tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6824172097667118558..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My talk with Warren Littlefield: Part TwoBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89211571346107730722012-11-15T04:59:58.493-08:002012-11-15T04:59:58.493-08:00Thanks Ken! We aspiring writers don't often ge...Thanks Ken! We aspiring writers don't often get such access to the thought processes of decision makers. <br /><br />I have read his book and enjoyed it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17522490630522046988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30360167391227047412012-11-06T18:51:58.529-08:002012-11-06T18:51:58.529-08:00One of the great things about period shows (e.g., ...One of the great things about period shows (e.g., "Copper," "Hell On Wheels") is that there's no opportunity for product placement, except perhaps for coal and candles.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37695203237649100322012-11-06T18:32:36.685-08:002012-11-06T18:32:36.685-08:00Watching an episode of M*A*S*H* called "Hey, ...Watching an episode of M*A*S*H* called "Hey, Look Me Over" it basically took one of the background actors, Kellye Nakahara, and elevated her to a featured role. Is that a result of A] Her or her agent lobbying for an increased role, B] Realizing that you've written about every scenario you could for the main "stars" so you're looking around for a way to spice things up by featuring some of the more underused people, C] Just some other reason unbeknown to the viewers. I realize you & David didn't write this episode but it was something I was curious about and figured maybe you could shed some light on it.YEKIMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01921751875397071034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36846302167809843922012-11-06T16:06:40.790-08:002012-11-06T16:06:40.790-08:00I recall an interview where Dan Harmon said execut...I recall an interview where Dan Harmon said executives loved personal stories, so he advised prospective writers to make up personal stories to make their pitches seem more appealing.<br /><br />Sounds like Harmon had their number.Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11410414302215060352012-11-06T14:51:13.697-08:002012-11-06T14:51:13.697-08:00I looked up the audiobook online and saw that the ...I looked up the audiobook online and saw that the narrator of Littlefield's book is Bob Balaban....not that there's anything wrong with that.mickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06107980466754462721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28520261270934930852012-11-06T13:52:14.472-08:002012-11-06T13:52:14.472-08:00David Lee here. Regarding project placement: My p...David Lee here. Regarding project placement: My pre-Cambrian years were spent on The Jeffersons. The show got a lot of letters. By far the greatest number were not about content, even people angry over the interracial couple; it was asking who painted the seascape near the front door and was it available for purchase. By FAR the most letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23422061176656616432012-11-06T11:30:02.164-08:002012-11-06T11:30:02.164-08:00Very interesting, I will indeed buy the book.
I ...Very interesting, I will indeed buy the book. <br /><br />I saw a bizarre feature on how products are digitally inserted into sitcom repeats, where someone noticed in an ep of (I think) How I Met Your Mother - a copy of the Zookeeper DVD on the shelf, although that movie didn't out until after that season had aired. Macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71861083074318312142012-11-06T11:30:00.090-08:002012-11-06T11:30:00.090-08:00Eric J.
I wish what I mentioned wasn't true bu...Eric J.<br />I wish what I mentioned wasn't true but it has been progressing forward for several years.<br /><br />Here is just one Master's Thesis on the subject from a student back in 2004!<br />http://lmc.gatech.edu/ms_projects/eerdogan/enginerdogan_masters_designdoc.pdf<br /><br />Imagine a scene in Modern Family or The Middle and a pizza delivery guy is at the door in a scene. Next up is a link on the corner of the screen to order a pizza from Pizza Hut or Dominos and get a special discount becuase you saw it on the show right then.<br /><br />And as for my rug reference - my wife is an interior designer and they constantly have people bring in portable DVD players and laptops and they want the rug or lamp or couch used in a TV show.<br /><br />There are blogs based on sourcing the furniture etc. of TV shows and movies. <br /><br />It's just a matter of when and how they start doing it.<br /><br />Let's see, where's that college catalog? Wait until USC starts the course "Sitcom Copywriting 101". How to seamlessly place commercial copy in your script and push the story forward...<br /><br />Ugh.Jerry K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67000251683436777232012-11-06T10:35:14.698-08:002012-11-06T10:35:14.698-08:00Weird. This didn't ping my RSS reader.Weird. This didn't ping my RSS reader.Madame Ducherynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51849026174694860352012-11-06T09:27:41.039-08:002012-11-06T09:27:41.039-08:00Ken:
I am printing this and reading it to my telev...Ken:<br />I am printing this and reading it to my television pilot class this afternoon. This is golden. Thanks.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45199314794360301932012-11-06T09:25:27.620-08:002012-11-06T09:25:27.620-08:00"... a future way to raise revenue via produc..."... a future way to raise revenue via product placement that allows the viewer to purchase that fabulous rug used on the set of the show."<br /><br />What an absolutely horrifying idea! Who thinks of things like this? Can you imagine being a writer on a show where someone out there even NOTICES the freakin' rug on the floor? You only have them for 22 minutes and they are going to wander off and SHOP while you are telling a story? Shoot me. Just shoot me.Eric Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639837826294361383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12775849276558643742012-11-06T09:21:28.176-08:002012-11-06T09:21:28.176-08:00Thanks! That was a really interesting interview!Thanks! That was a really interesting interview!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72434618866776922662012-11-06T07:53:56.904-08:002012-11-06T07:53:56.904-08:00Great interview Ken. Very enlightening.
This sec...Great interview Ken. Very enlightening.<br /><br />This second part had Warren describe why networks have to go for a "broad" audience with the different content delivery channels. It differs from my suggestion about going for a narrower demographic that can be reached through all the channels.<br /><br />He didn't mention monetizing network programs which seems to be discussed as a future way to raise revenue via product placement that allows the viewer to purchase that fabulous rug used on the set of the show. Even purchase it using their smart TV with a keyboard or through the mobile device/computer on which they are watching the program.<br /><br />We could swing back to the 1950's model where P&G sponsors a program that viewers could purchase products interactively while the program is on. Who knows?<br /><br />The bottom line is the shows have to be good to get people to watch and I love Warren's last comment about writers. Of course he knew his audience of the interview didn't he...Jerry K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84818824609626540122012-11-06T07:25:43.470-08:002012-11-06T07:25:43.470-08:00Great interview. I read the book a few months bac...Great interview. I read the book a few months back and really enjoyed it. In many ways, it's more of an oral history - a lot of the people involved with the Must-See TV years of the '90s are interviewed extensively (actors, writers, showrunners, etc.). It would make a good Christmas gift for anyone who likes TV history.Curt Alliaumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875046706746482871noreply@blogger.com