tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post116458570841395378..comments2024-03-09T06:25:45.105-06:00Comments on uninflected images juxtaposed: Keeping TV Time...And The 80% Solutionwcdixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166664262186709782006-12-20T19:24:00.000-06:002006-12-20T19:24:00.000-06:00'Simple Solution' - Nazereth'Simple Solution' - Nazerethwcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166042358672582462006-12-13T14:39:00.000-06:002006-12-13T14:39:00.000-06:00Yes, Alex makes a good point about keeping everyon...Yes, Alex makes a good point about keeping everyone involved and up to speed. The script I jumped in on last week wasn't one of mine. But I knew the story, and knew what was happening in the scripts on either side of it, so was able to add material that jived with the big picture.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166041355171818182006-12-13T14:22:00.000-06:002006-12-13T14:22:00.000-06:00On Naked Josh we were a minute longer for Showcase...On Naked Josh we were a minute longer for Showcase (Canada) than Oxygen (US), if I remember correctly. Fortunately Oxygen wanted us to keep a lid on the sex and Showcase wanted the show as sexy as possible. So we cut out some of the sex for Oxygen. <BR/><BR/>Canuck audiences are generally less alarmed by sex on TV than American audiences.<BR/><BR/>We had some issues with ep timings on CJ. The person doing the timing just wasn't that accurate. Maybe she didn't grasp the style of the show. We wound up with one ep five minutes over and some three minutes under. Fortunately we realized we could lift a scene from the C plot of the long show and move it to the short show and it would actually make MORE sense than the chronology in the scripts. So that worked out rather well.<BR/><BR/>And that's why you need the writing staff involved at all levels of the production...Alex Epsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907202981846590399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166034813077360702006-12-13T12:33:00.000-06:002006-12-13T12:33:00.000-06:00Hmmm...I like that idea, blueglow. I just might us...Hmmm...I like that idea, blueglow. I just might use that for my show.<BR/><BR/>KJCKelly J. Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17616846693843517335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166027462728313472006-12-13T10:31:00.000-06:002006-12-13T10:31:00.000-06:00There's been a few shows I worked on that had a va...There's been a few shows I worked on that had a variance in delivery times. It was a pain in the ass in that you never wanted to have to rescore, respot or remix two seperate episodes. <BR/><BR/>What we did was to create either an elongated teaser or tag to deal with the problem. In the American version we shot a three or four minute teaser that was constructed so that it had a natural "new beginning" two minutes into the tease. The American version would have some initial "amusing banter" that would lead into the inciting incident that started the show. The Canadian version would start with the inciting incident.<BR/><BR/>Conversely if we decided to make the tag longer we would do the same thing. There would be two end points in the tag. In the shorter version the tag would end a minute in, in the longer version there would be more "amusing banter" that we could run out the show with.<BR/><BR/>At the end of the day it saved us gajillions of dollars in that we never had to repost the body of the show and everyone got some anusing banter practice.Frank "Dolly" Dillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696194595743704177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1166026804522955712006-12-13T10:20:00.000-06:002006-12-13T10:20:00.000-06:00The Highlander TV series was also delivered in two...The Highlander TV series was also delivered in two cuts - 49 minutes for the European market and 45 minutes for the US.<BR/><BR/>I've never seen commentary from the writers/producers on what the differences were, but I seem to recall there were a *lot* of sequences of Adrian Paul doing his martial arts kata all oiled-up and without a shirt on.<BR/><BR/>So I have my suspicions.Piershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04682054203119052550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165988423210865582006-12-12T23:40:00.000-06:002006-12-12T23:40:00.000-06:00There's some water in those comments, thanks guys....There's some water in those comments, thanks guys.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165983481681172662006-12-12T22:18:00.000-06:002006-12-12T22:18:00.000-06:00We had the opposite problem on "Eerie, Indiana". T...We had the opposite problem on "Eerie, Indiana". The show aired simultaneously on Global and Fox, but because Canadian nets have an additional minute of commercials per half hour, the show we delivered to Fox had to be one minute longer than the Canadian version. That meant that a full minute of material would not appear in the Canadian version. Therefore it could not be a scene that advanced the plot or was at all integral to the story.<BR/><BR/>To complicate matters, there wasn't either the time or money to mix two final cuts. Therefore we had to create a unique one minute scene that could be shot on a set we were already using and dropped in at the top or bottom of a commercial break.<BR/><BR/>We usually got our two 11 year old leads to engage in some pointless kid-funny banter. They were often the funniest moments in the show and the Canadian audience never got to see them.