11 Lecture 8: The Bible for Television Professor Daniel Cutrara Alias ( ) Created by J.J. Abrams

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

3 This Lesson Intro to TV The Bible Alias Assignments

44 Introduction to Television Lesson 8: Part I

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

30Assignments 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 End of Lecture 8 Next Lecture: Stranger than Fiction