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Lecture 8: The Bible for Television

Lecture 8: The Bible for Television. Professor Daniel Cutrara. Alias (2001-2006) Created by J.J. Abrams. 1. Previous Lesson. Laughter Types of Comedy There’s Something about Mary. This Lesson. Intro to TV The Bible Alias Assignments. Introduction to Television.

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Lecture 8: The Bible for Television

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  1. Lecture 8:The Bible for Television Professor Daniel Cutrara Alias (2001-2006) Created by J.J. Abrams 1

  2. Previous Lesson • Laughter • Types of Comedy • There’s Something about Mary

  3. This Lesson • Intro to TV • The Bible • Alias • Assignments

  4. Introduction to Television Lesson 8: Part I 4

  5. Television vs. Film • Film • Larger than life • Director’s medium • Television • Smaller than life • Writer-producer medium

  6. Narrative Structure for Network Television • ½ Hour Sitcom • 2 Acts with a teaser and a finale • 1 Hour Drama • 4, 5 Acts with a teaser • Webisodes • TV Movie • 7 acts

  7. Fragmentation of Television • Network • Cable • Pay Cable • Internet • Iphone

  8. Network • Delivery system for advertising • 1960’s 51 minutes, now 42 minutes • Nielsen ratings • Drives narrative structure • Commercial demands on development • Series don’t have much time to gain a following

  9. Cable and Pay • Cable • Less dependent on commercials • Niche audience • Pay • Only needs to satisfy select audience • Free to push boundaries

  10. The Bible Lesson 8: Part II

  11. Packaging a TV Series • Creative Concerns • The Characters • The Concept • The World • Commercial Concerns • The Showrunner

  12. The Bible • Series Concept • Character Breakdowns • The Setting/Franchise • A Treatment for the Pilot • Future Episodes

  13. Series Concept • Fresh Insight • Genre recognition • Engaging Conflict • Examples • Lost, Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy • The Office, 30 Rock

  14. The Characters • Engaging • Sympathetic, intriguing • Potential for Change • Areas where we hope they will grow • Situations that create conflict • Desires that will find obstacles The cast from House

  15. Setting/Franchise • Location • Familiar or exotic • Location • Functions as a character • Location • Vegas, Hospital, Space, Courtroom, Police station, Suburbs, High School

  16. The Pilot • Introducing the World of the Series • Lead and continuing characters • Situations typical of the series • Tone and style • Narrative structure • Teaser or cold opening • Four or five acts

  17. Alias Lesson 8: Part III

  18. The Series • Creator- JJ Abrams • Felicity, Alias, Lost, Mission Impossible III, Fringe, Star Trek • Alias ran 5 Seasons

  19. The Pilot • Running Time 1 hour 9 minutes • Establishing Concept • In a world of espionage, Sydney discovers what she believed in was a lie. • Sydney– daddy’s little girl, grad student, yearns for normal life vs. Trained killer

  20. The Intro • Pause the lecture and watch the first clip from Alias. • Where is the story starting? • How does it establish the world? • How does the transition to the University setting twist it?

  21. The Intro: In Media Res • Where is the story starting? • In the middle of things • Establishes frame story • Juxtaposes world of espionage with that of grad school. • Establishes Sydney’s bifurcated life.

  22. Characters • Sydney • Complexity • Skills revealed as pilot narrative unfolds • Emotional depth also revealed • Conflict between her differing desires for emotional connection and spy vocation.

  23. Conflicted Character • Pause the lecture and watch the second clip from Alias. • How does this scene twist the plot? • How does this scene reveal character? • Skills, emotional connections.

  24. Conflicted Character (2) • How does this scene reveal character? • Exposes Sydney’s conflicted relationship with her father. • Reveals her martial skills. • How does this scene twist the plot? • Sydney on the outs with SD-6 • Father reveals they are the bad guys and he’s working for them. • Use of dramatic irony

  25. Supporting Characters • Conflict created through relationships • Men as potential romantic partners: Danny, Will, Michael • Men as father figures: Jack, Sloan • Men as allies: Marcus • Women as friends: Francie

  26. Franchise/Setting • Double Lives • Spy vs Civilian • SD-6 • Double Agent • CIA

  27. Structure • The Tease: • Torture as Frame Story • Act One • Introduction and mission assignment • Return to frame • Act Two • Successful mission but Danny murdered • Return to frame

  28. Structure (Cont’d) • Act Three • Mourning, Questioning, Father saves her reveals they are SD-6. • Return to Frame • Act Four • Does the mission on her own • Caught, catches up to Frame Story • Escapes, returns successfully, goes over to CIA. Father reveals he’s double agent.

  29. The Wrap Up • The Bible • Engaging the audience through Character • The complexity of Alias

  30. Assignments Lesson 8: Part IV

  31. E-Board Post #1 • Approximately 200 words. Pick a tv series and explain why the central character(s) are intriguing. • Comment on two of your peers.

  32. End of Lecture 8 Next Lecture: Stranger than Fiction

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