Camera + Wine =
Viewing camera tests are like wine tastings. The terms are different but the psychology is the same.
In the room there is usually somebody with the status of senior expert, some lesser experts, and then some people who might be experts one day if only they can master the right combination of jargon and confidence.
In wine tastings everyone takes a sip, does that disgusting mouthwash thing with their cheeks then swallows the stuff.
Then comes the pregnant silence.
It’s the same with camera test viewings. Everybody watches, the test finishes, the house lights come up and there is the pregnant silence. You think that everyone is contemplating the deep and meaningful comments they are about to make.
Wrong.
Everyone is wondering “Will I look like a complete idiot if I say out loud what I think I saw?”
At least I think that is what everyone is wondering – I don’t actually know for sure. Maybe some further-than-me-up-the-ladder-experts are wondering something like, “Will I still get the job if I totally pan digital?”, or maybe “why are we wasting time when I already knew how it would turn out?”
In a wine tasting somebody at the top of the group pecking order will pronounce something like “It has a strong hint of blackberry.”
Everyone nods, hmms and ahhs in agreement all except the independent thinkers. They – now the ice is broken – suggest something similar but not too left field – say raspberry.
The clever ones phrase it as a question, “Do I also detect a hint of raspberry?”
Camera tests usually work the same way. The pregnant silence continues until the acknowledged senior – usually a toss between the DP and the Director – speak.
If it is a film vs. digital test, the current cliché is: ”The film looks more organic.”
OK. I admit I have nodded sagely too – but what on earth does organic mean?
What has peasant farmers composting vegetables or oddly shaped tomatoes got to do with a chemical factories and laboratories?
But by then we’ve all nodded.
At least when it comes to wine competitions they do blind tasting.
But how many double-blind camera tests do you see?
My theory is that it works like this: the guy who speaks first sways the crowd.
Still, don’t try and be the first to speak if you are not at the appropriate level in the hierarchy. Forget the emperor’s new clothes fantasy, group psychology doesn’t work like that .
But what you can do is wait outside for a bit, do a water cooler thing, people often gather and chat afterwards.
And that’s when they will tell you what they really saw.
