gillian-wildnightstudios-blog

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Doodling on #adobesketch on my #samsungnote10plus. There's some really nice brushes on here. Especially for a phone and stylus. #wip #digitalart #digitalillustration #portraitpainting #digitalartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CDufBCNnbLx/?igshid=gsmwnkm4ajk0

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Rough grid and card layout for rewrite of pilot complete. Next step is to stick this puppy into an outline/treatment so i can clear my board for my other pilot project. <Insert evil laughter here> #writingcommunity #writing #writersofinstagram #screenwriting #amplotting #amwriting #writers #screenwritersofinstagram #screenwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/CDfdHwBnGV8/?igshid=1s8ijs496zuk2

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

I was wondering what was keeping the blinds open.... https://www.instagram.com/p/CDb8A6SnI8e/?igshid=d8membvw4vjo

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Not the final design, as this is just a doodle. Think the final will be a neon sign. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDX3DxnnRmx/?igshid=1hs9z6mahn00r

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

My new t-shirt. And a useful life motto. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDLEVTFnqA8/?igshid=koeyy7999z3x

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Dis be mai plottin face. For both me and Gawain, here. #cats #cat #catlife #catsofinstagram #writingcommunity #writing #amplotting https://www.instagram.com/p/CDDj53Knjjo/?igshid=1n9810mfc1tch

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Racial Inspirations for characters in my new script #elves and their industrial #technomagic #StarCrost #amwriting #screenwriting #writingcommunity #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4WyuXHrFU/?igshid=1str94z0ple4r

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

#characterconcept #character Inspirations for characters in my new script #StarCrost #amwriting #screenwriting #writingcommunity #writing there were some doubles in there. Lost track of who i posted!🤣 https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1rOX0BH1p/?igshid=lfj6ot8m9sv3

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

#characterconcept #character Inspirations for characters in my new script #StarCrost #amwriting #screenwriting #writingcommunity #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1rCiOBHO7/?igshid=1wkx52e4kox7c

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

#characterconcept #character Inspirations for characters in my new script #StarCrost #amwriting #screenwriting #writingcommunity #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1q2hoh9dX/?igshid=pujrbftbx8pu

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

#characterconcept #character Inspirations for characters in my new script #StarCrost #amwriting #screenwriting #writingcommunity #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1quXwB625/?igshid=28o282rh6jdd

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Cats, man. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCtxmpTHQyI/?igshid=10hj1lspke1cs

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Collaborating on a new series, and it is kick-ass. I can't wait till I can share it with you. #screenwriter #screenwriterslife #writing https://www.instagram.com/p/B1l6zeknZ7e/?igshid=9p8dqcxoj0wi

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Wow. Just wow. So super excited! My sci-fi romantic comedy got to second round! #writerscommunity #writing #writersofinstagram #screenwriter #screenwriterslife #screenplay #screenwriting #screenwritersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B0l0Lpnn7LN/?igshid=1f72m46nt3ff8

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

#wip of a were #jaguar in #armor Really looking forward to finishing all those spots!😅 #werewolf #werejaguar #drawing #art #pencildrawing #pencilsketch https://www.instagram.com/p/B0jdKDmHTnF/?igshid=12uknztgv8hwx

[gillian-wildnightstudios-blog]

Why TV Shows Make Decisions That Drive You Nuts

Hello all!

I’m Gillian, and I write alot. I storytell roleplaying games, both tabletop and LARP. I also write screenplays, do special effects, and work on film sets.

In this pseudo-rant, I’m going to try to explain why your favorite TV show’s writers do things that make you want to scream, tear out your hair, or rage-quit a series.

First, you need to understand a few things involved in writing screenplays, more specifically episodic television screenwriting.

It’s VERY different than writing a novel. A novel is under your COMPLETE control. You can write whatever you want that’s in your head. The characters will never do anything you don’t want them to do, they’re your little dancing puppets. You have however long you want to write, and you can have as many chapters as you want. You have no obligations, you’re not getting paid. Usually.

