Pre-Production Unit: Further Influences

Although the Film and TV programmes i've mentioned previously were my main influences on my idea there were also further shows that have been with with me for a and which have influenced me at some point down the line with my scriptwriting for 'Different Perspectives'.

A publicity shot for Chris Morris'
series, 'Blue Jam'.

A few years ago I got really interested in the work of TV satirist, Chris Morris. After progressing through the TV & Audio versions of the surrealistic 'Blue Jam', I was really impressed with the possibilities that are available to the writer when formulating ideas.

It was then that a switch went off in my head, I realised that often Television is just the writer(s) conceiving of material if not just for themselves but as something that reflects whatever they want it to be. The TV outlet is quite liberating in the way that it allows for a vehicle for the scriptwriter. 

'EdTV' (1999)

Another influence was a movie that Chris Sarmiento (who is in my class) told me about. It is titled 'EdTV'. (1999) It was suggested to me in my pitch because Chris said that my idea of Elliott being filmed on camera reminded him of it. Before I watched the film I read the synopsis on IMDB:

"A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show. This intrigued me so I watched it to see if it could give me some ideas when formulating my ideas."

After watching the film (which I have to say was better than I expected it to be) I could see that Director Ron Howard had some good ideas for the movie, but it was delivered quite sloppily. Especially in comparison to something else exploring the concept of being filmed like The Truman Show. However, in many ways it keenly predicted the trends and formulas of reality TV and the illusory breed of celebrity the genre spawns.