[Jon]

It’s probably a big deal to have a leader from a major country visit them. Seems a bit unfair though, particularly as Serbia was voting tonight. Seems like a lot of effort too interrupting two channels programming.

[Flux]

Overall enjoyed the presentation last night. Graphics look lovely and the staging is wonderfully versatile. Quite a few countries haven’t really seen the potential of the floor screens in their performances, though. Cyprus for example integrate it beautifully and make every step on that floor count, but Serbia go to huge lengths to make their act look as if she’s on a rock in the middle of the sea… only for her to then step off that rock and break the illusion a minute or so into the song. The floor could have been utilised so much more in that performance.

The postcards are a big letdown this year, though. As others have said they’re more personality driven than country specific, but that’s fine. The issue is that they just look… cheap. They feel like something which would have been self shot during Covid. I wonder if the “shot on a phone” look is part of a cost cutting exercise? Saves them arranging actual shoots in the countries themselves, with the final X Factor-style “hero shots” of the acts just all shot at the same studio in Sweden.

[gottago]

The postcards are a big letdown this year, though. As others have said they’re more personality driven than country specific, but that’s fine. The issue is that they just look… cheap. They feel like something which would have been self shot during Covid. I wonder if the “shot on a phone” look is part of a cost cutting exercise? Saves them arranging actual shoots in the countries themselves, with the final X Factor-style “hero shots” of the acts just all shot at the same studio in Sweden.

I mainly agree although I think the slo-mo shots at the end are absolutely stunning and the one saving grace.

I don't really get the archive bit and yes the self shot bits are very Covid.

These three recent Swedish contests have barely shown any of Sweden itself. 2013 and 2016's postcards were all filmed in the artists' home countries and you see hardly anything of Malmo or Stockholm. The Swedish Smorgasbord interval was as close to Swedish culture as they've had! It was a great show last night but that arena could've been anywhere in Europe.

1.8m on BBC1 last night which they will be very happy with considering these used to be hidden away on BBC3 for the same cost. I think it's about the same rating as last year. Eurovision fever has carried on from last year it seems.

[Alessi]

I mainly agree although I think the slo-mo shots at the end are absolutely stunning and the one saving grace.

I don't really get the archive bit and yes the self shot bits are very Covid.

These three recent Swedish contests have barely shown any of Sweden itself. 2013 and 2016's postcards were all filmed in the artists' home countries and you see hardly anything of Malmo or Stockholm. The Swedish Smorgasbord interval was as close to Swedish culture as they've had! It was a great show last night but that arena could've been anywhere in Europe.

1.8m on BBC1 last night which they will be very happy with considering these used to be hidden away on BBC3 for the same cost. I think it's about the same rating as last year. Eurovision fever has carried on from last year it seems.

I think the archive clips and the use of past 'iconic' performers as interval acts etc. (not necessarily all previous winners, just stand out performers) are meant to be a continuation/justification of the theme United By Music which is now the permanent slogan (for the foreseeable future anyway).

[Alessi]

I mainly agree although I think the slo-mo shots at the end are absolutely stunning and the one saving grace.

I don't really get the archive bit and yes the self shot bits are very Covid.

In the interview posted elsewhere in thread the producers say the postcards are indeed self shot and were done so as part of an overall effort to make this year's contest more environmentally friendly.

[IndigoTucker]

In the interview posted elsewhere in thread the producers say the postcards are indeed self shot and were done so as part of an overall effort to make this year's contest more environmentally friendly.

DId they really used to fly a camera crew out from the host country to each contestant and shoot them? Could the national broadcaster not just shoot some VT without the air miles?

[UTVLifer]

More of tomorrow's interval acts have been announced for SF2 today

Käärijä and 1984 Swedish winners Herreys will both be performing. Along with the already announced sing-along with Helena Paparizou, Sertab Erener, and Charlotte Perrelli

[Alessi]

DId they really used to fly a camera crew out from the host country to each contestant and shoot them? Could the national broadcaster not just shoot some VT without the air miles?

I suppose if they wanted a professional look and continuation of a theme then they did fly out a camera person and a producer.

[Flux]

I suppose if they wanted a professional look and continuation of a theme then they did fly out a camera person and a producer.

Even if they didn’t, the costs of research/development time, hiring a local crew, specialised equipment (eg. Drones), securing filming permits etc. for 37 unique shoots would quickly add up. Much, much cheaper and easier to get acts to film some stuff to match a brief at a recognisable landmark on their phones.

[Brekkie]

DId they really used to fly a camera crew out from the host country to each contestant and shoot them? Could the national broadcaster not just shoot some VT without the air miles?

The postcards used to be based around the host country, sometimes featuring the artist, sometimes not. I think last year the concept was three linked locations in the UK, Ukraine and competing country. Presumably though for footage filmed in competing countries where possibly the host would work with the local broadcaster to get the footage.

These postcards just don't particularly seem to show off any location well or the personality of the artists. The throwback clips are a nice touch but overall the postcards aren't really shining this year.

Not a huge fan of the graphics this year, though the final text based country/flag is quite nice. They also used a graphics shot of the competing countries over a shot of Malmo which looked better than the usual scoreboard on a big block of colour IMO.