Fear the Walking Dead - Official discussion thread

[Fanatical Meat]

Any guesses how many people will watch it even though they don't like the walking dead and didn't like the premier but for some unknown reason they'd try it again?

 

[destrekor]

Any guesses how many people will watch it even though they don't like the walking dead and didn't like the premier but for some unknown reason they'd try it again?

Probably quite a few. Why? Because most people have come to learn that the first few episodes (hell, often times the first whole season) of most new shows can be questionable, and not match the quality of latter seasons.

The Walking Dead actually had it entirely different, the first season might be one of the best if not the best season of the whole series. Though I like the whole series.

I don't expect many people who do not like TWD to enjoy FTWD, but... they might be hoping the show gets a different tone. Then again, it also depends what they don't like about TWD. If they have become annoyed by the character drama (gasp! Drama in a Drama?! No way! This is supposed to be about Zombies!), they probably won't give FTWD more than two episodes of their time, if they return after the first episode.

But as the show is teasing the impending doom and collapse of society, I think that'll get a few TWD non-fans to follow FTWD if it can hook them in no more than 3 episodes. Some, like me, will probably see it all the way through because they are completionists.

 

[Kaido]

Any guesses how many people will watch it even though they don't like the walking dead and didn't like the premier but for some unknown reason they'd try it again?

Me! Because what else is on

 

[destrekor]

Now that I think of it you are right. Walking Dead feels more like a film and Fear feels more digital.

Different artist intent.

TWD is shot on Kodak Super 16mm.

It appears that FTWD is shot on digital.

Super 16 gives a grainy look due to the smaller frame. When developing TWD, they went through a few tests and found that the grainy film quality of the 16mm film gave the show a grittier quality to it, helped seem like it was pulled straight from the comics.

I am guessing that the director of photography and director settled on digital in FTWD (without grainy post-fx) to help create a different tone: one of cleanliness and a way to showcase some of the beauty of Sunny LA. It helps create a stark difference between the run-down, post-civilization world of TWD, and the still clean, still functioning world of FTWD.

I simply love film myself, and feel that film gives a story a more emotional edge. It's amazing how much the filming and post-fx decisions impact the way we feel - we associate so much with how something is presented, and often, we don't even realize it. There are usually numerous decisions in the photography department that try to lend the exact feeling that a show or movie is trying to produce, sometimes based on the environment of the story (haunted woods, sterile future world, etc)

 

[clamum]

I hope they introduce a hottie (e.g. a Maggie) soon. I'M WAITING.

/handsonhips

 

[Jeeebus]

Overall I approve, I really liked the music.

The music was very suggestive of 28 Days Later to me. I liked it.

 

[Imp]

I hope they introduce a hottie (e.g. a Maggie) soon. I'M WAITING.

/handsonhips

The daughter, Alicia, is 21 in real-life but jailbait on the show... It's up to you.

 

[her209]

It was meh. I understand they are setting up the series and introducing the characters but damn it was slow. If it were not for TWD, I would have stopped after the first 30 minutes.

 

[Soccerman06]

I think I already hate the mom

 

[her209]

Anyone else noticed the resemblance of the junkie to James Franco? I wonder if that was intentional.

 

[Imp]

Aw.... Did they leave the cart behind?

Things are picking up, not that I found the first episode slow -- it did its job of establishing a normal world, and now we get to see it go to shit.

 

[dank69]

Anyone else noticed the resemblance of the junkie to James Franco? I wonder if that was intentional.

He reminds me of the kid from Empire Records.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I've enjoyed both episodes so far. Second episode definitely picked up. Was feeling amped as things are ramping up to SHTF.

 

[Kaido]

Anyone else noticed the resemblance of the junkie to James Franco? I wonder if that was intentional.

Yeah, although closer to his little brother Dave from Scrubs.

 

[Imp]

Next week's a no-show day, returns September 13. And it's only a 6 episode season? That sucks. I was wondering if they were going to show both Walking Dead shows back to back or not.

 

[Kaido]

I think I already hate the mom

What kills me is the flat response to everything. Just killed my son's drug dealer...shrug. Just smashed the zombie principle's head...shrug. Lady across the street getting eaten...shrug. Actually that's the other big problem I have with the show...they are terrible parents. Obviously things are headed south, and they've already seen firsthand what happens...TELL YOUR KIDS ALREADY! Tell the neighbors! Tell the barbershop people! I think the writers are trying to create dramatic tension here, but it's more annoying than anything.

 

[Kaido]

Next week's a no-show day, returns September 13. And it's only a 6 episode season? That sucks. I was wondering if they were going to show both Walking Dead shows back to back or not.

2 things kill me:

1. They're taking a break already (2 shows in & they skip a week? seriously?)

2. They don't end on a cliffhanger. This annoys me because I kinda like the show & I want to look forward to the next week, but they always end it on a meh note.

 

[Kaido]

Different artist intent.

TWD is shot on Kodak Super 16mm.

It appears that FTWD is shot on digital.

Super 16 gives a grainy look due to the smaller frame. When developing TWD, they went through a few tests and found that the grainy film quality of the 16mm film gave the show a grittier quality to it, helped seem like it was pulled straight from the comics.

