tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7739220371910106098..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: What did he say?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59228968772933840552018-04-28T03:27:58.352-07:002018-04-28T03:27:58.352-07:00No wonder British actors are all over American sh...No wonder British actors are all over American shows. Most of them are trained to speak clearly. You can film in one take, because they make the lines work the first time. (They are just as bad when they got on a whispering kick, maddening!) Our younger film actors have turned over the job of acting to the camera people. Bill Starhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16572086503631929903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4558880569052374022014-10-13T16:25:03.653-07:002014-10-13T16:25:03.653-07:00Oh my god, I feel so validated. I also feel like t...Oh my god, I feel so validated. I also feel like the music is BLARINg when the volume is high enough for me to understand the dialogue. I've been using rewind and cc for years.<br /><br /> It was so bad I actually went to get my hearing checked, and I am only 37. My hearing is perfect! Turns out it was them all along. <br /><br />Now I am off to futz with my sound settings on my TV, as I also don't have a sound system.<br /><br />Oddly enough, I found this thread while searching for commentary on terrible whisper acting. The culprit is loud enough to understand, but it is weird and annoying. I wonder if it's a coincidence that it's Keifer Sutherland's brother? He's on some terrible CW show called Reign that I started watching because I thought it was about Mary Queen of Scots but is actually just another vapid teen drama that uses her name and is set in a castle.L.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09615158003019374998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39608904482839052852013-02-04T19:33:46.078-08:002013-02-04T19:33:46.078-08:002/4/13
Now I know that I am not the only person i...2/4/13<br /><br />Now I know that I am not the only person in the USA who is irritated by all the whispering on TV shows. I am watching Castle, and none of the characters are talking in a normal voice. Don't the supersmart folks who run the networks realize that the population is getting older and the chances are its hearing is not getting more acute.<br /><br />I know this venting won't do any good,but thank you for letting me know that I am not just a cranky old man who has trouble hearing almost anything that supposedly passes as entertainment on TV but at least one other person has also.<br /><br />Shade Wilson<br />shaderealestate1@aol.comShade Wilsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39359693881435364472009-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:002009-01-31T11:45:00.000-08:00Ken,Thank you for pointing this out, because I tho...Ken,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for pointing this out, because I thought I was the only one going deaf at 24. I think it has more to do with the digital sound mix these days. Rather than mix for your average TV, they're mixing it for the person who likes to fire up the 7:1 Dolby THX Super Doppler First Alert Sensurround Aural Exciter and crank the volume up to 11. <BR/><BR/>My thumb gets a workout on 24, and don't get me started on what happens when I turn it up to hear Keifer whisper "dammit" and then it goes to commercial and I "FIVE DOLLAR FOOTLONG" cracks my speakers and part of my foundation.<BR/><BR/>WV: hawowwoo... The response Ralph gave when he walked in on Norton and Trixie having relations.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90672058292037595812009-01-28T18:32:00.000-08:002009-01-28T18:32:00.000-08:00yeah I miss a few things that are said on 24 and a...yeah I miss a few things that are said on 24 and a few other shows but I don't mind. I like to think of it as beign a fly on the wall and if I don't catch it is is a bit of a mystery. just keep watching.<BR/><BR/>what I hate though is when some sit com actor gets a movie deal like one of the guys from "friends" and shoults all his lines. Movie actors sound dumb when they spell everythin out. <BR/><BR/>Maybe it is just east vs west? <BR/><BR/>"Hi, how can I help you?" yelled in my face just turns me off in real life.Lantastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05891591046986191093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84048614508950332122009-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:00Thank you for saying it. Thought I had gone even ...Thank you for saying it. Thought I had gone even more deaf while watching 24 the other night. Every 2 minutes.... "what did he/she say?" <BR/><BR/>MichAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69501784388674472622009-01-28T09:47:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:47:00.000-08:00Possible solution: Adjust the audio on your TV. As...Possible solution: Adjust the audio on your TV. Assuming you've got a model over $400, go to the menu and look at the audio controls. Most dialogue sounds far clearer on mono than stereo. Also, it sounds even worse if you've got a sound system that tries to surround sound. That audio separation comes with a price: clarity!