What I Watched: The Glee Project 2

August 15, 2012 by

I talked about this show last year in the “What I Watched” series. Even though in the second season they moved the show to a weeknight and a later time slot, I was compelled to watch again. Sometimes, I had to DVR the episode and pick it up later, but the combination of the concept, and the talent of these young people had me captivated.

For those who haven’t seen The Glee Project, it’s a reality show in which the contestants competed for a seven episode arc on its parent show Glee.

Through the homework assignment, the video shoot and the last chance performances, the hopefuls are tested on the three elements that Glee is known for: the singing, the dancing and the acting.

At the end of each episode, Glee creator/producer Ryan Murphy — after taking input from the mentors who worked with the contestants on those three key area — would cut one young adult. I didn’t always agree with the cuts, but I did always understand the reasons given. Though talent is key to be member of the Glee cast, the show has a feel and a defined theme. Whoever won the coveted prize, would have to blend into the cast.

As we tuned into the final episode last night, I felt it was going to come down to a coin flip between the two remaining female contestants (Aylin and Ali). So, imagine my surprise when the tap was given to Blake Jenner.

Don’t get me wrong, Blake was clearly talented in all the needed areas, and I would have to agree with the assessment that he was the strongest actor, but I guess the writer in me identified with the struggle Murphy seemed to have about the characters he wanted to add to the show, and which of the two women would best step into those roles.

Regardless, now that we now which Glee Project contender will be  migrating to Glee, I’m excited for the next season and curious to see how Blake is written in. Congrats to all three of the final contestants, who certainly deserved their chance at the brass ring.

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What I Watched: Netflix

October 14, 2011 by

It took me a long time to even give Netflix a try. Even after I heard several of my friends give it rave reviews. To me, it was an easy trap. It’s only a small, flat amount to be paid every month, but if I didn’t use the service, it would be a waste.

But once the kids talked me into giving it a try for one month, I was hooked. The commercials that claimed it was like a movie natal store at the click of a button weren’t exaggerating, in fact they were playing it modest in my mind. Besides all the movies, there were all these episodes of television shows I loved and ones I’d always wished I’d watched.

Nothing to watch on tv? All I have to do is push a few buttons and I’m looking at a presorted intant queue, and lists of suggestions based on what I’ve watched.

But what could a company like Netflix teach me about my writing?

For one thing, accessibility. If Netflix wasn’t easy to use, it wouldn’t be nearly as popular. Similarly, we want to reach as many people as we can with our writing. Accessible themes and relatable emotions will touch a broader audience.

What about short attention spans. With so many options within a short reach, if someone doesn’t like a show, they can be on to the next one in less than a minute. And that’s not only true with TV it applies to reading too, what with wifi and e-readers. If we want to hold our readers attention, we can’t let the action sag or the tensin drop.

So, yes, I love Netflix. If there isn’t anything you like on broadcast TV, what do you turn to?

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What I Watched: Survivor

September 30, 2011 by

What I Read/Watched is my Friday series detailing a writing lesson I learned from something I watched or read. It is not my intention to divulge spoilers, but sometimes it might be necessary to explain the lesson.

I’ve always found the name of this show to be a bit of a misnomer. Or, at the very least, it carries a double meaning. Because the actual surviving the elements part isn’t completely left up to the contestants.  They aren’t really all on their own after all. They are surrounded by camera crews and production staff, and occasionally Jeff comes down from the fancy hotel to interact.

But what the contestants do have to survive is an intense social game. They have to form alliances and perform as a team while playing for a solo-prize. Most often, this causes them to face inner demons and on the reunion show at the end of a season there is a  lot of talk about the emotional journey they experienced.

Hmmm, not all that different than what should happen in our books, hu?

This week that struggle was particularly real for Brandon Hantz, nephew of the former player voted most hated – Russel Hantz. From the moment we were introduced to Brandon he insisted repeatedly to the cameras, he was not going to play the game like his uncle did, but he wasn’t in any hurry to tell his team-mates about his family.

This all began to unravel for him very quickly. First he started manipulating his team mates, and then with the guilt became too much he spilled the truth, every last bit of it, including tears for the camera.

The first three episodes this season demonstrated a hero’s inner emotional journey pretty well, at lest the beginning. I don’t think I would send my character through all the stages as fast as Brandon has breezed through them, and I’m not sure Brandon has completed his growth arc yet.

