Free-Thought

Chris Johnson, Leeds
How I agree with Ken! I watch some documentaries (on all channels) and find myself feeling queasy with all the jerky, sometimes unfocused, unduly close camera work, or split second shots which move from one subject to the next without any chance to focus on them. I forget the theme of the programme or story - the cameraman has my attention, not the plot. If it gets too bad I simply turn off in frustration. There are some exceptions of course, but please can we return to the technical standards Ken refers to.

Brendan Balhetchet, Frome, Somerset
Thank you, Ken Loach. AT LAST, someone who must know what he's talking about has spelt it out clearly and directly. For a long time now, my wife and I have endured some truly awful video camera work, very much along the lines of what he has said. Many a fine documentary has been RUINED by visually painful shooting. (We have wondered whether these are the kinds of techniques being taught to our brave new "media studies graduates"....) Didn't realise it was all about saving production costs! Please, please, BBC -- do not spoil your reputation for producing visual masterpieces....

Gary Mayes, Norfolk
Ken Loach's Free Thought this morning was spot on. His comments on the demise of the traditional film-maker in the light of 'new' technology, reduced budgets and the pressure for one-person doing everything paints a dim but real view of the future of film making. He made no mention of YouTube where not just one person does everything, but anyone does everything and anything. The more depressing view of the film-making future is that where YouTube joins broadcast TV as a single multimedia platform. There, real talent and craft will be buried amongst everyone's home-movies with their lurching cameras, poor sound, bad lighting and dreadful content. It's an 'anyone can do' world now, which doesn't mean they should. By all means learn, but let's not erode and undermine the craft, expertise and vision that is required to make truly memorable films. Real film-making is a collaboration of minds and skills. Let's not sweep them away on a tide of mediocrity in the name of the new digital era.