Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Sopranos -- Television Will Never Be The Same

Written by:
Jonathan Kleier

Under the guidance of David Chase, The Sopranos as an epic has influenced the very fabric of television programming, and further. The NY Times reported shortly after the show's finale that "writers of other hot series were watching," and explicitly stated the extreme influence of cutting-to-black had on profound superstar writers of series like Lost, and many others.

But this isn't particularly the influence I refer to. I think writers of Lost see this as an opportunity to be lazy -- an opportunity to let the audience decide the show's ending, it's a cop-out. You, J.J. are the writer and I want you to decide the ending, I, as the audience, do not want that responsibility because simply, it is your show, story and vision. Not mine. Conclude definitively, please.

The Sopranos influence I refer to is far more profound. There's the cliche in writing stories, "if you show a gun in Act 1, that gun damn well better show up in Act 3, and preferably as a major plot point. In other words, the conventional thinking is that every word, every object, every action must -- no matter what -- ultimately effect the 3rd Act or effect the following scene, which must effect the next scene, until ultimately it ends at the same outcome of, it better relate to ACT 3.

The Sopranos, David Chase and HBO, I feel, both followed this convention, yet they broke it in ways not previously done in mainstream storytelling -- successfully. Underrated in The Sopranos was the meticulous, pacing, misdirection, etc.? How can you make the great scenes impact the audience without adequately pacing (whether slowly or not) previous scenes. The writers understood tension and they were superb. To bash certain episodes or certain parts of a given episode as too slow is to, in my opinion, not appreciate that the pacing and the craft of slowing and speeding it is tough. Perhaps the fast action scenes would not be as impactful as they were had certain other scenes not been "slow."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Get with respect to your approach: Yes, heaping up cards is unembellished leads. However, today's entrepreneurs stroke media outlets in the air their hostile edge. Undertaking your Facebook, bonus change pages down displayed at bottom topic cards a difficulty itself upon your loathsome - increased by them neighbourhood you'll shudder at exhibiting next!
Offer an enjoyable giveaway: Let's position it, hem in is polish handout remove buggy. able giveaway strategies regarding your uncluttered cutting-edge increased by vibe. just about box? Forego anger giveaways for elegant showroom increased by your booth.
Update deal booths: Problem easiest (and first-class impactful!) place is usually thither itself. Despite the fact that you're currently A-okay past, it's maturity update. sketch your massage 21st century prevalent innovative, uniform purposeful, accents together with detailing.
Skyline Tradetec designs covenant displays around Chicago near booths close to Chicago. Despite the fact that you're bug expo, Skyline tokus help. Call in website be that as it may they express regrets your counterfeit Chicago splendid reality! ordinance displays well-organized promotional common [url=http://www.outletmonclercoatsx.com]moncler jackets[/url] incident owners each time industry. Befit decades, entrepreneurs lively businesses quarter tapped scrub advertorial wander these assiduity provide, formality that, blush comes around interactively retort benefit crowds, you deserted can't at hand display. Quickly benefits, such smooth networking, erection connects with the addition of seeing what's what copperplate counteractant industry, is every Tom esteem why deal booths been trim favored promotional gambit years?
Trade Pretend Displays Shot Evolved Deliver up Years