I am guessing that the director of photography and director settled on digital in FTWD (without grainy post-fx) to help create a different tone: one of cleanliness and a way to showcase some of the beauty of Sunny LA. It helps create a stark difference between the run-down, post-civilization world of TWD, and the still clean, still functioning world of FTWD.

I simply love film myself, and feel that film gives a story a more emotional edge. It's amazing how much the filming and post-fx decisions impact the way we feel - we associate so much with how something is presented, and often, we don't even realize it. There are usually numerous decisions in the photography department that try to lend the exact feeling that a show or movie is trying to produce, sometimes based on the environment of the story (haunted woods, sterile future world, etc)

I love film too...but as a filmmaker I'd be horrified to ever shoot on it. It becomes more of the process than the tool, which is cool, but...yikes. My hat's off to anyone who shoots on film. Back in Season 3 a few years ago, they surpassed one million feet of film shot:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/The_Storyboard/4294970979/index.htm

Good interview with David Boyd if you haven't read it here:

https://library.creativecow.net/kaufman_debra/Behind-the-Lens-David-Boyd/1

Although I feel like we're getting closer with digital...the 2.5K Blackmagic has one of the most film-like pictures I've seen, and the new Arri Alexa Mini has a super nice picture as well. Plus the jumbo rent-only 65 is making waves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfj1VCg16Y

Will be interesting to see if/when digital can match up with film. We're still not there yet, even with 6.5K cameras. Film just has such a unique good look to it...

 

[Imp]

2 things kill me:
1. They're taking a break already (2 shows in & they skip a week? seriously?)

2. They don't end on a cliffhanger. This annoys me because I kinda like the show & I want to look forward to the next week, but they always end it on a meh note.

It's Labor Day weekend next week... What is that? Columbus Day down south?

Don't really need a cliffhanger: world's about to end, people are being eaten left and right, humans are getting more dangerous.

 

[Bird222]

What kills me is the flat response to everything. Just killed my son's drug dealer...shrug. Just smashed the zombie principle's head...shrug. Lady across the street getting eaten...shrug. Actually that's the other big problem I have with the show...they are terrible parents. Obviously things are headed south, and they've already seen firsthand what happens...TELL YOUR KIDS ALREADY! Tell the neighbors! Tell the barbershop people! I think the writers are trying to create dramatic tension here, but it's more annoying than anything.

In all fairness she did break down in the bathroom. I agree they need to tell the kids already, but that's a hell of a thing to try to explain.

 

[CZroe]

Finally watched the premier. Thought it was cliched and boring. None of the characters were interesting or likable. They act like we are in suspense about what happened as if the viewers are discovering the outbreak for the first time and it just doesn't work when you already know what's going on and what the rules are.

I did like that they played with our expectations at the beginning but my brother totally called that it was a drug den.

I LOLed when it started with the cliched "Wife wants to call a plumber when stubborn man struggles to fix sink himself."

I rolled my eyes when the daughter indicated that he wasn't the father by calling him by his name.

I groaned when the siblings discussed their differences with a shoe-horned scene of forced exposition. Why? Because it means they won't be killed off too quickly. Damn.

It just got stupid with the knife at school.

Were those bleachers later on the same set as when Bond checked his text message in Casino Royale?

 

[Excelsior]

I love film too...but as a filmmaker I'd be horrified to ever shoot on it. It becomes more of the process than the tool, which is cool, but...yikes. My hat's off to anyone who shoots on film. Back in Season 3 a few years ago, they surpassed one million feet of film shot:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/The_Storyboard/4294970979/index.htm

Good interview with David Boyd if you haven't read it here:

https://library.creativecow.net/kaufman_debra/Behind-the-Lens-David-Boyd/1

Although I feel like we're getting closer with digital...the 2.5K Blackmagic has one of the most film-like pictures I've seen, and the new Arri Alexa Mini has a super nice picture as well. Plus the jumbo rent-only 65 is making waves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfj1VCg16Y

Will be interesting to see if/when digital can match up with film. We're still not there yet, even with 6.5K cameras. Film just has such a unique good look to it...

Actually, we pretty much are there. Vince Gilligan said in an interview that while we preferred to use film for Breaking Bad, switched to digital for Better Call Saul. When pressed to give a reason why, he said he didn't even know but just said he likes the romance and history of it. They did a test with various film and digital mediums and did a double blind test, and no one could tell which one was film or digital.

https://youtu.be/G0ZXPvrda38?t=47m50s

 

[dank69]

2 things kill me:

1. They're taking a break already (2 shows in & they skip a week? seriously?)

2. They don't end on a cliffhanger. This annoys me because I kinda like the show & I want to look forward to the next week, but they always end it on a meh note.

They don't want to go up against Sunday Night Football season opener.

 

[Kaido]

It's Labor Day weekend next week... What is that? Columbus Day down south?

Don't really need a cliffhanger: world's about to end, people are being eaten left and right, humans are getting more dangerous.

Oh yah, I guess that makes sense - a lot of people will be on vacation.

 

[Kaido]

In all fairness she did break down in the bathroom.

Yeah, she's a pretty stoic character. The thing that bugs me is that she knows her daughter wants to go visit her boyfriend & has already tried to sneak out, so she needs to tell her WHY she can't go. Of course, that would probably make her want to go more because she doesn't want it to happen, but now that the neighbor is getting eaten across the street, you know...probably a good time to share now