Shot in the Dark

I have to say this is one great documentary and 8 episodes is just too few. I'm not one who will easily give a show a 9 on IMDb but this one gets it. The storytelling, the editing, multi angle shots, the map of LA are of really high quality. This together with the enthusiastic stringers makes up for a very engaging documentary. It being on Netflix makes it a great show for binge watching.

Disgusting. There is one scene, a black suv stalls on the freeway, lights still on. All of a sudden, the suv goes completely dark. You know someone is going to smash. One of the cameramen is sitting on the side of the road waiting for the crash. He could have used a flashlight or camera light to illuminate the darkened vehicle. Instead, he just sits there and waits for the crash, which happens. .

The premise of shot in the dark is following LA stringers as they attempt to get newsworthy footage of car accidents/police chases/shootings to sell to news agencies. The show follows three different groups of stringers as they respond to these police scanner calls and race against each other to sell the news. The cinematography is really impeccable on this show, with map visuals of locations, first hand from the stringers and from their following cameraman, and even news footage if the story was used. I really enjoyed getting to see this as I've never been exposed to it before. My only fault is that they interactions between the different groups felt very staged. After 8 episodes the show does become very repetitive (car on fire, building on fire, etc.).

Lots of good comments here, expressed better than I could. I enjoy the show, except for one thing. Scott. I get it that TV is more compelling when there's conflict and he fits that bill to a T. Every so often I hurl an epithet at my screen over what he does or says. But tonight did it for me... he claims it's all about family. In this episode he announced that he's having a baby. He was asked how it will affect his life, will he settle down, be a dad, take fewer risks. He said nope. "We have an arrangement. She takes care of everything and I work." When a man chooses work, or anything else, as more important than being a dad he becomes nothing more than just another absent, deadbeat father. No child deserves that, and no wife should be treated that way.

It is interesting to see this media subculture that provides film to the networks. The real Nightcrawlers or the modern day WeeGees but with video cameras. But the whole series could be condensed down to about an hour. Every episode has far too many shots of the main three characters (all real I presume) driving fast in LA. Same three cars flying around the city shown too many times in each episode. All filler instead of showing them at different places working. Also too much of the same scenes - the guys get to a car accident or shooting, run with your tripod and camera, get yelled at by the police, edit and upload your video and send it to some local news station. Over and over and over again. The three characters are somewhat interesting except the Englishman is a serious complainer. Whines about something every episode. Enough of that. Not bad, but way to long.