all things teevee

About viewers control


@IlseCinemanl

Three months later, Kevin Spaceys passionate MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival still resonates.

We need to nurture talent, and execs should put more trust in their writers.

While there's lots of good stuff on screen nowadays in the Golden Age etcetera, there's still a lot of mediocrity, too. Way too much, as we learn from an evening of zapping through a whole squadron of police-, courtroom and hospitalseries: ordinary genrework, predictable and boring.  It lulls you into a sullen state of braindeadness. There's no fantasy there, no visual firework.

Viewers want quality. 'Just good is not good enough,' Spacey said.  'Nobody knew he wanted an iPhone and an iPad, until Apple put them in our hands. We need to be as innovative as Steve Jobs. We must surprise the viewer, push boundaries and offer them new things. The  Lena Dunhams of our world - that’s what it's about,' said the actor and artistic director of London's The Old Vic theater, where he runs a talent class. 'If we do not bring in young talent, soon we’ll loose them forever in these times of do-it-yourself and YouTube channels.'

But there is more at stake. 'Culture is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Storytelling helps us to understand each other and the issues of our time.’ Hear, hear.

Drama production is no longer tied to a single platform. Spacey:  'The success of Netflix proves that the viewer wants control and freedom.' During the Q&A he added, that if everything is available immediately and everywhere at a reasonable price, viewers do not have to steal. 'This new model takes a big bite out of piracy.' Good point, not yet made often enough.  Keeping up the old one episode per week rhythm is the Neanderthaler of tv: on it's way to a sure extinction.

Same goes for the business of pilotmaking. Old school, boys.
Spacey, writer Beau Willimon and director David Fincher took their idea for their series House of Cards, about a perverted, opportunist American politician, to all major U.S. channels. However, all wanted to see a pilot first. They refused.  'Not out of arrogance, but because we wanted to tell a story with complex characters and relationships that develop over time.' Spacey criticized the pilot system, forcing writers to establish all the characters and arbitrary cliffhangers in 45 minutes to prove that your work will be successful. 'Last year, 113 pilots were made. 35 were selected, 13 renewed for a second season, but there are now very few left. The cost is between 300 and 400 million dollars. That makes our House of Cards deal of 100 million look really cost effective. '

So when the talent is dicovered, the idea is born and the series is in the air - then what? Then stations must be patient. 'Breaking Bad had a slow start in terms of viewer rates. The Sopranos took nearly four seasons to peak, and Seinfeld even 5 years.' It's like in the Coldplay song Politik: 'Give me time and give me space'. It's worth it, boss.