Watching Television, strategically
When we watch a television series (even when we actually watch...not on a television but on a computer or a device) we make a small commitment these days. We are in a golden era. We know, from media (social or otherwise) that all of the sudden there is a huge variety of programming. A smorgasbord of personal entertainment. We have learned to crave the 'binge worthy" show.
By now we have all experienced such pleasurable and rewarding events. Getting 'into' Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. Once you realize this is possible, you search for similar binge worthy series.
But, too bad. The fact is that one of the real pleasures of the first two or three shows you binged on was that somehow you identified with a character or a theme and following it through over a series of evenings or more...was itself a new, and never before experienced event in your life.
People did not 'binge' on dramatic series ten years ago. This is a new phenom.
So ...cut yourself some slack. You will never love a show as much as you loved THAT show. But, that's ok. There is still a lot of creativity out there and take your time.
Here is a suggestion. I once read an interview from an actor who was asked about the production he was in. He had been the villain in the piece. The accolades went to the hero of the piece...another actor that he praised etc., but.. he made this point..............as an actor, from his perspective, the character that HE portrayed was the protagonist of the piece.
This started me thinking. I have known a few actors in my time. One thing they share with trial lawyers (whom I know something about) is that they have egos. And, as I watched a show or two, I began to purposefully focus on the secondary actors or the supporting actors. It's pretty easy to see that, from the actors point of view, their character is the most important one in the show. Even if they know, on some level, that this isn't true...for the sake of themselves...the actor apart from the character...they want it to be so ...they may even NEED it to be so.
So, If you want to have some fun....consider watching a Program you love...but shift your allegiance from the standard and offered hero to the secondary character. Imagine Deadwood as the story of "E.B". Imagine "The Americans" as the story of FBI agent Beeman. Imagine "Breaking Bad" as Hank's story.
Have fun.
By now we have all experienced such pleasurable and rewarding events. Getting 'into' Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. Once you realize this is possible, you search for similar binge worthy series.
But, too bad. The fact is that one of the real pleasures of the first two or three shows you binged on was that somehow you identified with a character or a theme and following it through over a series of evenings or more...was itself a new, and never before experienced event in your life.
People did not 'binge' on dramatic series ten years ago. This is a new phenom.
So ...cut yourself some slack. You will never love a show as much as you loved THAT show. But, that's ok. There is still a lot of creativity out there and take your time.
Here is a suggestion. I once read an interview from an actor who was asked about the production he was in. He had been the villain in the piece. The accolades went to the hero of the piece...another actor that he praised etc., but.. he made this point..............as an actor, from his perspective, the character that HE portrayed was the protagonist of the piece.
This started me thinking. I have known a few actors in my time. One thing they share with trial lawyers (whom I know something about) is that they have egos. And, as I watched a show or two, I began to purposefully focus on the secondary actors or the supporting actors. It's pretty easy to see that, from the actors point of view, their character is the most important one in the show. Even if they know, on some level, that this isn't true...for the sake of themselves...the actor apart from the character...they want it to be so ...they may even NEED it to be so.
So, If you want to have some fun....consider watching a Program you love...but shift your allegiance from the standard and offered hero to the secondary character. Imagine Deadwood as the story of "E.B". Imagine "The Americans" as the story of FBI agent Beeman. Imagine "Breaking Bad" as Hank's story.
Have fun.
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