I find this a fascinating series. So many places visited seem little-known to Western travellers, and so much of the Muslim world and its culture passes us by. Sam Willis presents it very well...and he is something of a musician.
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A related programme on Wednesday was Handmade on the Silk Road, the first of 3. 'Slow TV' - no voiceover/sleb intrusion, just quiet filming of a weaving family at work, with subtitles for the occasional bits of explanation from the weaver. I knew nothing of the particular type of cloth they produce(Atlas silk, using tie-dyed yarn) and watching it appear on the looms was fascinating. -
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We take the Golden Road to Samarkand
In 2011 my partner and I fulfilled an ambition and travelled on a train journey starting in Moscow, on to Volgograd and then on across Central Asia. Those fabulous cities really are from the Arabian Nights and met all my expectations. Unfortunately things went awry when we reached Bukhara, owing to my partner experiencing a serious urinary infection, and we had to fly back from Tashkent instead of continuing our journey across China.
Never mind, it was wonderful, especially Khiva and Samarkand. I'm looking forward to catching up on this TV series, and the local people were great.Comment
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You must complete the trip sometime, ferrets, it sounds magical.Comment
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Sunday's episode (2) was about the ground you did cover ferret - an outstanding series. I found the first half of this programme particularly absorbing - Sogdiana, who knew? - and superb photography (i.e. scenery).
I'm always amused by the conventions of travel programmes - the camera is in the room before the presenter enters, you see his vehicle driving away - does it reverse to pick up the cameraman? We know he had local guides, but who was he travelling with, who was translating?
Anyone read Danziger's Travels? A very different take on the Silk Road (W-E) by photojournalist Nick Danziger, travelling in 1984-5 and having hair-raising adventures along the way.
And yes - Sam Willis gave us a very creditable burst on a fretless ancestor of the lute, in a music shop in Samarkand.Comment
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Yes, the annoying 'musts' of directors always get my goat...but they seemed less obvious in this series than in some. You can bet there was a fair old production team out there with him. I think some people find it easier to suspend disbelief than others. I, like you, can't help seeing behind the curtain, so to speak.I'm always amused by the conventions of travel programmes - the camera is in the room before the presenter enters, you see his vehicle driving away - does it reverse to pick up the cameraman? We know he had local guides, but who was he travelling with, who was translating?Comment
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I find my ability to suspend disbelief is dependent on the quality of the programme. When the subject matter/presenter etc is absorbing the mechanics of the production can be overlooked. The kind of thing that I find really irritating is when some portentous voiceover chunters on about the danger of a situation for the 'face' involved and I find myself muttering "but not half as dangerous as the poor s.. who's wielding the camera" while dangling over a cliff,or trying to avoid a lethal animal or whatever, and having to provide decent footage of said face. Continuity errors do tend to jar as well - candles, and drinks in glasses, are particularly prone to being ignored in that context and lead to distracting musings about how many times a particular scene had to be shot...Originally posted by ardcarp View PostComment
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In spite of the fact that I haven't worked in radio since 1961, I still find it impossible to listen to a radio play without having a constant picture in my mind of actors with scripts standing around a microphone.
On the other hand, although I occasionally mixed BBC filmed drama and was fully aware of all the techniques involved, I can usually lose myself in the action without difficulty. I think it may be that radio acting always sounds slightly false, too many wing commanders as a friend once said.Comment
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Not having worked behind the scenes, so to speak, I find the opposite. I can become thoroughly absorbed in a (decent) radio play. As they say, radio has the best pictures!In spite of the fact that I haven't worked in radio since 1961, I still find it impossible to listen to a radio play without having a constant picture in my mind of actors with scripts standing around a microphone.Comment
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