April 2008 Archives
This story today in the NEW YORK TIMES looks into a series of beer advertisments that are based around guys speaking in a dialogue made up of only the word 'dude' and points out that with YouTube and the internet, the life of an advertising campaign is much longer than simple televison run.
In 2006, we posted a similar story using the example of cola advertisements. Many of the links in our orignal post are no longer available but there are still some gems.
In 2006, we posted a similar story using the example of cola advertisements. Many of the links in our orignal post are no longer available but there are still some gems.
Her'e a interesting article in the NEW YORK TIMES that notes that the mega-complicated television series LOST has refound it's footing during it's forth season and become a much more engaging show. What do the producers attribute thewir refound mojo to? They decided when the show would end, allowing them to get a better understanding of the pace they can move along at.
Another interesting point in the story is that to bring new viewers into the series, they are running repeats which have added subtitles that explain the complex relationships between characters. A kind of LOST - for the beginner.
Increasingly as television storytelling becomes more complex, Producers and Writers are going to have develop strategies that allow entry ways and exit posints for viewers along the way.
Another interesting point in the story is that to bring new viewers into the series, they are running repeats which have added subtitles that explain the complex relationships between characters. A kind of LOST - for the beginner.
Increasingly as television storytelling becomes more complex, Producers and Writers are going to have develop strategies that allow entry ways and exit posints for viewers along the way.
They promised Big Brother would be different this year, and yes, it's something that is promised every year.
But in 2008 Big Brother in Australia has some definite differences, new Producers, New Big Brother voice, new hosts and new support programs. Yet the thing that makes this show is the people they put inside the house. Unlike other years when the first show is all about 'who' is in the house - this year we're getting some sneak peaks.
We've already seen 52 year old Grandmother Terri, now comes Dixie and Travis. OMG is Travis the most annoying person, such an established personality in under 30 seconds.
By letting us see the housemates before the launch, are the Producer's succeeding in their goal to generate new interest in the show.
But in 2008 Big Brother in Australia has some definite differences, new Producers, New Big Brother voice, new hosts and new support programs. Yet the thing that makes this show is the people they put inside the house. Unlike other years when the first show is all about 'who' is in the house - this year we're getting some sneak peaks.
We've already seen 52 year old Grandmother Terri, now comes Dixie and Travis. OMG is Travis the most annoying person, such an established personality in under 30 seconds.
By letting us see the housemates before the launch, are the Producer's succeeding in their goal to generate new interest in the show.
TV Tonight report that SBS is fast tracking the second series of 'Skins' and it will hit Australian screens in the next few weeks. The series recently finished it's run in the UK.
This series is not only a TV show, it is also has a huge behind the scenes componet, audience interaction and podcasts.
This series is not only a TV show, it is also has a huge behind the scenes componet, audience interaction and podcasts.
Earlier we pointed out the new interactive Penguin Stories and the new book and presentation by Matt Mason about Piracy. Now the two come together as Matt Mason authors one of the six Penguin Stories, a retake on Dicken's 'Hard Times'. On his blog Mason highlights that he couldn't get his head around creating an interactive story like the other participants so instead he teamed up with Designer Nicholas Felton and created this interesting presentation. It can also be downloaded as a PDF.
Matt Mason has written a book called 'The Pirate's Dilema' which looks into how piracy works for and against industries. He investigates how piracy is not only a threat by also an opportunity.
Mason's began as DJ as a pirate radio station in London and has a degree in Ecenomics, he's also worked in advertising, comercial radio and publishing.
Take a look at this video of his speaking on the topic, interesting stuff. The video is of his whole presentation, 40 minutes - but worth a watch.
His latest venture is a non-proffit media collaborative company called Wemdia
Mason's began as DJ as a pirate radio station in London and has a degree in Ecenomics, he's also worked in advertising, comercial radio and publishing.
Take a look at this video of his speaking on the topic, interesting stuff. The video is of his whole presentation, 40 minutes - but worth a watch.
His latest venture is a non-proffit media collaborative company called Wemdia
At the Australian International Documentary Conference in Adelaide in 2007, Rudy Buttignol from TV Ontario talked about the growing importance of repeats in the changing landscape of broadcasting.
This week the highest rating show on Australian television was a repeat, 1.79 million of us tuned into an episode of 'Border Security' that had already been shown.
Many people look at Border Security as a piece of post 9-11 fear mongering propaganda, while others see it as a very successful documentary series. While the show certainly plays up it's 'stay tuned after the break to see if the suspicious passesnger has stashed occaine in his shampoo bottles....' ellement, it has also found success on Pay TV with repeat viewings, which makes you wonder if the attraction to the show is the human nature ellement of people under a microscope rather than the catch a criminal aspect of the show.
So wehat does this say about Australian TV?
Take our poll, we'll publish the results later in the week.
Click Here to take survey (redirects to Survey Monkey site)
This week the highest rating show on Australian television was a repeat, 1.79 million of us tuned into an episode of 'Border Security' that had already been shown.
Many people look at Border Security as a piece of post 9-11 fear mongering propaganda, while others see it as a very successful documentary series. While the show certainly plays up it's 'stay tuned after the break to see if the suspicious passesnger has stashed occaine in his shampoo bottles....' ellement, it has also found success on Pay TV with repeat viewings, which makes you wonder if the attraction to the show is the human nature ellement of people under a microscope rather than the catch a criminal aspect of the show.
So wehat does this say about Australian TV?
Take our poll, we'll publish the results later in the week.
Click Here to take survey (redirects to Survey Monkey site)
TEN has launched it's second promo for BIG BROTHER featuring new hosts Kyle and Jackie. Does this change any opinions?
