Week 12: Online "TV"

On 11/14, I'll be at the NewTeeVee Live: Reinventing Television conference, so I'm revising the class schedule for the next section on sitcom and short-format scriptwriting. Please download the SYLLABUS UPDATE (on the left sidebar) for the reading, viewing and writing work this week.

Here are the URLs for the viewing and reading assignments:

1. Read Story Structure Tutorials 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 108 Million
2. Watch all 5 Prime Time Shows on Channel 101 and Channel 102
3. Watch all 10 episodes of Clark and Michael

The shows will play in Quicktime and in the Firefox browser on computers in the CA 200 lab; if you have trouble on your own computer or on other SFSU computers, make time to use the ones in the lab. Hours will be shorter during Fall Break; check in the office for the schedule.

Disclaimer: Some of the online shows go out of their way to be raunchy, gross, politically incorrect or deliberately offensive; I'm showing them not because I also want to offend anyone, but so that we can talk about the evolution of writing techniques and trends in new media.

Also, if you find yourself going blind trying to read the tutorials, try using command/shift/+ to increase the font size on the screen, or copying and pasting the content into a text program (Word, Appleworks, TextEdit, Notepad).

Instructions for the writing assignment are on the Syllabus Update; read and follow them carefully, and be ready for a quiz when we come back from Fall Break!

P.S. Amy found this great chart outlining how long different shows will last due to the WGA strike (how many episodes they've got finished). Thanks, Amy! And if you're interested in following the WGA strike progress, check out the United Hollywood blog. And here's a little topical treat from Ask a Ninja:

Get your own TV Channel on Chime.TV!

Week 11: Persuasive Messages, cont'd

Today, after a lively discussion of the Writers Guild strike, we followed up on last week's viewing and deconstructed two more persuasive video pieces:

• "Vote Different" (Obama campaign promotion based on Apple "1984" ad)
• Adidas ad featuring Laila Ali vs. Mohammed Ali

I took a quick look at the first drafts of the persuasive-message scripts, and they looked quite good so far. Remember that this assignment is not to write a PSA with a logical appeal (e.g., driving while drunk is dangerous; junk food isn't healthy). That is a fine place to start, but your persuasive strategy (as described in your mini-treatment) must promise or affirm a transformation in the viewer, and you must clearly define how that transformation is made appealing to your audience based on what you understand about their self-image, their values, their deep desires and fears, etc.

Susanne sent me a link to a great article outlining 15 common advertising strategies; you might want to give it a read.

Also, there is a reading listed on the syllabus, but we're going to hold off on that for a bit. Just focus on your writing this week, and feel free to e-mail me if you run into snags.

P.S. Shannon requested some class feedback on his radio show. Take a break and listen to some clips online (they're easy to play in the browser) and send him your comments (check the Class Contact sheet).