Evaluating show content Target audience Appeals Pacing Advertiser issues Quality vs. appeal Production quality

Opinion ‘When I start watching a show a just keep watching it, even if I find it boring.’ ‘When I see something promoted that appeals to me, like a movie or a TV show or video, I make an effort to check it out’

What happens in a ‘story’? 1. Change. In every story ever told, something happens, things develop from start to finish. 2. Causality. The cause-and-effect principle has to be present. The content progresses. If not, you’ve written a series of descriptions, and that’s boring.

What happens in a ‘story’? 3. Viewpoint. Billions of options, but you as ‘author’ are actively choosing to focus on this particular time and place. 4. Audience. who is your audience? What do they already know? How are the informed and entertained? Whap appeals to them?

What happens in a ‘story’? 5. The Human Experience. Common elements of human experience as part of the backdrop of the content: birth, growth, communication, belonging, peer influence, ego, self-realization …

Elements of good storytelling 1. A central premise. 2. Strong three-dimensional characters who change over time. 3. A confined space -- often referred to as a crucible. 4. A protagonist who is on some sort of quest.

Elements of good storytelling   5. An antagonist of some sort bent on stopping the hero. 6. An arch in everything -- everything is getting better or worse. 7. And perhaps most important -- Conflict.  But …

This is not a movie What elements are in a Demonstration? In an Interview? In a TV news report? In a DJ shift? In a radio commercial?

Demonstration types Cooking, arts & crafts, how-to News shows, entertainment, infommercial Graphics additions – ‘cut sheet’ FSS /FSG Taped open / credits All these are part of the ‘narrative of the story’ – they should mean something to the viewer Pre-production issues

Demonstration Show Use props, present as if you are trying to train and are demonstrating how it’s used Use good FSS, good CU shots, good camera movements, good pacing and appeal Interviews: no creative directing Your choice content

Audience Engaging Principles A good script (and thus, show) has two dimensions: 1-- Form--basic design, genre and logical construction (e.g. newscast, talk show, demonstration show...) our goal relates to what we want the audience to experience, feel or gain Our vision relates to how we personally use the tools of the trade to translate the goal into an audio and visual experience for the viewer

Audience Engaging Principles 2. Content -- includes goals and visions, includes the production's emotional attributes. It's primarily within the realm of content (goals and visions) that engrossing and effective productions are separated from those that are mediocre and dull. It is primarily within the ream of content that videographers can make their own personal, creative contributions.

What is good content? There may be some definite rules for the successful operation of production equipment, there are no rules for program content; maybe guidelines, but no hard-and-fast rules. The bottom line for content is simply, does it do what it's supposed to do; or, more specifically, does it work?

Demonstration Steps Topic signed up by today Final Draft Show Outline script Completed show graphics in advance Submit hard copy of script. See course outline Wed. morning Be prepared to handle crew and do critiques                     

Production crew & show talent Preparation work Timing issues Addressing the camera Showing close-ups Pacing / talking while demonstrating Pacing / timing to conclusion

Crew training required See handout

Director and show talent coordination Open with show overview Keep the steps simple Connect the steps together along the way Lead to a conclusion, summarize Plan for VO times, FSG, name keys…

Production and show talent Extemporaneous, conversational style Relaxed, organized, methodical, friendly Ignoring the distractions Handling the unexpected

What makes a good demonstration? Revisit what makes a good show Who is the target audience What is your goal Personality of talent Quality of production Importance of pre-production Practice! Like a speech

Reminders Topic sign-up Script submission Show prep and practice Practice the steps and length Focus on extemporaneous