The user also wanted to know why window screens were removed before filming.

The answer to both questions is simple. It’s all about making the shot look pretty.

According to Adam Alphin, a local who has worked as director of photography for CNN and UNC-TV as well as several documentaries, productions spend a lot of money on lighting and want to get the most out of it.

“Once you put water down, you’ve got light reflecting off of everything, it just makes it look prettier,” he said.

And as for the window screens, they catch light, especially during night shots.

“They’ll make the windows have a this weird luminescence,” he said. And so they’re usually removed.

Date posted: March 22, 2011

User-contributed question by:
Syaronn