lovely for it's lighting and visual inventiveness, hints of the brothers' continued friction and imbalance. Interesting stuff!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I love having these things pointed out!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm glad! It's fun finding the stuff they give us...

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Love your observations! I hadn't noticed the picture of Medusa behind Sam at all - or the King's Lair. Wonderful touches.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I love the way they plant little nuggets like those...:)

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Wow, I never even noticed the crown. Leave it to your sharp eyes . . . :)

Dean's "marked" and so is his baby.

GREAT catch!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey. I think I spend us much time looking at everything else in a shot as I do looking at the people. :)

(Yay Calvin and Hobbes!)

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

More Serge-directed episodes pretty pleeeeeease!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

PLEEEEEAAASSEEEEE.....

[pocochina.livejournal.com]

It's curious that they chose to have Sam perched on the bench in this scene. A person being higher than another is usually about status (well, it is on the stage). Sam is tall anyway but to have him in a position that makes him even taller suggests he holds a certain level of power over Dean. I'm not sure if there's any message in that, or just that it looked interesting.

I think the other thing is that perching is precarious? You have to be conscientious about keeping your balance, and you have to be pretty confident in the structure of the bench even if you're not, you know, a massive tank of a man. I thought it represented Sam's mental state quite nicely, actually.

Dean's "marked" and so is his baby.

! I like this.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I thought it represented Sam's mental state quite nicely, actually.

Oh yes! Great thought. I like the idea of balance. And that Sam seems so confident even though his position is precarious. I actually think even if Serge didn't have specific reasons for the placement, there's all those elements in play (probably subconscious on his part).

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

I seem to re-call Sam perching in some other episode; maybe it's a little brother habit? lol ;)

[novakev.livejournal.com]

Awesome!! Serge is a Master of Light; great screen-caps!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

He is! Thanks. :))

[casey28.livejournal.com]

I love that you've pointed out that Dean is marked, and so is Baby. Also, the painting of Medusa (Magnus losing his head), and Crowley + the crown. So interesting to find this kind of stuff in an ep. :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks hun. I love it when they give us stuff like this. :))

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

Hellooooo ;)

That shot of Sam you chose, reckon that was about the time I decided - and this will come as news to you, as you probably haven't noticed - he is one hellishly gorgeous MAN! So glad he had grown up. mmmm, mmm, yummy.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey hun!! How you doing?

he is one hellishly gorgeous MAN! So glad he had grown up. mmmm, mmm, yummy.

HA!! I KNOW!!!! I've known for YEEEAAARSSSS!!

You still watching the show?
xx

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

I'm so hideously late in commenting. /o\ I'll take the shame, though, because this is a wonderful post about a gorgeous episode.

I'd like to say that the sunset isn't a filter. Or it is a really good filter because it looks just right for a sunset. The cloud and rocks are just the right shade of gray-pink.

I noticed the crown, too. And to have it in the background when the King of Hell realizes what a sorry picture he makes is just delicious. :D

BTW, this would be a great thing to post to spnematography. *pimps*

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hee., well, I'm behind in replying.../o\

I'd love to think that sunset isn't a filter (I just asked my hubby, who is a little bit of an expect, and says it isn't a filter). I agree, it just looks too good (and the foreground is right also.

And I did think about posting it to your lovely comm. Wasn't sure if I should just provide a link or post the whole thing there (then my brain explodes and I do nothing../o\).

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

Yes, the foreground has that shadowed, non-pink quality that real sunsets do.

then my brain explodes and I do nothing../o\

Oh, don't worry, that same exact thing happens quite often to me too. *hugs* You can do it however you want, just the link or the whole thing. No rules. \o/