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High Energy Geology Working with Discovery Communications on Faces of Earth

High Energy Geology Working with Discovery Communications on Faces of Earth. Christopher M. Keane Ann E. Benbow American Geological Institute. Denver, Colorado October 30, 2007. Science and Mass Media A Tempest!. Science wants accuracy. Media wants excitement. Are these compatible?.

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High Energy Geology Working with Discovery Communications on Faces of Earth

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  1. High Energy GeologyWorking with Discovery Communications on Faces of Earth Christopher M. Keane Ann E. Benbow American Geological Institute Denver, Colorado October 30, 2007

  2. Science and Mass MediaA Tempest! Science wants accuracy Media wants excitement Are these compatible?

  3. The Geoscience Profession’s Entry into Mass Media • A 4-hour TV Series about Earth Systems and Humans • AGI raised the funding for the production • AGI retained scientific, production and story oversight • Discovery retained “creative control”

  4. Production Workflow Science Review Science & Concept Review Conceptualization Draft Script Revised Script Treatment Narrative Review Shooting and Animations Science Review Storyboard Shooting Script Science Review Story Review Narration Script Editing Script Editing Process Final Product

  5. What does Science Look For? • Accuracy • The “Full Story” • Details • Precision What Producers “hear” • Click! • Sleep Aid • Gone to the bathroom • Would rather read a book

  6. What does TV Look For? • Instant grabber • Engaging story • Visual action • No Talking Heads What Scientists “hear” • Fallacious science • Dinosaur sex tales • So general, so wrong • Dang amatuers

  7. Keys to Success • Selection of Excellent Partners • Production Company • CGI • Network • Science Advisors • Willingness to Compromise • Accepting Responsibility

  8. Production Partnerships • Production company • They must already “know” science • Client-oriented perspective • Evergreen Films, LLC • CGI (Computer Animations) • Science background useful • Depth of workflow • Storyboard, mattes, mechanics, modeling, etc.

  9. Distribution Partnerships • Ditch the network snobbery • PBS v. NatGeo v. Discovery, etc, etc. • Effectiveness of reaching target audience • Post-delivery usage rights • International distribution agents

  10. Science Partnerships • Collaborate with specialists on THEIR topic • Engage scientists early in production • Craft story around the science being done during production • Focus on what is new • Ensure factual vetting by participating scientists, beware of word-smithing

  11. Compromise

  12. Story • Respect professional boundaries • We know science, TV producers know TV • TV shows conveys ~3 ideas per hour • Details are death

  13. Context • Don’t try to force time/space constructs • Deliver viewer context regardless of screams of scientific pain!

  14. Stand for the Science • Hold fast on accuracy • DCI learned that reality is more interesting that fictional science

  15. Science Literature is our Friend • Scientific literature • Historical literature • Speeds recreation for animations • Sheds new light even for scientists

  16. Accepting Responsibility • Scientists are cruel towards TV • Sagan, Walking with… • TV is cruel to science • See above  • AGI (er, us) Accepted Responsibility • Master the production process • Understand and accept the compromises • Focus on Good Science AND Good TV

  17. What was different? • AGI brought the money to the table • Controlled the story • All scripts and production • Science review committee • Final call on production choices • Engaged a first-rate production company • Experienced with science programming • Worked with DCI as a peer • They learned in this process too

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