The rise of the Discovery Channel - Began airing in 1985 - Reaches over 88 million households via cable - FY 2021 Q1 revenue: $2.79 billion (4% jump) - DIscovery Plus launched Jan 2021, 13 million subscribers so far according to Variety What is the communication objective of this film? - Informational - Attitudinal - Behavioral Messages need to be communicated over and over to get the message to resonate with the public. Messages need to be consistent and continuous. First part of the film focuses on the fear of climate damage, but the second part focuses on hope that we can do something about it which is a powerful takeaway from the film. As a filmmaker you are looking for credible sources to include in your films. Media Relations: - You want to speak concisely Press Coverage Role: - Present to the public a contextualized understanding of news events - Authentic credible sources are paramount in the field of journalism Method: - Gather all provably accurate and defensible views of the event - News details and context - News = Research and interview those Context: What other info would help the public? - Global circumstances - Other experts’ views - History of this issue - Predictions on this issue - Others’ views, actions - Graphics to visualize the issue, show trend lines - Resources for public engagement - Provide feedback forums West Side Story Clip - The reds and the yellows are accentuated in this clip - The music is very energetic, we could hear the impact of the vibrant clothes and colors - It uses vintage pepsi and coca cola signs. Looks to be made in the 60s. It occurs in a moment of transformation. - Creates a kind of three dimensional image with the main character in the center. - Very distinctive choreography - The lighting plays an important role. It highlights their faces and prevents them from fading into the background - The costume is important in a scene like this. What do we talk about in FTV? - Aesthetics - Genre - Culture and History - Industry (what is new and interesting) - Understanding Film/TV - American Masterworks - International Masterworks - American Independent Film - Queer Cinema - Asian Cinema - Gangster FIlms - Religions and TV - TV Genres and Fandom - Uncensored TV - Broadcast Horror - Film and TV Criticism Transmedia Franchise Helps us (three important aspects): 1. Create ideas/techniques 2. Cultural Context 3. Franchise Economics Franchise is a collection of multiple related media texts, stemming from one original work (May or may not be the same medium) - Texts all extend the story world of the original and take place in the same story universe. - Either made by, or the rights owned by, the same intellectual property rights holder, usually a large media conglomerate. What makes it transmedia? - Storytelling across multiple texts - That range across multiple media formats - And are owned and/or created to profit the owner of the intellectual property or brand. Harry Potter: - Original text: 7 books (1997-2007) - Film adaptations: 8 films based on the books (2001-2011) - The books earned 7.7 billion dollars - The films earned 10 billion dollars - Other forms: plays, spinoffs, etc. - There is paratext (trailers, posters, games, action figures, clothing, inside info) Sherlock: - Video games, Graphic Novels, Fan Fiction, Podcasts, TV Series, Author’s short stories - The genius and the common man trope (Johnson and Boswell) - Conan Doyle used Watson as Holmes’ sidekick – but also as a narrator - Watson becomes our stand-in - They're tense relationship has been increasingly at the center of the films/tv shows. - Watson also acts as Holmes’ protector. - There is a long history of Holmes and watsons with an increasingly psychological approach - On film from the silent era to the present Netflix’s The Crown Enola Holmes - Court rules that Holmes and Watson are in the public domain after Netflix sued for making Sherlock “too friendly”. Film and TV Careers - Producers are responsible for money management. They want to make sure that they get revenue. They need to invest in the components to make the film and make sure that each person on the team gets paid. - Executive Producers oversee all aspects of the movie or tv show. The head producer. Showrunner - a specific executive producer that is heavily involved in the making of the show - News Manager head manager overseeing management of journalism Dirty John - There is suspense and intrigue about what is going to happen. - John is somewhat dangerous in nature FTV Pitch - Basic content information such as a title, log line, “its like” sentence - Basic appeal information such as the timeliness of the story, fit at the network you're pitching (expected audiences). - Log Line: 1-2 sentences that explain the show in a nutshell (usually about 25 words) that leaves the reader wondering what’s next. Must include: Main characters/protagonists, Protagonist’s context, Inciting Incident, Main conflict or antagonist. May also include: genre, intended content rating. NO RESOLUTION!!!! - Example of Logline: Southern California single mother