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Showing posts with label As the World Turns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label As the World Turns. Show all posts

Thursday, January 21, 2010

The End of Soap Operas

There has been a great deal of talk both in and out of the industry about how the soap opera genre has run its course and should be phased out. These same people point the across the board falling rating without taking account or in some cases totally disregarding the changes in viewing habits, the societal changes and technological advancements. The genre fan base is not diminishing; in fact, it is expanding to included demographics that were previously embarrassed to admit their guilty pleasure. However, in recent years the genre has fallen victim to stagnation and network greed.

According to Nielsen, the number of viewers has been steadily decreasing. However, their outdated accounting methods do not take into account online viewing or delayed viewing. Instead they continue to rely on the diaries and equipment, which by passes all recording devices thereby ignoring a vast proportion of television viewers. With the busy schedules and easy access to recording equipment has given viewers the option to watch their favorite shows based on their own schedules; no longer tied to the networks’ timetable, viewers are able to watch their shows when they want and as many times as they wish.

It has been known for decades that the Nielsen diaries under reported daytime viewers, while propping up more “socially acceptable” programming. Many viewers simply didn’t want to acknowledge watching soap operas. For decades, it wasn’t cool to watch soaps. Yet as the storylines and characters became more complex and socially relevant, the stigma attached to watching them vanished. Characters and plots became topics of conversations not only across the back fences of homes as housewives gossiped, but also around the water coolers and in schools across the country.

Originally targeting stay at home wives and mothers, soaps focused on the family and romance. However, as the genre matured, suspense, drama and humor became an intrical part of their popularity. As the plots and conflicts became more intricate, soaps gained in popularity by broadening their appeal beyond house bound women. Although women continue to be the primary demographic, they are not the women of yesteryears. Instead of being housebound, many women have joined the work force; yet through the use of current and developing technologies, they have been able to keep up with their favorite soaps. One major difference that has developed over the decades is the age difference in the typical viewer. When soaps first appeared on television, the primary viewers were mid-teens to early thirties; however, as with the whole country, the median age of the soap viewer has risen to 37.6. Yet, network executives fail to take into account the both of these important changes in their viewership. Instead, they continue to court the younger viewers even though they don’t have the interest, loyalty or consumer spending power to attract the traditional soap advertiser.

In addition, unlike other programming, soaps have the unique advantage of being passed down from one generation to the next.


One only has to look at the popularity and the diversity at soap events to learn that the fan base hasn’t shrunk. Events sell out quickly. Mechanizing the soaps is a multi-million dollar industry. Magazines, websites, internet radio shows and blogs follow not only the soaps, but also the individual stars. Millions of dollars exchange hands

Soap operas are not diminishing in fans or popularity; they are suffering from stagnation and network greed. How many times can a beloved character be killed and brought back to life without the Whose the daddy? Love triangles




To read the storylines I wrote for Days of Our Lives go to my site at www.theresachaze.com. There you will also find excerpts of my novels, the proposal for Operation Home Base, and my feature films.



To

Sunday, May 3, 2009

BuzzWorthy Radio: Kelley Menighan Hensley, Emily Stewart,

BuzzWorthy Radio: Kelley Menighan Hensley!


Date / Time: 5/4/2009 4:30 PM eastern

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/buzzworthyradio

Kelley Menighan Hensley, Emily Stewart on CBS Daytime's As The World Turns, will be making an appearance on BuzzWorthy Radio! Never without her Chanel No. 5, Emmy-nominated Hensley has also been organizing a fundraiser for St. Judes. Martha Byrne, Michael Park, and both Kelley and Jon are scheduled to attend the Inaugural Angels for Hope Gala on Friday, May 29 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Estate at Florentine Gardens, which is located at 97 Rivervale Road in River Vale, NJ. Tickets are $200 and visit www.stjude.org/angelsforhope.com or call (212) 239-3239 for reservations.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Formatting Soap Opera Scripts

Formatting Soap Opera Scripts

In style, television and movie script are similar; however, television programs must format around commercials and station identification. While movies contain a full hour of entertainment, broadcast television is broken down into approximately 22 minutes of entertainment and 8 minutes of commercials per half hour.