<BR/><BR/>Verification word: <B>ferstnue,</B> - becoming initially aware ofAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75031144177944032452009-01-28T08:21:00.000-08:002009-01-28T08:21:00.000-08:00Being hearing impaired has benefits, I guess. I H...Being hearing impaired has benefits, I guess. I HAVE to watch the closed captioning on all shows! During The West Wing heydey I pretty much watched all episodes twice, once with the CC to get the dialogue and once to savor the performances.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16828231546704590152009-01-28T03:11:00.000-08:002009-01-28T03:11:00.000-08:00Huh?Huh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42715082186090723052009-01-27T18:43:00.000-08:002009-01-27T18:43:00.000-08:00I routinely leave on closed captioning.Side benefi...I routinely leave on closed captioning.<BR/>Side benefits: they spell out proper nouns so you know character names. And they tell you the titles of background music.<BR/>Complaint: often British productions where the accent is harder to understand to begin with isn't captioned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8515488333098535822009-01-27T16:34:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:34:00.000-08:00Michael Zand hit the nail on the head. I've been c...Michael Zand hit the nail on the head. I've been complaining about inaudible dialogue in movies for years and the problem is with the actors whispering and, in some cases, moving their mouths and saying nothing. Don't believe me? Watch the end of The Magician. (I think that's the title--it's the magic movie that came out the same time as The Prestige). In the old days the actors seemed to whisper but they were audible and the sound techs picked up the dialogue. Nowadays, in a foolish attempt to be realistic, they DO whisper, and when you add the music sound track and rustling of wind in the trees it sounds like someone in an iron lung trying to breathe. Add a touch of method acting (thanks Brando and Anthony Quinn) and you have a mess on your hands. And you young whippersnappers can stow the cracks about hearing aids. I can hear just fine. Ask my neighbors who play their music too loud.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87685191719278627132009-01-27T16:15:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:15:00.000-08:00PS. not hearing the dialogue might be an age issu...PS. not hearing the dialogue might be an age issue for some but I have no problem hearing sportscasts and the news. I actually turn the volume down. <BR/><BR/>Ken is right. You don't have the same problem with sitcoms because the dialogue is crucial and has to be precise. Part of it also is the diminishing respect for the written word. A lot of "dramatic" actors are offended if you sic the script supervisor on them if they drop lines, mispronounce, or change the dialogue. They actually feel that the words are less important than what they're "emoting" for the camera.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14766697567534226222009-01-27T15:10:00.000-08:002009-01-27T15:10:00.000-08:00I turn on the closed captioning for PRISON BREAK, ...I turn on the closed captioning for PRISON BREAK, 24, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, MAD MEN and HOUSE from the get-go.<BR/><BR/>And could someone talk to FOX about their audio levels during 24? The promos and commercials are WAY louder than the program or the local spots.<BR/><BR/>Worked in TV for 20 years - never heard anything booming like what happened last night.<BR/><BR/>DOIDAPP - A combination doily/napkin - kinda like a spork, but for decoration and and neatness.Kimosabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17754136375785142486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17180522282412955872009-01-27T14:38:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:38:00.000-08:00I don't feel that it's the dialog with the Mad Men...I don't feel that it's the dialog with the Mad Men so much but a mixing issue. And maybe something else (cough)age(cough)..To be honest, I use wireless headphones to watch the tv now. Because it's usually later at night (I get cds of most of my television programs from online as I'm now living in Europe and don't feel like waiting two years) and my apt wall-thickness doesn't comfortably insulate tv volume - plus the damn commercials that are then pitched LOUDER. So it turns out really well, I can keep things lower and hear it all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38144455042992162342009-01-27T13:22:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:22:00.000-08:00Ken,I have the same problem. But I think it’s a co...Ken,<BR/><BR/>I have the same problem. But I think it’s a combination of technology, poor speech training, and some plain old bad acting. <BR/><BR/>First off, you're right, but I would make the distinction of actor's <I>whispering</I> their lines as opposed to mumbling them. This has really taken hold of film acting in the last ten years. Sound recording has improved so much that the mics can practically pick up your thoughts. And of course actors abuse this. Actors now use whispering as a gimmick to convey "uber truth." It's bullshit. Back when I was on "Felicity" I'd be on set and watch the actors shoot a normal conversation scene and I couldn't hear from three feet away. They could barely hear each other. How is that realistic? Christian Bale did all of his Batman in the “Dark Knight” in an annoying, raspy whisper. No wonder the Joker was so pissed. I see actors whispering their lines in crowded restaurant and nightclub scenes where you’d have to yell full out to be