# Why does a scene shot in the "backlot" look so fake?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 3, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484 "2010-01-03T04:44:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484/21 "2010-01-05T16:53:10Z")

</div>

The _Seinfeld_ street scenes were the worst. It always looked faked; never really looked like a Manhattan street (other than file footage of the diner’s exterior).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484/22 "2010-01-05T20:41:23Z")

</div>

I have always found that the backlot sets were so darn, well…clean. Real streets are seldom so immaculate, with the exception of Singapore and maybe Salt Lake City 50 years ago. But the backlot city streets even when strewn with trash, seem like it is clean trash. But it could be like **Harvey the Heavy** said too.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484/23 "2010-01-05T20:58:22Z")

</div>

I think one of the most interesting thing about that chromakey video is how much harder it must make the acting in some of those instances. Where they’re just sitting on steps that turn out to be Lincoln Memorial steps, perhaps not. But in the last shot, Hiro is reacting to nothing with a look of wonder and enchantment – it would have to be easier to pull up that emotion if there were something to see.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484/24 "2010-01-05T22:54:06Z")

</div>

> [@TV\_time](#):
>
> But the backlot city streets even when strewn with trash, seem like it is clean trash.

You know, I think that’s it. That’s the factor that stands out the most and screams “fake!” whenever I see it. There’s no rising damp; chipped kerb corners; grime in the cracks; weeds growing in the muck; or slimy stuff accruing on the drain grates; All things you wouldn’t pay much attention to as you’re watching a scene in a real street, but are glaringly absent when it’s the backlot, which just makes you think “something is slightly off here”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484/25 "2010-01-06T15:51:30Z")

</div>

> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> The _Seinfeld_ street scenes were the worst. It always looked faked; never really looked like a Manhattan street (other than file footage of the diner’s exterior).

They walked by that same Specialized Bike store in every walking scene I’m pretty sure.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-scene-shot-in-the-backlot-look-so-fake/523484.md?page=1)