Most one hour shows have six 2.02 minute breaks with two 1.34, which fall at the top and bottom of the hour. Generally this leaves 22 minutes per half hour for the actual show, which is broken down further into the teaser/open, three acts and bottom of the hour teaser/bridge for the local break. The second half hour also has three acts, but it is ended with a teaser/closing credits and the top of the hour break.

Whether starting at the top or bottom of the hour, the initial segment, contains the show teaser and opening; its run time varies between 2-4 minutes in length. The following three acts divide the remaining entertainment time between them without any set length; however, most stations, especially during ratings, identify themselves within a two minute margin at the quarter hour; therefore, there is usually a break written in to accommodate this standard. The second half hour also begins with a teaser, which identifies the show and the network, and is followed by a local commercial with identification. Most shows end with a 2-4 minute teaser of the next episode and the ending credits with another local break following.

Unless you have a talent that milks their part, usually one page of script equals one minute of air time. This generality helps the writer pace the storyline and time the scenes to maximize the suspense in order to hold the audience’s attention through the commercial breaks. By splitting the action between multiply scenes to create mini cliffhangers, the writer suspends the action in order to height the drama and prevent channel surfing. It is also how a creative writer creates an effective end of an episode cliffhanger to torment the viewers into returning to see what happens to their favorite characters.



Format for one hour television script
2-4 minutes teaser and show open

2.02 minute commercial break

Act 1

2.02 minute commercial break

Act 2

2.02 minute commercial break

Act 3

1:34 minute commercial break

20 second teaser- 10 seconds from each half hour

1:34 bottom of the hour local break

Act 4

2.02 minute commercial break

Act 5

2.02 minute commercial break

Act 6

2.02 minute commercial break

2-4 tag and end credits

1:34 local top of the hour break


No doubt many of you are asking why the script I have been writing for Days doesn’t meet this industry standard. Very simple. There are two reasons. When I started, it was a protest that I never thought would go any where. Originally I was going to write a few scenes to embarrass the writers into their job. However, I received so much positive feedback that I just kept going. Secondly, a major of my script writing experience was for the stage and screen. Even then, it had been a while since I worked on a long project. My information was not only dated, but I had forgotten a few little details. The new scenes will be in the correct format. I’ve also started the process of reformatting and restructuring the rest to not only meet the industry standards but to also put it into episodes. During the process a few scenes will have to be tweaked, but it will give me a chance to improve them as well. Although I knew how I wanted the storylines to unfold, everything that I have posted still qualifies for first draft status. The reality is that I had put little effort into the project yet it was still be better than the so called professionals; hat do you think I could do if I actually put work it to the project?

Saturday, December 20, 2008

SOFF (Soap Operal Fan Fiction) Awards Submissions

Honoring Excellence in Online Soap Opera Writing



In an effort to continue the mission of SoapsWEB which is the "adoration and preservation of the soap opera" genre, SoapsWEB announces the formation of The SOFF Awards; also known as The Soap Opera Fan Fiction Awards.

Some might ask why would SoapsWEB be interested in doing an awards show that honors online soap operas that come and go many times as often as some people change socks.

The reason can be found in the acronym that is SoapsWEB; well in two parts of it -- adoration and preservation.

We at SoapsWEB adore soap opera in all it's forms and seek to promote and preserve them. With daytime soap operas quickly fading away and so many of them departing the very things that are the true essence of what soap opera is and should be, the purest form of soap opera is often found online; written by the true fans of the genre. We at SoapsWEB wish to promote and honor those series and those writers who create and write these wonderful series - often creating more authentic soap opera than we find on our screens each day.

The First Annual SOFF Awards will honor the best in online soap operas from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008. If you wish to participate, please follow the process as outlined below.

The Prenomination Process

The Prenomination Process will begin January 1st, 2009. In a special section at the SoapsWEB site will be placed separate posts for each of the categories that a series can be entered. In most categories, each series can enter twice. If participation is low, the entries will be increased to three per category. In some categories, such as Best Series, only one entry will be allowed, but two episodes will be chosen by the writer/producer for consideration. Entries will be accepted until January 31st, 2009 – no extensions will be given.

