If one thing is true, in your lifetime, you have watched television. The importance of this, is that many have watched television and decided it was not their cup of tea. Trust me many people have chosen another venue to pursue their writing careers. Be that stage plays, video games or novels, the numbers don't lie television's days are numbered. See, "Wired," Sept 2005. No, it's not the movies that have usurped the box. It's everything for more on that see last month's article for the dismal state of movies.
According to "Variety," August 22, 2005 broadcast net sales are down ten percent. This includes every network except ABC. Why this downward trend in numbers for the big six networks? Perhaps, it's because even with high Nielsen numbers you still don't want to write for ABC's " Hope and Faith", or " Eight Simple Rules" even at the W.G. A. scale of $25,000 per episode. Your goals are bigger and you still prefer the element of drama. If so then read on to restore your sanity from writing feature films.
For the next few months I will alternate between writing for episodic and cable television. The reason is very simple features film may be dead for the next year or two despite " Capote" and " "Jane Austen."I realized film was dead when I walked out of "Crash." A movie that features actors I respect, Thandie Newton, Don Cheadle and a talented cast. Something is wrong with the movie business. Perhaps it was the baby crying or the cell phone conversation. In any event five minutes after the halfway point I got up and walked out.
Television is more difficult to escape, it's free or almost free via a satellite, the Internet or over the air. In addition their is so much more of television, 200 channels worth. This summer according to boxofficemojo.com "Star Wars Episode III " is the number one worldwide film. It grossed $819 million as of August 13, 2005. Yet I had to drive to see this movie I can get better drama on my cell phone.
Television via broadcast or cable is a different format for the writer. Thus, I urge you to read several books before venturing into this emotional and high pace environment. As a television writer one has to pace the beats for commercials. Face it even "Monk" has commercials. In the September, "Wired" magazine a chart lists how people watch television. Surprisingly, a lot of people are downloading their favorite shows via" Bit- Torrent."