<BR/><BR/>If the nets get their current request for extra commercial time on dramas past the CRTC, even more unrelated material may have to be created for our series to achieve a run time that will allow them to sell to foreign markets.jimhenshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07815834271470133872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165955954523998492006-12-12T14:39:00.000-06:002006-12-12T14:39:00.000-06:00It depends on the contract the circumstances and t...It depends on the contract the circumstances and the people. <BR/><BR/>I've worked on shows where I've sweated blood to get it right no matter what.<BR/><BR/>Who am I kidding. I do that on every show. But I'm more resentful on some than others.<BR/><BR/>Some I'll do for free. Some I'm like the flower in Little Shop of Horrors. PAY ME. PAY ME NOW.English Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04686490554533309973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165954331534002052006-12-12T14:12:00.000-06:002006-12-12T14:12:00.000-06:00i don't have much to add. i don't remember that we...i don't have much to add. i don't remember that we had the "too short" trouble too much. if anything the problem was always "too long". looking back on our first season i think i might have been watching my "Sports Night" DVDs a little too often. i was imagining a lot of fast-paced dialogue with bon-mots being lightly tossed around... sometimes it worked... sometimes the director had a particular shot in mind... sometimes the actors wanted to take a moment... or two...<BR/><BR/>this season i was a little stricter with myself, tried to write a little leaner, because it was an occasional heart-break to see story-lines truncated, and moments lost.<BR/><BR/>that said, when it is time for what the french call "un peu extra" it feels like non-constipative stress, as opposed to that butt-clenching first draft stress. It's the "we need it now!" that allows you to connect to that special place accessed only on these occasions and the television specials of derren brown, the mind-control-guy, and maybe that's why it seems more spontaneous and full of life.<BR/><BR/>Fun thread, Dix.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07270355095034863072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165944557426461792006-12-12T11:29:00.000-06:002006-12-12T11:29:00.000-06:00We had a male timings person on Newsroom. I think ...We had a male timings person on Newsroom. I think that's what he did. I was just an actor then so I didn't pay much attention.<BR/><BR/>Our script supervisor on cg was and is great. She actually would go into the editing suite and try to get a sense of how the editors and directors were cutting it. Granted you have different directors (trying to get their day)but I appreciated the effort. So I didn't want to imply that she was bad. Just that timings are weird. And for some reason everyone on the production thinks they can weigh in on them. <BR/> <BR/>and another thing about the floor: things that seem really funny on the floor, ususally aren't.Mefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08555506015565864408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165938059602969272006-12-12T09:40:00.000-06:002006-12-12T09:40:00.000-06:00thanks for the kind words etc... one of the things...thanks for the kind words etc... one of the things about timings is that they are a cruel sword wielded by production managers, directors etc who don't want to shoot anymore than they have to. for these folks "getting their day" is the most important thing and for TV directors it can often be the key to them being hired again so it makes sense. <BR/><BR/>the damn thing is that sometimes they are right and, as shooting schedules get shrunk, it is ridiculous to shoot scenes that are going to never see the light of day because a writer is too stubborn to cut their material. <BR/><BR/>there is a very slim financial margin of error in most productions so one needs to heed timings so the problems I have with them are largely questions of "what to cut" as opposed to "what to add". Adding shit is easy, cutting stuff is a little harder because the non linear nature of shooting means you can really easily fuck up plot.<BR/><BR/>The thing about timings is that you have to live with a show for a while to know if there is any accuracy to the data you are getting from your script supervisor. Where does she (never worked with a male in my life) start timing the scene, where does she end it? Is she aware of how tight the show cuts in the editing room? How does her estimates compare with her actuals? Are GIC's better than Bonds?<BR/><BR/>You know what I'm geting at. <BR/><BR/>The thing is "timings" are one of the few things that throw everyone into a tizzy -- it's too long, it's too short -- and everyone runs down to the floor to correct the problem instead of going where they should go -- the editing room. Because it is my belief that every beat that seems to play "just right" on the floor is way too long and pregnant when you're watching it in the editing room.Frank "Dolly" Dillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696194595743704177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165937841845400462006-12-12T09:37:00.000-06:002006-12-12T09:37:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Frank "Dolly" Dillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696194595743704177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165935907467904482006-12-12T09:05:00.000-06:002006-12-12T09:05:00.000-06:00Timings...such an industry insider thread. People ...Timings...such an industry insider thread. People outside the circle must be going, huh? <BR/><BR/>Thanks Mark...it is fun isn't it? The pressure is on because set usually needs them right away, but for some reason the pressure is off because you just need to focus on specific spots and make more of them. Cool.