Do musicians roll their eyes at fake movie/TV music stuff like IT people roll their eyes at fake IT stuff?

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,479
3,597
126
Was watching a show and a character was playing a piano but even I could tell he clearly didn't know what he was doing.

So I got to thinking do musicians have "two people typing on the same keyboard" kinds TV/movie situations?
 

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
7,664
3,206
136
Yes you can easily tell in most movies/tv shows. The directors can do things to hide it, like never show the pianist's hands, or show someone else's hands hitting the keys, but in lower quality shows you can tell.
 

LikeLinus

Lifer
Jul 25, 2001
11,518
670
126
Was watching a show and a character was playing a piano but even I could tell he clearly didn't know what he was doing.

So I got to thinking do musicians have "two people typing on the same keyboard" kinds TV/movie situations?

Yes! I've learn to try to ignore it, but it's hard not to. What's worse is I work in video production and see all kinds of things a lot people wouldn't.

I like to drive my wife nuts by pointing out continuity errors, boom mics, reflections, ADR, and things of that nature. :D
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Absolutely, yes.

I think that is true for basically anything they show on TV/films across every trade.

They blatantly admit it too.. fun story I was on 60 Minutes years ago on an episode about hacking and they filmed a bunch of stuff that I was live hacking. Producer said, wow this is really fucking boring, nothing is happening, can you make it look more exciting somehow? I spent most of the time editing the code to auto-complete one letter at a time and scroll through Matrix screen ASCII trash while it sorted for the character than I did on popping the app. All of that shit is totally made up. Also that experience was interesting but I was asked to do super unethical things for their ratings (and refused) and would never do it again. Because I refused to do the stuff they asked, they cut all of that footage out of the final production.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,479
3,597
126
fun story I was on 60 Minutes years ago on an episode about hacking and they filmed a bunch of stuff that I was live hacking.

Platypus typing:
Dear Karen, your account password has been hacked. Please use the link below to enter you username and old password so the password can be reset.
Sincerely,
Corporate IT

60 minutes: "What are you doing?"
Platypus: "Hacking"
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,363
8,675
136
Yes you can easily tell in most movies/tv shows. The directors can do things to hide it, like never show the pianist's hands, or show someone else's hands hitting the keys, but in lower quality shows you can tell.
Sometimes they have the actor take lessons. I watched The Pianist recently (again) and I believe that was the case. Now, I'm not a pianist, but he (and Roman Polanski) did IMO a decent job.

I've been thinking of rewatching Ray, which is the rare biopic I thought was great. Jamie Foxx just channeled the blind Ray Charles I thought to a T. Charles, of course, sang at the piano. I believe he played alto sax too.
 

dasherHampton

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2018
2,543
488
96
How hard did IT/security people laugh when Hugh Jackman hacked into the FBI database (or whatever) in 60 seconds while taking tequila shots and getting a blowjob, all the while with a gun to his head?

A job that normally takes the best hackers 60 minutes, no less.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,412
5,848
136
yeah the piano ones are painful

even guitar is super obvious most of the time, and i don't even play it
 

dasherHampton

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2018
2,543
488
96
Here's a good one to judge how well you can catch these things:


The actress's attempt at impersonating an actual cello player is awful. HOWEVER - they cut to a real cello player's fingers and bow in certain spots, and not too badly.

For anyone who knows the Rococo variations: watching her navigate the octave passage is absolutely priceless.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,200
13,791
136
Sometimes they have the actor take lessons. I watched The Pianist recently (again) and I believe that was the case. Now, I'm not a pianist, but he (and Roman Polanski) did IMO a decent job.

I've been thinking of rewatching Ray, which is the rare biopic I thought was great. Jamie Foxx just channeled the blind Ray Charles I thought to a T. Charles, of course, sang at the piano. I believe he played alto sax too.
Foxx can actually play piano, FYI (since you're posting about it in this thread, not sure if you were aware).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muse

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,363
8,675
136
Foxx can actually play piano, FYI (since you're posting about it in this thread, not sure if you were aware).
I did not, but not surprised. Gonna rewatch Ray one day soon.

Of course, The Pianist was a biopic too, and a damned good one. The extras on the disc are great as well.