Each category will have a short list of info to fill out for the entry. The person will be required to post a link back to the episode that contains the scenes or episode that is being used for consideration for that nomination. You will not be asked to copy, reformat or retype scenes or whole episodes – just provide a link to the information.

If you are a fan of a series, you can also make entries for that series as well. Keep in mind that only 2 or maybe 3 entries will be accepted per series – the actual writer or producer’s choices will be considered first. You do not have to contact the writer or producer to enter his or her series in the awards, but I would encourage you to do so – at least let them know what you are doing.

To participate and make entries, a membership with SoapsWEB will be required. It is an easy process. The person will not be required to make any other posts at SoapsWEB or to become an active member. If he or she chooses to do so is totally voluntary on their part; it will not be required.

The Nomination Process

On February 1st, 2009, the entries will be separated and organized. There will be two sets of awards given in each category – one for Fan Fiction (material based on a currently running or cancelled series) and one for Original Series.

For this part of the process, volunteers are being and will be sought to act as judges. The judges will be asked to look at each entry and rank them from Best to Worst. If we get enough volunteers, some judges may only have to do one category. That is the best case scenario and one that I would love; a special blue ribbon panel to judge each category.

We would prefer the judges to not be writers who have series in contention, but if a writer would like to be a judge we will consider them. Especially if the writer is someone who is only submitted in Fan Fiction categories, we can use them to judge categories in the Original Series area.

This process will run from approximately February 1st/2nd to February 28th, 2009.

Scoring and tabulations will be made the first week of March with nominations scheduled to be announced on March 6th, 2009.

Each nominee will be presented with a banner that they can use to advertise their series nomination and to use for campaigning in the next step of the awards.


The Voting Process

Beginning March 9th, 2009, voting will be open to all voters using polls from PollDaddy.com which will allow only 1 vote per URL.

Writers will be encouraged to vote and participate. Also we encourage them to advertise and campaign in any way they wish (as long as it is not against the rules of any particular website).

Voting will continue through March 31st, 2009.

Winners will be announced in a special way – one category at a time – on SoapsWEB at approximately 9:00 a.m. CST on April 3rd, 2009.

Each winner will be presented with a banner like this:



They can display it on their website or use it on any forum that allows the use of such.

We look forward to seeing the awards to fruition, and hope that we have a good turnout for the first awards. If they are supported well this first time, the goal is to make it a yearly competition.

If you wish to volunteer to help with the awards in any way especially as a judge, please let me know. We need all the volunteers we can get to make this a success.

Also if you have any suggestions, please PM me at SoapsWEB or e-mail me at steve_frame38474@yahoo.com



The Categories



Best Series

Judges will be asked to look at the overall forum; layout of episodes; easiness in reading; use of visual aids, etc. Not at just 1 or 2 individual episodes.

Best Individual Episode

Each series can submit 2 episodes for consideration.

Best Writing

Each series can submit 2 episodes for consideration. Judges will look at the elements of the writer’s style, editing, character development, dialogue, plot originality and variety.

Best Storyline

In this category, each submission must include a brief overview of a storyline including the characters involved and a breakdown of events. Try to be as brief as possible keeping in mind the judges who have to read all the entries. Each series will be allowed 2 entries in this category.

Best Male Character in a Leading Role

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character. This character should be a main protagonist for a storyline or appeared in a significant way in a majority of the episodes during 2008.

Best Female Character in a Leading Role

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character. This character should be a main protagonist for a storyline or appeared in a significant way in a majority of the episodes during 2008.

Best Male Character in a Supporting Role

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character.

Best Female Character in a Supporting Role

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character.

Best Male Character in a Limited Run

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character. This character must not be a regular character in the series and appeared for less than 3 months during 2008.

Best Female Character in a Limited Run

Each series can submit 2 entries in this category. Writers will submit links to 2 episodes that feature this character. This character must not be a regular character in the series and appeared for less than 3 months during 2008.

Best Young Male Character

Each series can have 2 entries here. The characters must be 25 years of age or younger. We will leave it to the writer’s or producer’s discretion on submissions here and not ask them to prove that the character is supposed to be under 25. We will go by the age the writer intends the character to be and not the actor or actress they use to depict them.