I guess I’ll have to tune in again next week to find out how he’s doing.

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What I Watched: Bar Rescue

September 12, 2011 by

Better later than never…A What I Watched

Have you seen this show yet? It works in the same way the Food Network Restaurant Impossible: a failing establishment calls in experts to put the business on track.  Though I suppose part of my interest is in being a voyeur to someone else’s problems, I really find the science behind a successful bar to be fascinating.

But on last night’s episode there was a point or two that really resonated with my life, both personal and writing. The owner of the failing sports bar had two issues contributing to his downward spiral. One was apathy and the other was theft.

I want to talk about the second one first.

Theft is theft. In almost every episode of this show I’ve seen a contributing factor to the lack of profits is over pouring. That is, the bartenders are putting more than the standard ounce and a half into the drinks. In this case however, it went beyond not knowing how to make the drinks or even the occasional over-pour. These bartenders were consistently doing it, and flaunting it to their customers, to increase their tips. The flip side of the coin being — costing the owners their profits.

As the host – and expert – explained to the owner, they were stealing from him to line their own pockets. And he’s right. 

My husband’s uncle used to boast– or rather his wife would– that he would come home from work everyday with a roll of toilet paper and some lightbulbs in his lunchbox. She was actually dreading his retirement when they would have to go back to paying for these things. If I’d ever had the nerve to call her a thief to her face, she would have denied it because it wasn’t cash they were taking.

Theft is still theft. Whether your lining your own pockets, lying about where money is going, or stealing someone’s future hopes, it’s theft.

Apathy. The second issue that was causing this business to fail was owner apathy, and probably the worst case I’d ever seen. Boy, could I relate though.  Try, try, try becomes a hard thing to do when you can’t get ahead. When doors slam and the only resounding chorus you hear is no. Lingering doubts can grow into a numbing disinterest. Who wants to sign up for more rejection?

What I loved about this episode though, and what I gripped onto with both hands, is that when the owner was given the tools he needed to succeed, a spark returned to his eyes. The drive to make things better took root. He was excited about his business again. The apathy disappeared.

One of my favorite saying that I offer to those who around me when they complain about something being too hard is “Life’s tough, get a helmet.” Living by that motto can be really hard though. Thanks to Bar Rescue, however, I’m reminded that apathy can be your worst enemy.

So, here’s to getting a helmet (and some good tools) and persevering.

 

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Anazlyzing Joy: Learning While Recharging

August 22, 2011 by

Apologies for the week away. Can’t say much more than life gets in the way sometimes.

Sometimes, you have to just kick back and let your mind relax. I find this particularly true for me after a day of working really hard on my work-in-progress, which I did on Saturday. After six hours of unrelenting focus, my brain just puts itself on pause. Sort of.

The plan was to sit back in the recliner and enjoy some movies, and with the technological additions of Netflix and Hulu Plus, it really is like having a video store at the touch of a button or two. No matter how hard I tried to turn of the brain, though I couldn’t help but learn a few things while watching tv.

1: Sometimes a  teen crush just isn’t enough. About once a year it happens. A wave of nostalgia will hit me and I’ll ask my daughter if she wants to watch Hard to Hold (The 80s “romp” with Rick Springfield). Usually, she’s the voice of reason and says, “Don’t do it, Mom.” Yesterday…well, I guess she could sense mom was wound a little tight.  We got fifteen minutes in and it was either turn it off or run from the room screaming. The music from that soundtrack: Awesome. The partial nudity doesn’t leave the same impression it did on thirteen-year-old me.

2. Nicholas Cage is really that good. Moontstruck.  I love this film. Maybe it’s the sappy romantic in me. My husband wasn’t ever that impressed with it, which is why I can only indulge in it when he’s not around.  It was the daughter’s first time seeing it, and she too was impressed with a) just how good-looking Mr. Cage was when he was younger and b) the real, solid story that exists (and was woefully absent from choice #1)

3. Making your characters suffer makes for a great story. My Cousin Vinny. Any basic fiction plotting class will tell you the key to a good story is to keep making things worse and worse for your hero, until they hit the breaking point (and the story turns). This movie is a classic example of that, exhibited in the scene outside the cabin when Marisa Tomei’s character reminds Vinny that her biological clock is ticking. His response is to have a melt down and enumerate every single thing that has gone wrong since taking on his cousin’s case, especially the fact that the lives of two innocent teenagers depend on him. Wonderful Movie. Wonderful cast.

