BFI media trip

Recently we went to the BFI for a talk on Long Form TV drama.

Summary of what we learned

LFTVD conventions:

• Novelistic- Multiple storylines and characters that stretch over a number of episodes and seasons; range of complex characters and situations.
• Cinematic- High quality writing, direction, acting, production design etc. 'Tangible worlds' brought to life with production design.
• Ambitious themes that explore social issues- 'State of the Nation' stories.
• 'High concept'- Unique central idea or a fresh twist.
• Narratives often based around 'systematic change' not focused on one individual- Communities facing challenges, and dealing with them by embracing (or rejecting) their own diversity. 
• Flow- One 'chapter' flows into the next... easy to 'binge-watch' (encouraged by 'dumping' and 'box set' distribution).

Why is LFTVD beneficial for creatives (writers, directors, actors, etc.)?:

• Creative freedom (e.g. Netflix has very little editorial input once a show is commissioned).
• Commitment to story (let writers be writers...'AMC: The Home Of Story')- long running narrative, slow build, long-term consequences.
• No censorship- explicit sex, violence, language and adult themes can be included.
• Complexity encouraged- intelligent audiences, topical issues and controversy.

Why do institutions invest in LFTVD?:

• Audience commitment- highly engaged.
• Prestige programming- award winning; very important for subscription channels.
• Controversial plots and issues make them 'water-cooler' topics- series spreads through talk about the programme.
• Subscription TV- guaranteed income, able to take risks and invest in new ideas/ projects.

Why do audiences like LFTVD?:

• Can connect to characters.
• Escape from daily life/ routine.  

Stanger things:

• Includes multiple genres (hybrid genre)- Horror, Romance, Nostalgia, Thriller, Mystery, Comedy, Sci-fi, Action, etc.
• Audiences like it for it's 80s nostalgia and the use of the hybrid genre which allows it to reach different aspects of what people want.

Nostalgia and Postmodernism (used in Stranger Things):

•  Nostalgia- Sentimental or glamorised version of the past.
• This attracts viewers through emotional engagement and the authenticity of the depiction of the time era.
• Postmodernism is used in Stanger Things as the Duffer Brothers did not live through the 80s.
• Simulacra- More 'real' then what it is imitating.
• Stanger Things doesn't have the worries and fears of modern problems such as; social media, fears and child safety, terrorism, etc.

Selling Stranger Things season 2:

• Netflix has 100 million subscribers and a estimated 300 million viewers.
• Netflix puts a lot of effort into their dubbing and subtitles to appeal the product to further audiences.
• Netflix also don't target their audience with demographics but 'Taste Communities' which is based on what the person has previously watched.
• Personalised thumbnails are also used to appeal to what that audience member would like to see.
• To appeal to Millennials Stranger Things used the use of games, a YouTube surveillance channel and spotify playlists.