Monday, March 9, 2009
TV Dinner / Travel Advisory Sushi Conveyor Belt Cam for Shameless People-Watching
Posted by Nicki Wood on Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:07 AM
On a visit to a Southern friend living in New York, I mentioned to her that it seemed rude that New Yorkers just openly watch each other in public. I indulge in people-watching, but I've tried to develop a more genteel, Southern technique.
With these sushi conveyor belt cam videos I found on youtube, I can boldly, rudely people-watch all I want, without dodging behind a menu. It's like a drug and I can't get enough of it.
The camera is placed on the conveyor belt and gives a full 360-degree view inside the restaurant, but not the static view you get from photos or a slide show. It's as if you were working in the restaurant's work-study program, but without any of the work.
Here's another, offering a bigger slice of life in seven-minute trip. The belt makes the trip from the counter to the booths, passing students and grandmothers and families and posh ladies with facelifts. In the background behind the booths is the traditional Japanese seating. The camera moves into the kitchen, where the workers stop it for a minute and decide what to do with it.
For a look closer to home, here's one with boats that has more Americans and students and beer bottles.
Just as an aside, does anyone know where there's a sushi conveyor belt anywhere near Nashville?
Comments (6)
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There used to be one in Cool Springs, of all places. The sushi was not outstanding, but it was good & a fun experience. It was in a strip mall.
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I thought there was one in your kitchen last night.
Yeah, I know that sounded dirtier than it actually was.
Assembly line/conveyor belt...it's all the same to me.
Yes, it is still there. It's called Bodeli Sushi and it's on North Carothers in a strip mall.
I've always wondered what it would be like if Brian De Palma ran a sushi joint. Now I know.
You're absolutely right, Nicki: this is addictive. The length of the shot, the continuous motion, the change in perspective and planes of activity, the striking differences between the diners—Abbas Kiarostami, Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang have been chasing these effects for years. This is a movie setpiece just waiting to happen.
Cee, that was great! Very therpeutic. I think RUAbelle may have a big future in sushi sauce-making.
Jim, I knew there was a reason for why they're so watchable. Thanks for putting words to it. They're so life-imitates-art that at first I thought at least one of them was staged.