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165930777766081712006-12-12T07:39:00.000-06:002006-12-12T07:39:00.000-06:00that's my favourite on Corner Gas too, when we hav...that's my favourite on Corner Gas too, when we have to add little tops and tails to scenes that are already scheduled. By their nature they are not connected to the story but they have to be funny and not, as Will writes, look like filler.<BR/><BR/>A lot of Davis' sci-fi speculations were a result of thinking we were going to be short, then ending up long, but keeping the new stuff because it was better.<BR/><BR/>there is always this weird over-reaction to timings: it looks like we're really short so we start writing 35 page scripts (on both made in canada and cg we use(d) movie format) and then we're six minutes over and we drop down to 32 and we're short so we over-write and by the time we get to the last wheel we get it right. But for some reason, the knowledge is never passed on to the next season.<BR/><BR/>markMefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08555506015565864408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165913360898163652006-12-12T02:49:00.000-06:002006-12-12T02:49:00.000-06:00Loved the post - wish my job was half as interesti...Loved the post - wish my job was half as interesting as yours... *sigh*<BR/><BR/>I loved that you talked to the wardrobe to see if the actors had something underneath the coats that you made them take off. From a viewers standpoint (if it's a cute guy/girl), the "not wearing anything underneath" would have been more interesting... or maybe it's just my hormones! :)Dizziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06405889448901042848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165899421499879262006-12-11T22:57:00.000-06:002006-12-11T22:57:00.000-06:00What's my next post? Help!This was sort of a mish ...What's my next post? Help!<BR/><BR/>This was sort of a mish mash of three going nowhere posts. Trying to make something out of nothing. Not sure I succeeded.<BR/><BR/>'The Art of Filler Scenes'?<BR/><BR/>'What Constitutes A Sure Hand On The Till'?<BR/><BR/>'Riffing When You've Got Nothing To Lose'?<BR/><BR/>Whatever the post is, I'll be sure to leave room for P..I mean Blueglow, to make it better.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165896903355696822006-12-11T22:15:00.000-06:002006-12-11T22:15:00.000-06:00Will, will, will....blueglow just gave you the nex...Will, will, will....blueglow just gave you the next post. Awesome. Seriously. <BR/><BR/>I just came through a where where there wasn't the firm hand to tell me how much to add -- just a bunch of timings that were short (because we cut for production reasons) and couldn't build back. So I wrote. And I never got a straight answer about what worked and how much was too much, and there was n sure hand at the till to say, "this. yes. this. no."<BR/><BR/>It is splendoriffic to have that moment -- a moment to riff -- especially in the current climate of forty minute and that's it kind of calvinism, it's interesting to tell nuggets that you might be in a position one day where you need to come up with 30 intelligent seconds in an afternoon for your lead to say.<BR/><BR/>I mean, where do you get to do that? That's the coolest job in the world.<BR/><BR/>More. More. Water! Water!DMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105351826851407562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165882578956992222006-12-11T18:16:00.000-06:002006-12-11T18:16:00.000-06:00Spot on!Spot on!Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137025404327426886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165869689810369062006-12-11T14:41:00.000-06:002006-12-11T14:41:00.000-06:00Thanks for that Blueglow...very well stated (it's ...Thanks for that Blueglow...very well stated (it's almost like you've done this once or twice before...lol)<BR/><BR/>You're right about it being nice to explore the space/scene. So often in tv the tendancy is to rocket through the scenes and just do/say what is absolutely necessary.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27956160.post-1165866796422881742006-12-11T13:53:00.000-06:002006-12-11T13:53:00.000-06:00I always love writing those filler scenes. TV oft...I always love writing those filler scenes. TV often doesn't allow many killing time moments so these little filler scenes can be the ones where the characters take a break and talk about life for a second -- it always gives you an opportunity to rift on whatever's pissing you off at the moment. <BR/><BR/>And more often than not this little scene becomes the episode's most memorable moment because it ends up being the one element of the script that was unexpected. It can often propel you to looking at the character a different way and in some instances become a jumping off point to go in a who new direction with the character. <BR/><BR/>Like say you're short, you're shooting in a hospital and you do a couple page walk and talk to eat up some page count and stop the timing person from barking up your ass and all of a sudden your characters pass a maternity ward. Now your character is female, thirty five and childless, the male parter is married got a couple kids. They rift on it for a while -- the whole choices one makes for one's life thing -- and then split. But the female character lingers behind, looks at some adorable newborn.<BR/><BR/>The next day you're watching dailies and you see that look in the actresses eyes as she's looking at the baby and you start to think -- hey what if and why not and why has never been talked about in the series ...Frank "Dolly" Dillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696194595743704177noreply@blogger.com