4. Sometimes everyone can get a happy ending. The Glee Project. Okay. Who else out there was surprised by the fact that all four of the final contestants sort of, kind of won. Yes, they named Samuel the ‘winner’ of the seven episode arc. Ryan Murphy then went on to say he was writing a seven episode arch for Damien as well (YES! He’s been my favorite for weeks now). Oh, and Lindsay and Alex. Guess what. You’re getting two episodes each.  I think the Glee Project did it’s job, because I can’t wait for the new season of Glee now.

5. Letting go is hard. Ok. I haven’t talked about my new television addiction here. Bar Rescue. Have you seen this one yet? The big guy who knows the science behind successful bars comes in and does complete make overs on failing bars and nightclubs. This week a Chicago’s bar biggest problem is Mom, who co-owned with son, wouldn’t let go of any control and let her son actually manage the place.  In the end, it was sort of simple fix this week. Yes, there were other challenges, but it wasn’t like we’ve seen in weeks past. It was just convincing a mom to loosen the apron strings. Yeah, nothing hard. :-)

Do you have a favorite lesson you learned from a tv show or movie?

Update:

As mentioned in the comments, it’s two days later and I’m still thinking about the final video from the Glee Project.  So glad they brought all the contestants back for the final video shoot. And so happy for the winner(s).  Looking forward to seeing them on Glee this season.

 

Filed Under: Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Writer’s Responsibilities: The Glee Project

August 8, 2011 by

So, I guess in writing this post, I’m admitting that I’ve become a fan of The Glee Project. Are you surprised? Really? It combines music and reality shows after all.

It’s addictive. Given the high drama between the contestants who are being forced to live together, to form bonds, and compete against each other for the prize of a limited run in season three of Glee, there’s rarely a dull moment.

The winner is only promised a few episode arc, but Ryan Murphy’s comments every week, coupled with daily announcements of actors/actresses who will be graduated off Glee this season, viewers can’t help but wonder if we’re looking at a crop of potential new freshman.

However, the big question that has been plaguing me is ‘what exactly is a writer’s responsibility to a show?’.

Pictured above is contestant Cameron Mitchel who left the show on his own accord last week. After two weeks of being put into a scenario where he was asked to kiss a fellow contestant during the ‘video shoot’ portion of the show, he decided acting contradicted with his moral/christian values. Ryan’s conversation with him during the previous last chance performances– when the contestant is singing for their life in front of Ryan– mystified me.  He said more than once that he liked Cameron and really wanted to write him: a character with strong religious values.

My question: if acting is truly that, why does Ryan Murphy need an actor or actress with strong values in order to write a character who believes in those things. Isn’t writing creating characters and scenarios from the ground up?

What are your thoughts?

 

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What I Watched: Flipping Out

July 15, 2011 by

As I posted on Monday, I conceived this column as a way to hold my self accountable so that I would read more and watch more scripted television. Not only watch more, but study it. I didn’t really think I could learn anything (for the writing from my nasty little reality tv habit…but I was wrong.

Flipping Out has been one of those indulgences of mine for a while. Though, I have to admit the show took a long time to grow on me.  Back several years ago, when Jeff Lewis made boku bucks flipping houses, it was one of my husband’s (who installs and finishes hardwood floors and has had ‘flipping’ aspirations) favorite shows. My thoughts back then? “What a freaking jerk” (In reference to Mr. Lewis)

Times change, the economy hit the skids, and the real estate market crashed. Jeff Lewis shifted his focus from flipping houses to design and (here’s the key) I actually took the time to really watch an episode or two.

Like a lot of people I really know, I suspect that ‘freaking jerk’ attitude I saw with casual glances at the TV is a defensive shell. Evidenced in this week’s episode, when faced with the possibility necessity of firing his soon-to-be in-law, who really hasn’t mastered the concept of job performance. He caved. Gave her another chance, piled on to the 1,543 chances I’ve seen in just the first few episodes this season. 

What do you know, there’s a heart in there. And a good one at that.

So, can I take anything back to my writing?

Actually, I can. Characters are rarely black and white or good and evil. Most people are blended. (I’ll leave the inherently good argument for the philosophy classes) They have plus and minus traits. And sometimes they have to be cut-throat. Sometimes that behavior is motivated.

