May 23, 2007
French TV investigates the success of US TV Series
One of French TV's best weekly investigative reporting shows, Envoyé Spécial, on May 3rd looked into the huge popularity of American TV series. The French crew flew to LA and New York, where they filmed sets and locations and talked with writers and producers.
Video (in French) on dailymotion via Gigi Studio.
We learn that those who rule TV shows actually never set foot on a set. They are the writers. 24' has 10 of them. Three were interviewed:
"TV is the kingdom of screenwriters, because primarily, you watch TV for the story. You go to the movies for the images, TV is all about the story. American movies have forgotten that. Movies today are a display of big money, explosions and special effects, where the audience does not feel involved."
One of the reason we succeed is that we are not afraid of rewriting if there is a lull. We will write several additional scenes. We never know where we are going to end up. It's like a train at full speed. We discuss episodes constantly to have one big story.
The crew went to ABC and met with Lauri Younger, responsible for the International Market. May is the time of year ABC sells it's series world wide - where their copyrights are respected.
According to Younger, "we sell both Lost and Desperate Houswives on mobile phones". Viewers now sometimes see a series first online, then go to their TV, or the reverse. Series today have a life beyond TV.
American TV series offer a wide variety of programs. Some sell the Amercian dream, others subvert it, like the Wire, shot in Baltimore.
Most Americans believe that drug addicts or the homeless are people who chose to be. Blacks are shown with handcuffs. The Wire series gives those that are excluded a voice. If through a series you follow them, understand where they come from how they got into the situation they are in. Then you can feel for them, it's no longer just fiction, the TV series takes you another step.
Subscription based cable channel HBO is known for it's audacious shows, commercial free and uncensored:: Sex & The City, The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under...
Envoyé Spécial concludes as follows: These stories accompany us and we follow them too long for them not to be taken seriously. Because some of these show say as much about our society as a documentary. Because the characters are more complex than movie characters and because a good idea will always find an audience. Fiction is the most faithful mirror of reality.
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/tv/archives/2007/05/016013.htm
| Tweet |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
