JAMaica INN

[Ariosto]

It seems there's a disagreement between production and sound technicians.

Personally speaking (SHUT UP I hear people shouting) I'm sure it was lousy acting. They are not trained properly anymore. (You will all be pleased to hear I'm off for a beer now, and so will be shutting up and logging orf!)

[mercia]

.......... so did things not improve after episode one, audio-wise, as was promised ? I only watched episode one (with the help of subtitles)

[johnb]

Although I didn't watch Jamaica Inn I did sample the start of episode two on iPlayer and quickly gave up.

Obviously my hearing is not the same as that of a 20 year old but I have no trouble what-so-ever when listening to the radio, to TV news and current affairs programmes, documentaries or even repeats of older drama series. (I've recently discovered how good the BBC "Waking the Dead" programmes were - currently being repeated on the Drama channel.) However, I often need to switch on subtitles for current drama programmes. (Shetland is another series plagued by mumbling.)

This use of indistinct speech seems to be the current fashion with directors (and probably) actors. Perhaps if we all complain something will be done about it.

[Nick Armstrong]

diminishing returns

You mean the zombies were getting smaller...?!




(I know what you mean, by the way! Just can't resist a sight of goal..... )

[Nick Armstrong]

I Claudius was utter tosh

You are bizarre, aren't you...

[Flosshilde]

I noticed that there is a box set available - I was rather tempted.



Even though I haven't got a TV

[James Wonnacott]

Perhaps if we all complain something will be done about it.

Oh yes, that'll work.

[MrGongGong]

Oh yes, that'll work.

Yeah Jimmy it's all part of the "brainwashing" innit

[french frank]

Here's the story as reported in Ariel http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/27126408

I liked this quote:

"Of course we want them to give brilliant performances and you've got to respect that but if no one can understand what they're saying then there is a problem."

[Flosshilde]

Yeah Jimmy it's all part of the "brainwashing" innit

Is that on the 'delicates' cycle?

[MrGongGong]

Is that on the 'delicates' cycle?

The last time I quoted Dave Brock it all went a bit pear shaped
so I will pass on that, if you don't mind

[Honoured Guest]

Here's the story as reported in Ariel

Other washing powders are available.

[MrGongGong]

Other washing powders are available.

[Ferretfancy]

With transmissions on successive nights it seems to me extremely unlikely that there would have been time to do more than just tweek the final mix between episodes 1 & 2, and I speak as an ex dubbing mixer. To do the job properly would almost certainly mean going back to original dialogue tracks to make a new dialogue premix before adding music and effects. That's the way it would have been done in house, but nowadays it's difficult to tell just where drama productions are finalised, since most productions are made by independents.
I often felt that I could have made an improvement on a programme, or part of a programme, only to be told by production that there was not enough time. You had to use a strong degree of self criticism and fight your corner if you wanted to do your best work. The fact was that working inside the BBC meant that you were better equipped to stand up for yourself than if you were working "Down the road " after all, productions have budgets, and time is money, so if you were difficult they might go elsewhere next time.

I realise that much has changed technically since I retired, and digital technology is very different, but the principles of judgement remain the same, or should do.

[Honoured Guest]

Devotees of I Claudius may be interested to hear that a rerun of the 26-part Trollopean drama serial The Pallisers kicks off on Bank Holiday Monday on BBC2 at 12 noon.