I’ve been producing live TV for over four years now, the last two years or so of which has been spent thinking about humor and comedy in addition to just getting the info out. That’s a fair amount of time. It’s not a 20+ year career but it’s a decent sampling of the space.
What I’ve found is that more than anything it’s my job (and by extension the job of my staff) to create situations (both on-air and off) where surprises can happen. Getting people to a place where they feel comfortable enough to start exploring what is interesting to them which will then bubble up to the greater project (in my case my TV show).
Sometimes I’m better at it than others. I get frustrated just like anyone else. However, when it works, it’s brilliant to see someone take something and really make it theirs. This can happen either by careful planning (the segment producer who’s been thinking for a while about how to integrate and idea into their segment) or in an immediate ad-lib on live air. Either way, it comes down to a comfort level with taking risks.
If you can protect that, you’re on the right path. And you’ll start to see surprises around you. Which you have to remember is a good sign.
Suprises = Unsatiated Curiousity = Creative Goodness.
I’m gonna start a new topic here on the blog for things that I often think about - art projects - that I have neither the time nor the money to afford. Maybe someday these will become reality and grace the pages of We Make Money Not Art but for now they’ll just live here. If some wealthy art student wants to come in and rip me off, please feel free.
Today’s Art Project I Can’t Afford (APICA) is The Perception Machine (which, granted, is a lame name).
The Perception Machine is essentially three separate interconnected viewing rooms each with two rows of seats facing a large screen. The seats are placed so that all people have a clear view the screen and so that, and this is important, the screen can clearly see them.
The seats are filled in the first theater with people. A short film starts, made of a variety of footage beginning with people doing totally familiar and comfortable things (family shots; dudes watching football; a wedding, etc) and then slowly transitioning into slightly more edgy material (passionate kissing; someone getting punched; a child crying) to extremes (a clip from a porn; a shot of a person who lost their leg in a bomb; etc). This goes on for say five minutes.
The film stops and the group of people is shuffled down the hall (which is actually a uturn) where they’re seated in a similar set-up. However, this time what they realize immediately as they sit down is that they are watching another group of people sitting down where they just were. The first group then proceeds to watch the second group experience the same footage they watched. Having just gone through the experience, there would hopefully be an interesting reaction to watching/experiencing the others go through the same feelings.
The film stops again. The first group then shuffles to the next (and final) room, yet another viewing station. This time, they sit and watch themselves watching the second group watch the video while hearing the audio from the video. It’s a recording of what just happened in the prior room.
They leave the installation with a new take on what it means to watch and to be watched.
Interesting?
This is a great way to deal with people who just won’t leave you alone.
As someone who gets spammed by PR-ites on a regular basis, I know exactly where he’s coming from.
Note to PR peoples:
- Get to know me.
- Send insightful emails on why I care about your person/story/product.
- Receive delightful response email from me!
Hmmm. Fantastic question.
I guess it’s because I’ve decided I like to write again. And that as much as I like Japanese TV that sometimes I like other things as well. Things like music, viral videos, business stuff, blogging, making money and lots of other stuff that generally has nothing to do with Japan whatsoever.
Also, it’s worth noting that I needed somewhere just to have my name as a URL. And now I’ve got that. Finally.
Whew. I guess I can stop now.
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