Top Chef: Texas

This week I chose to watch an episode of Top Chef titled "Culinary Games". This episode is set in British Columbia, and the theme of this episode is the Olympic games. From the first seconds of this episode, advertising is evident. As the group of competitors prepares to drive to the first challenge, one of them exclaims "It's Toyota time!"- Toyota coincidently being one of the show's sponsors. As the scene continues, the camera zooms in on the Toyota logo on the steering wheel resulting in an extreme close up for no reason other than advertising. Throughout the show contestants film individual commentaries. These short scenes are taped using a close up in order to make the things the contestants are "confessing" seem personal despite the fact that millions of people are hearing them. The first challenge consists of contestants cooking in a moving gondala over a snowy mountain. Extreme long shots that pan across the mountain make the challenge seem extreme as it is being described. As the challenge starts music begins playing quickly, camera shots become shorter and more frequent, and extreme close ups of the contestants struggling and the food being cooked are shown. All these elememts work together to create a sense of urgency as the time quickly elapses. Just as one of the contestants explains his fear of heights a high angle shot shows the ground from the gondala in order to reinforce the fear he has. As the challenge ends, the quick music haults as if to convey a feeling of relief. Throughout the judging process, the camera pans across each plate in an extreme close up to highlight te food that was prepared. Close ups of the judges giving theif criticisms and the contestants reactions help to translate emotion to the audience. Sound effects also help elevate emotions. When positive criticism is given soft cymbals play, while a louder sharp sound plays as negative criticism is given.