On Monday April 28th Chanel 10 will begin screening Season 8 of the Australian version of Big Brother. While many are surprised that this show continues to find success, 2008 will bring the biggest changes to the Australian Production in recent years, apart from new house mates there will also be a new logo, new hosts, new shows and a new voice for Big Brother.
There is a good chance that here at "Across the Mediaverse' we will be discussing 'Big Brother' a fair amount. There are several reasons for this;
Firstly we will of course be partaking in the annual Big Brother sweepstake, a annual competition which sees members of the West Australian Screen Industry each be awarded a random house mate, if the house mate wins BB you win the prize pool.
Secondly, BB is always an intriguing television program to study for the point of view of 'making television that maintains an audiences interest. How do you get people to keep tuning in to a program, which at times can actually be quite boring. How do you make drama and suspense? How do manage live events that can go in unpredictable directions - like when Merlin taped his mouth up? How do you manage all that footage and manage to edit it down to a short program each day? How do you create a program which branches out from TV and on to mobile telephones?
So 2008 brings lots of changes, host Gretel Killeen is gone - which is a little sad, i always found her outfits intriguing. Replaced with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O - will it work?
There are rumours that in 2008 Big Brother (the character) is going to be nicer, is this to compensate for Sandilands coming on as the host?
A new show called 'Big Mouth' will see Tony Squires and Rebecca Wilson return to TV to discuss all things BB, joining them will be former house mates Tim and Paul. A few years ago Tim Ferguson hosted a Friday night BB discussion and it was dimal but this format has worked in the UK. It's rumoured that this show will be on Tuesday nights.
Ryan, Bree and Mike will be returning for the Friday Night Games, which my Mum just loves. Which fuels my belief that Ten actually have brought back 'It's a Knockout' under a different guise.
There is no Big Brother Up Late. Which is a surprisingly popular show for people to watch late at night. It will be interesting to see if there is an expanded website presence or if BB moves onto Ten HD at all.
The first promo for the show has aired, and it's quite cheeky.
There is a good chance that here at "Across the Mediaverse' we will be discussing 'Big Brother' a fair amount. There are several reasons for this;
Firstly we will of course be partaking in the annual Big Brother sweepstake, a annual competition which sees members of the West Australian Screen Industry each be awarded a random house mate, if the house mate wins BB you win the prize pool.
Secondly, BB is always an intriguing television program to study for the point of view of 'making television that maintains an audiences interest. How do you get people to keep tuning in to a program, which at times can actually be quite boring. How do you make drama and suspense? How do manage live events that can go in unpredictable directions - like when Merlin taped his mouth up? How do you manage all that footage and manage to edit it down to a short program each day? How do you create a program which branches out from TV and on to mobile telephones?
So 2008 brings lots of changes, host Gretel Killeen is gone - which is a little sad, i always found her outfits intriguing. Replaced with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O - will it work?
There are rumours that in 2008 Big Brother (the character) is going to be nicer, is this to compensate for Sandilands coming on as the host?
A new show called 'Big Mouth' will see Tony Squires and Rebecca Wilson return to TV to discuss all things BB, joining them will be former house mates Tim and Paul. A few years ago Tim Ferguson hosted a Friday night BB discussion and it was dimal but this format has worked in the UK. It's rumoured that this show will be on Tuesday nights.
Ryan, Bree and Mike will be returning for the Friday Night Games, which my Mum just loves. Which fuels my belief that Ten actually have brought back 'It's a Knockout' under a different guise.
There is no Big Brother Up Late. Which is a surprisingly popular show for people to watch late at night. It will be interesting to see if there is an expanded website presence or if BB moves onto Ten HD at all.
The first promo for the show has aired, and it's quite cheeky.
The other day we talked about the downloads of Chanel 9's 'Canal Road'. Now Dr Tama Leaver at UWA has a follow up post. Check it out.
Here's another good example of how documentary can be successful outside the normalk distribution chanels if there content is right. It's all about being in the right niche.
From Variety, Anne Thompson reports on How Sports Films Thrive on the Net.
From Variety, Anne Thompson reports on How Sports Films Thrive on the Net.
I've avoided Twitter for a long time, mainly because I fear how addicted I may become to it. But I'm into phone things at the moment, mainly becasue I just retired my 7 year old NOKIA 3120 for a pretty funky Blackberry.
So if you haven't come across Twitter before, how do you describe it, it allows you to post short notices on what your doing 140 characters mazimum, you can either get them, or post them from your computer or even have them on your mobile. It's a very quick update to your friends on what you are doing.
Mark McGuinness has a great post on Twitter here
You can follow my micro updates here I'm going to try adding this to the blogs side bar - but programming this moveable type blog software is a nightmare for me.
So if you haven't come across Twitter before, how do you describe it, it allows you to post short notices on what your doing 140 characters mazimum, you can either get them, or post them from your computer or even have them on your mobile. It's a very quick update to your friends on what you are doing.
Mark McGuinness has a great post on Twitter here
You can follow my micro updates here I'm going to try adding this to the blogs side bar - but programming this moveable type blog software is a nightmare for me.
Book publisher Penguin is running an interesting web based stroytelling exercise. Six authors are retelling six well known stories over six weeks. As the reader you get to make important contibutions along the way, choosing characters names and attirubutes.
Take a look.
Take a look.
Channel 9 is offering the first two episodes of their new drama series 'Canal Road' for free download. They encourage you to share it, burn it to DVD and even but it up as a bit-torrent. The idea is that word of mouth advertising for the new show will spread and it will get personal and positive reviews, building a loyal audience before it's TV debut.
If you missed this week's debut of Sea Patrol II: The Coup, it's also available for download.
If you missed this week's debut of Sea Patrol II: The Coup, it's also available for download.