A TV script is a group effort. You are only partially in control, with a group of other writers, with input from the Producer, often the actors/actresses, network execs, and financial-dudes. You may not like the final decisions, but you grit your teeth and do your damned best because it’s your job and you want more work while simultaneously wanting to keep your work to a certain standard that you yourself can be proud of. A scene from your script will never be exactly what you pictured. This is because YOU are not the Director. They are the one in charge of bringing your vision to life in whatever way THEY choose. You have (in many networks) 23 episodes in which to tell 45-60 (roughly) page complete mini-stories, stringing together in a cohesive whole for a full story arc.

THIS IS FRIGGING DIFFICULT.

Books and fic can be for yourself as much as they can be for others.

TV episodes are for the audience. Execs want their shows to appeal to as many age and gender brackets as possible because then a show brings in more $$$$ through merchandising, licensing, commercial time, etc. This isn’t to say that Execs don’t love their shows, just that it’s as much a business as it is an art, and they frequently have to answer to shareholders, investors, etc (some of whom don’t have a creative bone in their body, some of whom are amazingly creative).

When writing an episodic series, you want the audience engaged, interested, invested in the characters, because then they’ll come back for more. Sometimes like masochists.

This is why they throw curve balls or do things to the characters that seems weird or enraging. Because we want a reaction. We want to kick you in the feels. We want you coming back to be angry at us. We want you coming back to love us. We want you coming back to wonder what the hell we were thinking.

But Gillian, you say, why would you want people to be pissed at you?

I could say it’s because haters make you famous, but the real answer is because it shows that you CARE about these characters, about that show. You don’t get pissed at something you don’t care about. The fact that a fandom can flip their crackers over something that happens on a TV show and spew millions of terabytes worth of internet rants about it means they are INVESTED in the show.

You still love the characters, you still love the show, though you may hate what they do, or you may hate the storylines. Some of you may hate it so much you rage-quit. That’s sad, but fine. Writers and showrunners have that delicate balance of keeping their base audience engaged (note- engaged doesn’t always mean happy), and try to attract new viewers.

It’s not easy. At all. I was once told the sign of a successful negotiation is that everyone leaves unhappy. I feel that applies to the balance of storytelling as well. You’re never going to please everyone. Ever.

AND THAT’S OKAY.

My tastes and yours are not the same. You hate Supergirl because it’s feminist overtones are too strong? That’s fine. I love it. I’ve dealt with that shit my whole life, as have many other women. It’s not like you’re obligated to watch it. You hate Olicity in Arrow? Well, I feel sorry for your terrible taste, but that’s okay, too.

As @stopandfangirl3 retweeted “"There’s a sense of: “I’m right, you’re wrong” rather than accepting the fact that people are coming from different places.“ @LynniePurcell”

Spew your hate, your adoration, your anger. Argue and rant and profess your love. A good writer will bathe in your rage and tears and giddy laughter and ask for more.

Why?

Because our goal is to entertain, to engage, to invoke emotion. Screenwriters livelihoods depend on it.

Now, keeping all that in mind, I still hate it at times. ;-)

However, my lessons from years as a tabletop and LARP game master/storyteller have made something VERY clear. The players do not see everything. They are not omniscient. They cannot predict what will happen, why it will happen, or when it will happen. And when they perceive something as being terrible, they will bitch a blue streak about how it’s unfair or bad without having any idea of what other plotlines are going on, the reasons behind the storyline, or even the fact that another player might be screwing them.

I feel the same is true for fandom audiences. We do not see everything. We do not know how these plotlines will end. We see something we don’t like and bitch til our lungs give out.

Specifically in regards to Arrow, I’m a diehard Olicity fan. Do I like what they’re doing here in the end of season 4 and beginning of season 5? Definitely not, but I haven’t seen the end of  the line yet, so making a decision now seems premature. Gotta keep on my big girl pants and be patient.

Anyway, the real question is, do I think the runners and writers are stupid enough to ignore completely the fact that their show and ‘ship is SO LOVED that they won the MTV Ship of the Year award for two of the three years the awards been running?

Nope. I think they’re sadists, not stupid. Happy happy sadists.

:-D

EDIT: I realized the above post may not clearly say how excited I am about season 5 of Arrow. I am, I totally am, and will happily continue to watch it as it stabs me in my feels, no matter how soap opera it gets! ;-)