There’s something that bugs me about TV programs, sci-fi ones in particular. It came to my attention again recently when I was watching an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I think it was Data’s Day.
When Data takes the bridge, presumably he is relieving the previous officer of his position at the end of his shift, and Data tells his crew to “begin night watch”. And then what happens? The lights dim, of course.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation usually follows the night shift, and there too the interior shots of their labs are always very dark.
So much question is: why is this? Surely good lighting conditions helps productive work, and there’s no reason to dim the lights just because it is dark outside (in the case of TNG, it’s always dark outside). It seems wrong to me.
I’d guess that it helps give the viewer a sense of time.
Yeah you’re right, it just detracts from the realism for me.
Realism smealism.