And sometimes the best drama / entertainment comes in seeing what’s under that crusty defensive shell.

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The Art Fuels Creativity

July 11, 2011 by

It isn’t new advice. Those of us who write hear it all the time. Everyone from the masters, like Stephen King, to the person sitting next to us in a craft workshop repeat it constantly: Writers need to read.

While at RWA’s National Conference in NYC a couple of weeks ago, I attended a workshop that theorized that you can also gleen insight to the craft by watching tv. (Not that all tv sets a standard that we should reach for…but that you could learn about the craft from dissecting the format and the writing).

I would add the same applies to movies. I know that when I sit in a theater, I spend just as much time studying the format as I do the story.

The all-too-common problem becomes making the time to attend to our every day responsibilities, chase the dream by keeping out butt in a chair and writing AND finding the time to study or craft.

To that end, I’m giving myself an accountability check point via this blog.  Tune in on Fridays, beginning this week for a new (hopefully not limited) feature Entitled What I Read/Watched. It will highlight a particular passage from a book or a scene from a TV show or movie that not only entertained, but taught me something about the craft.

Until then…

Filed Under: Books, Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Romancing Obscura

July 6, 2011 by

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I spent the last week in the heart of NYC at the Romance Writers of America National Conference. I can–and probably will–spend several posts sharing what I learned within the confines of the Marriott Hotel, but you have to know I couldn’t miss an opportunity to investigate some Obscure corners of the city.

So, yes, I’m a reality tv junkie and high on my list of “Shows that tickle the creative side of me” is Oddities on the Science Channel. When I knew I’d have a few extra days to explore the city, my mind started trying to find a way to get my butt inside the little shop I’d already spent hours in via my television.  Imagine my delight when I found out one of my traveling buddies was also a huge fan of the show. Plans were made, a cab was hailed, and on Monday, June 27, my little traveling threesome found ourselves inside the four walls of Obscura – A “delightful” little antique and oddity shop.

(Delightful is in quotes not because I don’t truly mean it, but only a certain segment of the population–one that I’m proud to be a part of–would find joy in their inventory.)

 A couple of fun facts about the shop.

1) It is even smaller than it appears on tv.  I was actually really shocked by how small. It’s hard for me to imagine a film crew in the shop as well as the customers, especially with their large boxes.

2) Mike and Evan are just as friendly and wickedly cool as they appear. Mike shared some stories of how life in the shop has changed since their tv debut and Evan and I had a nice little chat about the characteristics of vampires…you know, the way god created them and all…not how they appear in some of the modern-day novels. (Such fun!)

My heart did sigh a little, I must say. As I had hope that Ryan would be working that night. Silly (and a little twisted of) me, how can you not love a guy who loves to play with skeletons.

Maybe next time. 

Obscura Antiques & Oddities
280 East 10th Street
(Between 1st Avenue & Avenue A)
New York City
Open 7 days 12 noon-8:00 pm
open earlier on weekends.

Filed Under: Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Familiarity and Contentment

April 13, 2011 by

Anyone who knows me could probably guess that I was curled up in my favorite chair with a blanket and a big bowl of popcorn last night when 9:00 pm hit. The TV tuned to Discovery. I’d been waiting all fall and winter for my favorite fisherman to return to my tv.  Dealiest Catch Marathons can only  go so far to soothe the longing.

When your world gets flipped upside down like mine has in the last few weeks, there’s something to be said about doing something familiar. Something comfortable. Indulging in the lives of my favorite fisherman has to be better than indulging in comfort foods. Right?

More than what I was feeling, however, it seemed to be a common theme running through the first epiosde of the new season. (Last week was a recap. Loved it, but not counting it!)  Last year, Edgar Hanson of the Northwestern spoke of needing a change, about leaving the boat. We watched the Harris boys live through the tragedy of losing their father. Even the Hillstrands seem beaten down by life on the Bering Sea.

I wouldn’t have blamed any of them for seeking change.

Yet, they were all on the perspective boats. Ready for a new season.

Captian Sig summed it up by saying that at the end of every season his brother talks about giving it up, but at the beginning of the next, he’s back to work.

There’s comfort in familiarity.  Thank goodness. Because I don’t know what I’d do with out my Tuesday night guys.

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