<<<I don't want to instigate a 'turn off your tv' revolution, but people not
watching tv would force broadcasters to review the content they produce and
purchase. Just a thought.>
I absolutely agree. I hate the crud that gets
shown on TV. Please don't take my argument to
mean that I like what happens.
<<<Actually a cheapish episode of Australian Drama generally costs 'over' $350k
to produce.>
Wow. Time I reviewed my costs! Its so easy for
people to dismiss that kind of money, but I
always think about it having come out of my
pocket with all the risk of never seeing it again.
<<< think you're undervaluing the average cost of a US sitcom, although its
possible a broadcaster could get a series for that price with the
aforementioned bundling>
Yeah - sorry - I was talking about mass purchase
of old stuff. And of course the reason it's so
cheap is that it's already been sold to 400 other
countries, including probably us in the late
eighties.
It is simplistic to say its commercials - but I
am working on a documentary about marketing at
the moment, so I might be just a little single
tracked ;)
<<<Throwing bucketloads of money into programs
doesn't´tmake creative tv. Finding talented
people does!>
That's true to a degree, but most of the very
talented people I know do already work in TV. Its
just that when you have money you have time, and
even the most talented person has to cut corners
when there's no time to develop anything. It can
actually be a pretty soul destroying exercise to
have a wonderful creative idea that gets turned
into a quick slash job of your idea that gets
used to shift more margarine. (That sounds like I
am bitter and cynical - but I'm not really. Just
cynical :P)
<<<But how many product placements does that company also get.>
Far too much!
<<<Why hasn't anyone brought something like ´Eat Carpet´ to commercial tv? >
Funny you should mention that - we did try to get
one up (working titled "Lick Lino"). No one would
sponsor it. We couldn't even get people to commit
$50 a week to the thing. Broke my heart because I
adore short film. And even if you can get enough
sponsors to buy the slot and pay for the
production, you have to *find* a free slot.
Anyone who has a commercial tv spot is hanging on
to it for grim death and there are only 24 hours
in a day.
Anyway. Yeah. Sorry - a bit off topic. If anyone
wants to donate to the 'making tv a better place
where creative people don't cry themselves to
sleep at night' fund - send cheques to me :)
cheers
Jude