Best Young Female Character

Each series can have 2 entries here. The characters must be 25 years of age or younger. We will leave it to the writer’s or producer’s discretion on submissions here and not ask them to prove that the character is supposed to be under 25. We will go by the age the writer intends the character to be and not the actor or actress they use to depict them.

Best New Character

Each series can have 2 entries here. This must be a character that debuted during 2008 and was created by the author of the series.

Best Couple

Each series can have 2 entries here. The writer or submitter will include a link to one or two episodes that feature the couple.

Best Villian (Male)

Each series can have 2 entries here. The writer or submitter will include a link to one or two episodes that must feature the villainous activity of the character.

Best Villian (Female)

Each series can have 2 entries here. The writer or submitter will include a link to one or two episodes that must feature the villainous activity of the character.

Best Friendship

Each series can have 2 entries in this category. The writer or submitter will include a link to one or two episodes that feature the friends together. Also he or she will provide a brief overview of the friendship.

Best Rivalry

Each series can have 2 entries in this category. The writer or submitter will include a link to one or two episodes that feature the rivalry – confrontation scenes are a perfect example or a scene that shows an act of duplicity in the rivalry. Also he or she will provide a brief overview of the rivalry.


Note: On each one of the character submissions writers/producers/submitted will be asked to submit some background information about the character to help the judges to understand the character a little better. If the series has character profiles at their site, submit a link to the profile for that character. With villain or villainess, the submitted can just submit the overall bad deeds the character did in 2008. With couple, just a brief overview of the couple along with the links that show the couple were featured in 2008.


Outstanding Achievement in Design

Each series entry will submit the URL to their individual forum – not the link to the network they are part of. Judges will look at the overall forum and judge it on how unique the writer or the producer has made the forum; at the individual touches he or she has brought to it. Also judges will look at not how good it looks but how easily it is to navigate and if the overall design helps in regards to the understanding of the series or makes it more confusing. If a series is on more than one network or has a separate homepage off of the network – they can submit for each network and for one homepage not affiliated with a network.

Best Original Graphics

Each series will submit examples of graphics created for their series during 2008. These can include Title Cards, Character Cards, Promotion Banners, etc. Nothing created before January 1st, 2008 can be submitted. Please include the names of the creators of the graphics when making submissions.

Outstanding Character Development

Each series that would like to be included here will be asked to submit a link to their series forum. They will be asked to include links to character profiles and a few episodes that judges will specifically look at. Judges will look at how well the writer develops the characters, and how easy the writer lets the reader get to know and understand them.

Outstanding Use of Music

Each series will submit links to episodes or other areas of their forum they use music to help readers better understand or follow their series.

Oustanding Opening

Each series can submit a link to or embed the video they use as an opening for their series or episodes. Each series must submit the video created during 2008 or that they used during 2008. If the opening was created before 2008 it is not eligible unless the video was edited for use in 2008. It the series used more than one opening during 2008 that series can submit up to 2 of them for consideration. Please include the Producer of the series name and the person who created the video.

Outstanding Video Promo

Each series will be allowed to submit up to 3 Promos for consideration in this category. Right now we plan to divide these up into 3 categories: Network Promos, Fan Fiction Promos, and Original Series Promos. All videos must have been created and used in 2008. Each network can submit up to 3 Promotional Videos. The Director or Founder of the Network must make those submissions. Please include the Series Producer or Network Director/Officer(s) along with the name of the person who created the video.


By Monday night at Midnight a special section will be created for The SOFF Awards in the Awards & Honors section of SoapsWEB. Individuals can begin at that time making submissions, and will be allowed to continue until January 31st, 2009. All entries must have occurred during 2008 - not before and not after.


You can now make submissions to the awards at:

http://s15.zetaboards.com/SoapsWeb/forum/3003550/

Each category has the specifics of what you need to do explained.

Current Soap Rankings
1) AMC; 2) OLTL; 2) GH; 4) Y&R; 5) ATWT; 6) B&B; 7) GL; 8) Days.