How can I get better at spotting movie mistakes on my own? Especially the revealing mistakes and visible camera crew and equipment type ones?
TerrenHurley
5th Feb 2023
General questions
Answer: First, it's imperative you watch a film or show with the ability to rewind (DVD, On Demand, Streaming, etc). Second, you should be familiar with the different types of filming techniques and procedures so you can visualize how the scene is being shot and where equipment and crew might be that could accidentally get in the shot. A lot of wide shots are going to expose revealing mistake, often time just briefly. While a continuous shot (where the camera doesn't cut) isn't going to have continuity issues. When the camera angle changes, that's when you can pick up mistakes. Finally, you can't be a passive viewer, if you're texting or looking at your phone, you're going to miss mistakes. And if you're really out to find mistakes, you'll probably miss the show (so it's best to look for mistake on your 2nd or 3rd viewing).
2nd Feb 2023
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Visible crew/equipment: When the men are pushing the catapult to the gate look at the far left of the screen for a few seconds you can see a crew member in a baseball cap and then a large movie camera. There's also a twig palisade next to him where two more crew members are visible.
4th Jan 2023
Joe Dirt (2001)
Revealing mistake: When Joe Dirt gets lifted up by another man and thrown to the ground you can see that Joe is a stunt double.
6th Nov 2022
Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Revealing mistake: After Steven Wilkins disguised as a vampire kills the unnamed woman he closes her eyelids to make it look like she's asleep. Just before his hand contacts her eyelids you see her almost blink, revealing she's very much alive.
26th Oct 2022
Scream (2022)
Visible crew/equipment: As Wes steps out of the shower and is drying his hair, you can just see the reflection of the camera man in the glass on the right side.
17th Sep 2022
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Visible crew/equipment: When the Hitchhiker was thrown out of the van and chases after them the camera cuts to the inside of the van and a crew member wearing a red T-shirt and clapper board are visible reflected in the window from the inside view.
28th Aug 2022
The Good Son (1993)
Visible crew/equipment: When Henry helps pull Mark onto the treehouse at the beginning of the film, if you look very closely to the left you can just make out a crew member dressed in black helping him on to the platform. The crew member then ducks back under the platform.
11th Aug 2022
Carrie (2013)
Revealing mistake: When Tommy Ross gets killed and Carrie looks at his supposedly lifeless body if you look closely you will notice he blinks revealing that he is actually alive.
11th Aug 2022
The Dream Team (1989)
Revealing mistake: When Henry hits one of the corrupt cops in the head with an otoscope it bends off his head like rubber.
Answer: Honestly, what made me start to notice revealing mistakes/visible crew was just learning about those types of mistakes on this very website and figuring out what to look for. Watching behind-the-scenes materials and learning how movies are made also helps. If I'm specifically going through a movie or show looking for mistakes, which I do sometimes for fun, I usually load up a Blu-Ray copy or the streaming service I'm using, and just scan through every shot, frequently rewinding and looking at all the little details. It can be subtle, so you may have to watch the same few shots 3, 4, 5+ times before you notice things. And even then, I'm sure I miss a lot of them.
TedStixon