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From: lambert%cod@NOSC.MIL
Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest
Subject: Why did $6M man run so slowly?
Message-ID: <8706221647.AA02353@bass.nosc.mil>
Date: Mon, 22-Jun-87 12:47:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: bass.8706221647.AA02353
Posted: Mon Jun 22 12:47:32 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Jul-87 06:19:12 EDT
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Re: Why did $6M man run so slowly?

Why would a producer use slow motion to depict very fast movement?  I suggest 
the following reasons be added to the list: 

1. ACHIEVE THE TECHNICAL EFFECT.  The slow motion points out to the viewer the 
fact that the flow of time is different.  The context around the slow-motion 
scene makes the magnitude and direction of this change obvious.  This is all 
the viewer really needs to sense the effect that the $6M man is moving much 
faster than normal. 

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIEWER'S IMAGINATION.  The slow motion gives the 
viewer's mind time to realize that fast motion is being represented, and to 
appreciate the non-triviality of it (unlike a realtime presentation which 
would tend to make it seem easy). It allows the viewer's imagination to be 
creative, to draw on previous experience, and to construct the concepts and 
images necessary to represent something so complex and 
magnificently-engineered happening so fast.  This increases the impact on the 
viewer by enhancing appreciation of the $6M man's feats.  Indeed, it can give 
the viewer an experience far beyond what the producer can actually achieve on 
the screen. 

3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIEWER'S INTEREST IN LEARNING ABOUT HIMSELF.   The 
viewer is treated to a slow-motion presentation of human qualities difficult 
or impossible to observe at normal or faster speeds. This allows him to learn 
new things about the actor, himself, and other humans. 

4. ACHIEVE ARTISTIC EFFECT.  The producer also achieves beautiful artistic 
effect by allowing viewing of the visible signs of forces and motion, 
observation of facial expressions, and contemplation of the beauty of the $6M 
man's athletic qualities such as speed, power, grace, and coordination. 



lambert@cod.nosc.mil (David R. Lambert)