understood. Again, bullshit. <BR/><BR/>The second issue with American actors is that they don’t have the same speech and vocal training that British or Aussie actors have. When Hugh Laurie chooses to whisper on “House” you can still understand every syllable he utters. Most young American film and TV actors don’t come out of the theatre or theatre training programs and their speech shows it. <BR/><BR/>The third issue is bad acting. Most young actors, on TV in particular, are not that great. This style of “whisper acting” hides their weaknesses. Just whisper and look intense and the camera will do the rest. It’s safe and incredibly boring but you’ll never be accused of being too big or going over the top. <BR/><BR/>So next time you’re watching TV or a movie look out for the whisper. You’ll know you’re in the presence of mediocrity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9368219316873666242009-01-27T13:20:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:20:00.000-08:00ken, i really thought it was just me. i couldn'...ken, i really thought it was just me. i couldn't watch that biker show on a&e because i couldn't hear what they were saying either. i've recently had my hearing tested so i know i'm not going deaf. whew!yatesyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12182600767679971390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85946462255291461012009-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:002009-01-27T12:21:00.000-08:00To repeat what a few others have mentioned, the se...To repeat what a few others have mentioned, the settings on your t.v. may be to blame. We have a Vizio that came with a surround sound option. The default setting is ON and we were puzzled why everyone on every show was mumbling. Turned it off and while we still miss lines - most of which, after 3 listens, are unimportant - the sound is overall vastly improved. Failing that, you might kick up the treble a bit to make the dialog sharper.Moirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11361031930833539600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74377546045232105072009-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:00I disagree that you can't mumble and be funny. Loo...I disagree that you can't mumble and be funny. Look at W.C. Fields.<BR/><BR/>Though, now that I think of it, I could always make out everything he was saying. Was he just PRETENDING to mumble?Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52550123485742519642009-01-27T11:12:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:12:00.000-08:00Just to add to what some others have mentioned, my...Just to add to what some others have mentioned, my tv has various sound settings, and spatial puts some of the audio out of phase to create a more stereophonic effect, but when watching Fox Baseball for instance, the crowd noise drowns out the announcers. If you like Joe Buck, that's bad. If you hate Tim McCarver, as some on here do, that's good.<BR/><BR/>WV: felun...waiting for groovy to appear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36934979547529015362009-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:00The only drama I watch is Damages and that show dr...The only drama I watch is Damages and that show drives me crazy. It's like the entire show is quiet so you have to turn it up to high volume, but then the commercial comes on and blows you away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18962730843620326912009-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:00They do it to make sure you're paying attention. T...They do it to make sure you're paying attention. Then you turn the sound up and the commercials kick in.<BR/><BR/>WV: podelero - Mexican-themed accessory set for your iPod.blogwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362291687463326731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60372532352144339082009-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00I have the same problem with Battlestar all the ti...I have the same problem with <I>Battlestar</I> all the time. And I am far from old.<BR/><BR/>I just watch it with the subtitles, now. My wife can't stand it. "They're speaking English!"<BR/><BR/>Sebastian, I wouldn't trust the spelling from Closed Captioning. I can't count the number of mistakes I've seen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33501749096359247802009-01-27T10:05:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:05:00.000-08:00As with most things, its the Director's fault!As with most things, its the Director's fault!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88149421885999529822009-01-27T09:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:52:00.000-08:00But THERE IS NO TIME to enunciate! When you have t...But THERE IS NO TIME to enunciate! When you have to save America from vague terrorists you don't have time to speak clearly dammit!Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47378342689497357572009-01-27T09:50:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:50:00.000-08:00For a while now, I've wondered why I have to crank...For a while now, I've wondered why I have to crank the volume for dialogue and turn it down when music and sound f/x kick in. Clearly, it has something to do with the mix or my lack of state of the art sound equipment (though I do run the TV through a perfectly respectable receiver). It's especially noticeable on DVDs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com