Ever watch TV from a writer prospective? (Are you "Breaking Bad"?)

[R Allan Worrell]

Hi Everyone!  Happy 2012!

My wife Susan and I recently binged on the TV series "Breaking Bad".  We watched nothing else for almost a month, and it was during this time that I was putting finishing touches on my book, "Father John's Gift".   While watching episode after episode, I couldn't help but be amazed at the writing and the character development.  I found myself trying to predict what the main characters would do next as they found themselves in one predicament after another.

The amazing part of all this is how much my wife and I cared for these fictional characters (Walt and Jessie).  It was almost as if they were REAL People!!!   I know that's crazy, but I also believe that is a sign of great writing.  The plot and the actors were so good that they drew you into the characters so much so that you felt bad for them if something bad happened....

Now, I realize that video is a different media, and TV and movies have the advantage of great backdrops, sound, and mood altering music, but the point is some writer or writers had to dream it up first!   That, is the fascinating part of watching a show from the prospective of a writer.

Anybody had their books turned into a movie or TV series? 

Cheers everyone!

Al Worrell

[R Allan Worrell]

 

Hi RYCJ -

 

Well, to be honest, I am not always right about what will happen next...  but I get it right occassionally.  I think "not getting it right"  is what makes the story so good so much of the time.  The writer keeps the story moving and throws you yet another twist!    Then you sit back and say, "Wow!  How do they come up with so much good material!   I think it is like thinking "outside of the box".   It makes me wonder how much other material they threw away, or decided NOT to use.

Can you just imagine what could happen if 10, 50 or 100 writers could collaborate on a single story, and how many new and unique ideas would be generated by a group that large?   I have heard of projects like that, but of course, it would need a single director, or project manager,  i.e. somebody that decides what gets in the final draft, and what doesn't.

Do you know of any collaborative works like that?

 

Cheers RY,

 

Allan Worrell

Author:  Father John's Gift

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stan Morris]

I always watch tv and movies from a writer's perspective.  That's why my wife often hates to watch with me.  She's annoyed by my comments and complaints.  The most satisfying shows are those where I would not change a thing.

[R Allan Worrell]

Hi Stan!

I liked your remark about satisfying shows "where I would not change a thing".    Can you mention a few titles?  Am sure everyone would like to know what those are. 

 

Take care!

 

Al Worrell

author:  Father John's Gift

 

[Elizabeth Baxter]

Hi Al, I recently got all three box sets of the TV series 'Merlin' and have been watching it avidly ever since. And yes, I found myself watching it from a writer's perspective. I kept thinking, 'so how are the writers going to get them out of this one?' I often played with ideas that I would have written for the ending but they were usually different to what the writers had come up with (showing that they are way better writers than me!). Sometimes I analyse the writing so much in TV programmes that I miss the show and I have to tell myself to stop doing it and just watch the damn thing!

 

 

 

[R Allan Worrell]

Hi Everyone!

Some time after I wrote the above piece, I read a great article in Wired Magaine about people who "Binge Watch" a series to the exclusion of all else.   I just love the idea of being able to watch what happens next without having to wait a whole week to see what happens!!!   (A fringe benefit of Binge Watching is not having to put up with commercials during your story as well....it just flows better!   Am sure you know what I mean.)

 

Take a look at the Wired Mag story on Binge Watching here:   You will love this!   ( I guarentee it!)   The graphic pic alone is worth seeing!   It is just great!

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/12/pl_column_tvseries/

 

Cheers Everyone!   Happy  Reading, Writing, and Watching!!!

 

Al Worrell

Author:  Father John's Gift