Guiding Light Discussion Group

Topic: Biggest problem aside from close ups and sound: no story

In all the lead-up to the new format, the most ominous thing I heard was Wheeler's comment that the script length had been slashed from something like 110 pages down to 60 pages.   Plus, she described it as if it was an accomplishment.    You are so right papa, the lack of actual STORYLINES is glaring.    "We used to develop stories, now we just do scenes; it's cheaper and easier."    But, without stories to keep people coming back, GL has now crashed down to 2.3 million viewers per week.    They've lost like 35% of their audience since February '07.

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Spaulding Butler} Very well-stated, Dan. It sounds as if Wheeler thinks the new changes have actually benefited the show. Quite the opposite has occurred, in my opinion. Perhaps GL should return to its half-hour format! Then maybe we wouldn't be subjected to those inane music montages which have replaced most of the actual dialogue.

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Posted by: Rosebud1
Date posted: Thu May 8 15:17:36 2008
Message:
ICAM, but this has been a longstanding issue for the show.

As far as the question of why we still watch the show--it varies from fan to fan.  There are those of us who have watched the show most of our lives.  We've emotionally invested in these characters & (when there were core families) we watched generations of these core families evolve.  Generations of RL families watched, & emotionally invested, in the show as well.  It reminds many of us of good times w/family & friends who may not be with us.  There are also those of us who keep hoping that things turn around & improve.  Goodness knows, there is plenty of room for improvement to be made!

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The writing's been bad for a long time, but nothing like this. They never cut the scripts in half because they didn't have time to shoot a whole one before. They never filled 25-50% of every episode with cheap ad-hoc music videos to fill up time because they didn't have time to shoot half of the dialogue scenes that were necessary for anything to make sense. They never treated us to frequent close-ups of every actor's nosehair's vibrating before. These are all symptoms of Wheeler's pathetic, incompetent production. This is an insane, failed experiment and the longer they keep it up, they more and more audience they will alienate. And there isn't much of one left as it is. They netted a 1.5 daily rating last Thursday! 1.5! Star Trek reruns that air at 2AM can net a 1.5 for goodness sake! eom.

RoseVioletDaisy: The camera techniques & shooting in HD weren't EW's choices. She isn't responsible for the Federal mandate to change formats. She also isn't responsible for the mandates handed down from P&G. She doesn't make the rules, she simply lives by them if she wants to keep her job. ICAM, the way the show is shot is horrible. But it is Corp. that believes that this is what appeals to that 12-25 demographic & it would be happening whether or not EW was there. The shaky cameras & quick cuts were done at AMC & EW was nowhere near that show. Some of that has changed, but not all of it. ICAM, the way the show is shot DOES make it look amateurish, but that also has much more to do w/Corp. mandates & mis-steps than what we would be seeing if it was all in the hands of EW, or any EP. These things would be doing on no matter WHO was in the EP's chair. eom

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Posted by: papa bauer
Date posted: Thu May 8 12:15:35 2008
Message:
I'm not watching every day, and when I do, it's nearly always in FFwd. Here's the thing: if you stop complaining, they will let this inferior cheap project continue. It's unacceptable. It's not respectful to the audience, cast or crew. The shaky camera has stopped, mostly. But--the closeups are impossible, the sets suck, the outdoor stuff is too much. The music is still awful. But see--what happened is, they fired all the breakdown writers. Kreizman is now writing huge chunks on his own. To make up for lack of dialogue, which the breakdown writers wrote, they're playing that damn music. I think it's dreadful. If you don;t keep up the pressure, Ellen will feel like she's getting away with it. And frankly, it's fun poking at all the stuff until it's right. If I'm depressing you, I'm sorry, just skip my posts.

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I didn't know they fired the breakdown writers. They're definitely needed.

All the writers needed to be left to their own devices, to do their jobs, not simply connect the dots provided by non-storytellers. Corp. is clueless about the importance of the writers, at all levels, & it has shown in the way they have been disrespected & seen as disposable. Most of the experienced HWs were more than capable of working as a creative team w/EPs & the Exec. In Charge of Production (a position that is non-existant now), rather than taking watered down, weak 'stories' & trying to make something out of them. These were problems long before the strike & the fallout from that. Many former HWs (& writers in general) have left soaps because of the lack of creative contributions they were being allowed to make. eom

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Posted by: schuby
Date posted: Thu May 8 10:32:56 2008
Message:

Why do you keep watching this show.  Watch something else if this is so horrible to you.  It's one thing to hear complaints, but the same complaints over and over from the same person.

I feel that they are improving the camera shots and have toned down the music.  This is a new situation for the them and a bit in the experimental stage, hey, your not going to have high end camera men on a soap; and frankly this is where most actors get their start so.

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It is easy to say 'don't watch', but most of these 'complaints' are actually constructive criticisms. We don't WANT to stop watching a show that has been beloved to many for many decades, sometimes generations of family. I was a faithful, daily watcher of GL for over 30 yrs., but now I don't watch daily. It isn't difficult for me to decide to tape GH & watch Martha Stewart, because both of those shows are far more substantial for me. But that doesn't mean that I don't wish that things were better & that GL was living up to its potential! There are lots of ways the show could be more successful, if that was what P&G wanted. What we're seeing today is a shell of what the show was & far less than what it could/should be, in many ways. I'm not against change or progress, but lack of stories, strong characters & sacrificing talent, quality & experience in favor of cheapening the show is unacceptable to me & painful to watch. eom

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