Thank you, Larissa, for hosting me during my Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour, which launches my contemporary romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady. Today I'll be chatting about antidisestablishmentarianism. Ok, NOT! Instead, let's dish the dirt about continuity problems―and I'm not talking about overactive bladders.
Whenever I watch movies or television shows with my husband, I know to expect certain things. I know to expect that Marc might not really want to watch my favourite show, but that he'll do so just to spend time with me. I'll know to expect him to make fun of some of my shows. And I know to expect him to mutter a certain phrase: "Do ya think I'm freakin' stupid?"
Marc's not talking to me, but to the television. More accurately, he's talking to the writers who work in the TV and film industry. He doesn't just catch continuity or implausibility errors on shows and movies; he even finds them in commercials.
Just this past week or so, Marc has caught incidences such as: tires squealing on a snow-covered road, lights being turned on with a dramatic clicking sound that echoes down the hall, one actor advising another to turn over the engine, resulting in a churning engine sound and the first actor saying, "Your battery must be dead then."
"Do ya think I'm freakin' stupid?" Okay, you'd have to change one word for it to be exactly what my husband says, but you get the point. Ever see hubcaps fly off a vehicle in one scene of a movie or show, only to reappear two seconds later in the next shot? Marc recently noticed a scene where a car's front end was damaged, yet in the next shot it was as good as gold. What, did they stop at a repair shop mid-chase and get it fixed?
As I've learned from my husband, some things just don't work the way that TV or film says they do. Television and film use these "devices" specifically for dramatic effect; they take leniencies with fact and authenticity. They do this to create tension and suspense. But when was the last time you turned on a hall light and the sound echoed down the hall…hall...? Um, never? And when was the last time you made your tires squeal when you were driving in snow? Is this possible? Nope.
Marc has taught me that even non-writers are too well informed to be suckered in by poor writing, directing or editing. He's also taught me that I shouldn't write or talk about something I know nothing about, and neither should my characters. I must research! I must be able to suspend disbelief if necessary, to make the unbelievable believable.
So if you're an author or writer―whether for books or film―be believable. Write for an intelligent audience. I know that's what my readers are.
Now I must go convince my husband to take me to the Bahamas. After all, I wrote about it in Lancelot's Lady, yet have never been. But I sure did enjoy doing the research on it. Pour me another margarita, Marc!
You can learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo (aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif) at http://www.cherishdangelo.com and ttp://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com. Follow Cherish from September 27 to October 10 on her Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour and win
prizes.
What continuity errors have you discovered on TV and in movies?
Leave a comment here, with email address, to be entered into the prize draws. You're guaranteed to receive at least 1 free ebook just for doing so. Plus you'll be entered to win a Kobo ereader. Winners will be announced after October 10th. It’s International!
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Thanks for the contest! Is this international?
mishamary@gmail.com
I don't usually tend to notice continuity errors in TV and movies, I'm kind of oblivious to them until someone points them out haha
Well this giveaway makes it sound like you can't not win :D
Thanks for the chance to win!!
Ambur
ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com
Inotice the lil tiny messe sups in movies and tv shows im kinda anal about it lol
is awesome to have this giveaway you rock!
mortalsinn@yahoo.com
This is interesting...
reagrds,
maidenhealer@hotmail.com
I do notice these things but the biggest continuity problem I can remember from the top of my head at less than 2 hrs to midnight here is the character of Alex (Rick and Evy's son) in the Mummy 3. He was so English as a child and he apparently went to college in Oxford, so why does he sound completely American in the 3rd movie??? -___-'
midnite [dot] fantasy [at] gmail [dot] com
I usually don't notice errors in tv or movies. I am usually too into the movie to care. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Hi - First I have to say that I love a good Phineas and Ferb reference - had me giggling and wondering who else will get that - (I am not the only over 30 fan of that show am I?)
As to the continuity question - I am always noticing food issues - they take a bit, then the next scene the food is whole again (or something to that effect) I understand, but I always notice that.
Thanks!
bleumoonspirit(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you all for dropping by. I enjoyed your comments.
My giveaways and draws during my Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour are open to anyone anywhere, so yes, it's international. :-)
If you've left your email address in your comment, you'll be entered into all draws and you'll receive a free ebook after my tour is over.
Good luck in all the draws!
Cherish
Cheryl and Larissa, Thanks for sharing a great post. Marc reminds me of my husband, because he and the rest of his family pick out things like that in movies and TV shows. I on the other hand watch them to relax and escape. Although I read books for the same reason, I am more likely to catch continuity issues in them.
jessica_stratford[at]ymail[dot]com
Great post! Continuity issues do irritate me but I don't always spot them. The ones I've seen most of have been in car chases where one minute the car is dented or a mirror is missing and then the next minute it is miraculously fixed!
Thanks for hosting the giveaway :o)
sarahsreviews at ymail dot com
For me it's just sheer fun to look for continuity errors. :-) It helps sharpen my brain, I think. I also like predicting the plot well ahead of time. Again, it keeps me sharp as a knife...
"I kill people off for a living." --Cheryl Kaye Tardif
;-) Cherish
My husband Mark (small world!) does the exact same things. There are a couple shows that I've liked that he can't abide watching, but most of the ones that are my shows rather than 'our' shows he will put up with. I just notice him shaking his head every now and then. :)
jmfictionscribe at yahoo.com.au
LOL Jaime. My Marc does the same thing--shakes his head and "tsks" every now and then. Until he sees something he deems as ridiculous. lol
I think that bugs me is that in TV, they will get one actor or actress to play a part, and then they have to replace that person. Or they act like that character never did not exist. Watch the original Cosby show. In the first episode, they had four children--that is what they said. Then in the next episode, they magically got an older girl. I didn't realize this until many years later because I don't think I saw the first episode originally. And I think that is what the writers and producers tend to bank on.
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
LOL I quite enjoyed this post.
Things I notice is ages being off - this is a big thing in soaps. They reach the age of 30 within 10-12 yrs of show time.
Hair being parted on the wrong side and wounds on the wrong side or markings (i.e. tats, beauty marks, and piercings).
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
I am playing catch up!! I had a wedding to go to and got behind. Sometimes even stalkers take a break!!!
P.s Thank you for stalking me!!!
sarahcoulsey03 at gmail dot com
I've read one series where the main character became taller! In book one, he was around 5'5", by book 3 or 4, he was over 6' tall!
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com