I am watching far more tv than I should. I usually only watch the football on Sky Go which is a “stolen” service from Margo and Julie my generous neighbours. But this trip I have watched films, documentaries, and got into History and The Natural World stuff. Unfortunately my favourite programme has come to an end. The Newsroom was, by far, the best tv I have enjoyed for a long, long time. I know Pat, my other generous neighbour in Deal, is – or rather was- into the series as well. She may have even got me interested in it in the first place. If that is the case then I owe a debt of thanks as catching up with the episodes was a must for me at some point each week.
A fantastic series by the same man, Aaron Sorkin, who created the West Wing a few years back. That was a good enough series but I believe The Newsroom was better by a good way.
I will miss it and can’t wait to see what Mr Sorkin comes up with next. I sit here and muse (again) – if I too, snort cocaine in industrial quantities would I also become a writing genius? It’s almost worth a try.
However the Newsroom episodes themselves, brilliant though they were, were not the only thing I enjoyed when I sat to watch them. Because I don’t have satellite, I caught up with the episodes on Now TV usually a day or two after the first broadcast. Sometimes, when I could resist the temptation of watching as soon as possible, I would save up and watch two (or more) episodes.
On Now TV, they do not interrupt the reruns with commercials. This is fantastic and makes the watching all the more enjoyable. There is no doubt the adverts definitely get in the way and I must make a note to “muse “on the subject of adverts and advertising at some later date.
However, on the Now TV repeats, when there was a need to break up the narrative, I guess when advertisements would normally be used; the show used a small segment of film no longer than twenty seconds in length. This segment has fascinated me from the moment I first saw it. It is a continuous sequence of film panning along a street viewing into the upper rooms as it goes. Much as you would see if travelling on the top of a bus as it goes down a typical street and you were able to view into the houses on one side. In each room, six in all, there is some scene playing out. The first is of a blonde thoughtfully reading something. She looks up as you, the viewer, go past. The next room contains a man sitting, looking somewhat shocked, on the edge of a bed. We immediately see the bed contains a nightdress clad young woman drowsily turning over. The next scene shows a man running down a hallway. In the next room, two girls –one in bridal gown looking sad, the other girl stroking the flower the bride holds. Next comes a room containing a man dressed as a woman removing “her” wig at a dressing table. The last room contains two people, an apparently upset woman being comforted by a Black man. The final sequence shows the end of the street scene and a woman in long blue dress running to cross the road outside the block.
As I say, I am, and have been spellbound by this short snap of life in this street. My mind boggles at the endless possibilities that could be attached to each scene we view. I reckon several stories could be written about each character.
I could not wait to see this little vignette in each episode, and set my imagination to work on the images.
If I only knew how to find out more about this particular piece of film. How it came about. Who made it? And why? Does it mean anything at all? Obviously the whole piece has nothing to do with The Newsroom. But in itself it doesn’t need to for me to be totally fascinated.
In twenty seconds my imagination is completely let loose. From the opening shots showing a sign with American spelling, to the final closing sequence that appears to be of a typical street found in England with what appears to be English cars (even a Rolls Royce) parked. Was that a continuity slip or intentional content?
I suppose I shall never know.
If anyone knows how I can possibly find out more, please let me know. Otherwise I might have to dream up my own answer(s) – which I am sure will be just as much fun!