Time/clocks blurred out in medical programmes

[Speed Badger]

Bit of a random one I wonder if anyone knows the answer. I've noticed in medical TV series such as '999: Critical Condition' or 'Oh dear I accidentally inserted my genitals into a vacuum forming machine,' the clocks in the theatre/rooms and doctors/patients watches are blurred out.

Does anyone know why?

[Evercross]

Probably so you don't notice that the footage has been cut and edited to create a narrative because the time jumps back and forward?

[Antony Moxey]

So that you don’t see that the same people have been sat waiting to be treated for seven hours.

[anonymoususer]

Antony Moxey said:

So that you don’t see that the same people have been sat waiting to be treated for seven hours.

Brilliant !

[StevieBee]

Evercross said:

Probably so you don't notice that the footage has been cut and edited to create a narrative because the time jumps back and forward?

Exactly this.

It's common practice to insert scenes of things like facial expressions or gesticulations into a time line to enhance the visual narrative. But these programmes are shot with a single camera so the main content will be filmed. Then they'll capture these additional shots by which time, several hours may have passed. In drama, you'd have a continuity person constantly resetting clocks for each take - not an option in an A&E department.

There's also sometimes issues around safeguarding. Showing the time enables ner-do-gooders the opportunity to determine shift patterns of people they might want to have a robust word with.

[Speed Badger]

Antony Moxey said:

So that you don’t see that the same people have been sat waiting to be treated for seven hours.

[Speed Badger]

StevieBee said:

Evercross said:

Probably so you don't notice that the footage has been cut and edited to create a narrative because the time jumps back and forward?

Exactly this.

It's common practice to insert scenes of things like facial expressions or gesticulations into a time line to enhance the visual narrative. But these programmes are shot with a single camera so the main content will be filmed. Then they'll capture these additional shots by which time, several hours may have passed. In drama, you'd have a continuity person constantly resetting clocks for each take - not an option in an A&E department.

There's also sometimes issues around safeguarding. Showing the time enables ner-do-gooders the opportunity to determine shift patterns of people they might want to have a robust word with.

Yes, that makes sense, didn't think of that.

[Cotty]

Evercross said:

Probably so you don't notice that the footage has been cut and edited to create a narrative because the time jumps back and forward?

I was reading the trivia on IMBD for the film Dog Soldiers and found this
"There's a clock on the wall in some scenes that almost guaranteed continuity issues, so Neil Marshall smashed it to ensure the hands were always in the same spot and thereby not causing problems".

So yes to avoid continuity issues