In film, cinematographers
refer to fast motion as undercranking since it was originally achieved by
cranking a handcranked camera slower than normal. It is often used for comic
effect as it often was in the early films of the 1900’s. The Keystone Cops are
a classic example of this type of moviemaking. They were fictional incompetent
policemen (there are a few factual ones as well, but that is another story),
featured in silent film comedies produced by Mack Sennett in the early 20th
century. Many live their lives these days in a perpetual state of undercranking
to quite the comedic and sometimes tragic effect.
