TC 8421 QUALITY  “I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it”  Subjectivity  What makes a media project good ?  No definition, but can be described

TC 8422 QUALITY: A 5 PART EQUATION  Form--the craft  Content--what is being communicated  Artistry--interaction of form and content  The Viewer--approach and effect  Business/Commercial Success

TC FORM: How we present the content  Create an illusion  be invisible (drama)  Create an effect  effects are not hidden (music video)

TC FORM: How we present the content  sound/music  photography  lighting  writing  directing  casting  performance/acting  Sounds are appropriate, clear, positioned  Exposure, composition, sense of style  Even, but expressive, appropriate mood  Natural dialogue, understandable plot, subtexts, simplicity  Understands script, performances feel natural, nuance  Actors believable, capable, correct look and feel  Natural, involve the viewer, understand the script

TC FORM: How we present the content  wardrobe/makeup  editing  technical quality sound image  special effects  graphics  setting  Visually interesting, era/reality, believable, unified look  Transitions motivated, continuity, rhythm/pace, simplicity, scenes/story make sense  Exposure, levels, color, etc. No distortion, hum, etc Accurate color and signal to noise ration  Believable, seamless, appropriate  Composition, clarity, safe area  Shootable, visual interest,

TC FORM: How we present the content  Design  Navigation  Visually interesting, unified look, easily understandable, uncluttered  Easily followed, logical, simple

TC CONTENT: What we want to communicate Significant relevant thorough accurate challenging appropriate interesting Timely moving

TC CONTENT: What we want to communicate  use oblique approach  be about something  Not just excitement  Human condition  Great themes  Useful

TC CONTENT: What we want to communicate  socially redeeming  provides insight into the human condition  deals with difficult subjects  has seriousness of purpose  has a reason for the telling  addresses universal issues illuminates the human spirit is significant to the culture

TC ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other  Interaction of form and content indefinable, but necessary  creative  unique  appropriate  original whole is greater than sum of its parts

TC ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other  Magic  programs which are blessed  programs which "sing”  Chemistry  originality

TC ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other  innnovativeness  unpredictability  Passion  risktaking  intensity  daring

TC ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other  difficult to quantify or measure  artistry may be perceivable but not definable  necessary to art

TC THE VIEWER Approach to the Viewer  respect audience  not cynical  not preach  relevant, informative, challenging Effect on the Viewer  grabs  emotional impact  stimulate thought  move to action

TC THE VIEWER assume that the audience is intelligent and capable of understanding and appreciating quality avoid preachiness and not just intend to sell products challenge teach, enlighten satisfy nourish stimulate entertain

TC THE VIEWER provide a framework to make connections engenders curiosity makes people think stimulates them to talk about its subject matter

TC BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS  Numbers/ratings  if nobody watches, is it good ?  may be irrelevant if not watched  particular audience....how well you hit the target

TC BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS  maximize audience size  how effective is a program which few people see  you cannot have a substantial effect in a mass medium without a large audience  effectiveness in gathering and holding viewers  how well you reach the targeted audience age education, sex.

TC BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS Audience data useful in evaluating quality clearly is only part of the mix.

TC Some General Characteristics  -factual projects/programs should be impartial, tasteful, and fair  -fictional projects/programs should not be impartial, but should be challenging, passionate, and well crafted  -programs should deal with issues indirectly to avoid being pedantic  -quality programs should require active rather than passive viewing  -quality television is intimate television

TC General Characteristics  Comedy "it should be wildly funny and make a social statement".  Producer of WKRP In Cincinnatti  Steven Bochko, the creator of NYPD Blue, says there is an indefinable element which is a “chemistry” or a Gestalt  quality programs should make people think, move them to action, stimulate them, entertain them, and take them out of their lives.  "chill bumps" at moments of discovery  stimulating the viewer to take action.

TC General Characteristics  Does the program meet its goals maximizing audience social significance. Each professional creates with goals in mind consideration of those goals in evaluating quality.