and interior designer Debra Newell (context) falls in love with John Meehan who turns out to be nothing like he seems. - Its like sentence: Try to convey the genre and emotional tone (Genre: horror, science fiction, suspenseful, tragic, etc.) (Emotional tone: comedic, suspenseful, tragic) - Example sentence: Its like the cruel nurse from One flew over the cuckoo’s nest meets the troubled murderer in Hitchcocks psycho–in maximum color. Screenwriter’s role in film Writing on spec Writing under contract Rewriting Screenwriter’s role in television Staff writer Story editor Freelancing Showrunner Screenwriting Coursework Film Storytelling for FTV Screenwriting I Screenwriting II Screenwriting III (Advanced Screenwriting) Writing the Narrative Short Television Storytelling for FTV Writing Episodic Drama for Television Writing Television Pilot Writing Television SItcom Scripts Basics of Screenplay Format Slugline: location, time of day ALL CAPS Action description: Short paragraphs that describe what we see, characters, props and sets, actions and sounds. SHOWS RATHER THAN TELLS Dialogue: Underneath each character's name we see their specific lines of dialogue, formatted in a narrower band near the middle of the page. ALL SCRIPTS USE THE SAME FONT!!! 12 point Courier font. What is Genre? The different categories into which we group films and television shows (and other media) based on shared characteristics established by previous films or TV shows and films. Genre is an important element of marketing TV shows and films. Worldbuilding through genre Genre creates audience expectations about the world that the story is set in. Such as the “Rules” of the world, stories and plotlines, character types, settings, visual imagery What worldbuilding do sci-fi films and TV shows do? Futuristics tales in space Characters with special powers Cast of young heroes, wise elders, robots, warriors, etc. Themes may involve moral debates between science and mysticism; man's place in the universe; the existence of other worlds. High-tech sets, exotic or forbidding landscapes. Melodrama Often oriented around women attracted to dangerous men or dysfunctional families Strong female leads with a vulnerable romantic side Often set in luxurious homes May feature idealized lifestyles May look like neo-noir with bold colors and strong shadows Brand Extension Taking an established brand name from one piece of media or franchise and using it to create a new piece of media to increase viewership and profits. Globalization is enormously important to the FTV industry–brand extension can be particularly successful internationally. Brand extension can be within the same medium or ir can be transmedia Usually in-franchise - Sequel - Prequel - Spin-off Usually not in-franchise, perhaps to create a new franchise - Remake (usually a single film) How do texts invite brand extension? - Plot - Characters - Style/Setting - Unanswered Questions - Cliffhangers - Unexplored backstory How can character invite brand extension? - Beloved characters (past, future) - Peripheral characters How can the style/world invite brand extension? Medium Specificity Podcasts - Conventional Length: 15 to 60 minutes (25-35 mins. is the sweet spot) - Storytelling: can be episodic (narrative) or anthology (single episodes or interviews) - Characters: often features a host with guests or a series of interviewees Medium Specificity FIlms - Conventional Length: 1.5-3 hours - Storytelling: typically a three-act structure - Characters: complete character arc Medium Specificity Television - Conventional Length: 30 mins comedy or 1 hour drama (on broadcast networks and basic cable); premium cable and streaming platforms vary between 30-60 mins per episode - Storytelling: very formulaic in its structure on broadcast networks; less so on other media channels which may have not have commercial breaks - Recently the “dramedy” has been a hot genre on streaming platforms Adapting Homecoming - Director Sam Esmail emphasized the “show don’t tell” rule in moving from podcast to TV - Esmail said he left the writing to the podcast’s creators, Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg - Esmail Inserted. Medium Specificity DIgital Series - Conventional Length: 5-30 mins Medium Specificity Franchise Based Video Games - Conventional Length: role playing video games may run 30+ hours - Characters are often from well known franchises. The director with the cinema As an organization, you want to: 1. Be familiar with the complex media landscape PR vs Advertising 1. Cost varies 2. Control over message 3. Credibility: third party endorsement in PR 4. Goal: increase sales (ad) versus maintaining positive image (PR) PR Definition Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. Advertising: A paid mediated form of communication from an identifiable source designed to persuade Why PR? Reactive PR: must respond to unfavorable public opinion Proactive PR: unique opportunity to build Publics - individuals or groups of individuals that have direct or indirect associates with an organization.
