Comments on Netflix

[In the last line of the following article Netflix is described as an Internet television network. Netflix is also picking up the canceled sitcom "Arrested Development." This is really kind of symbolic. The broadcast networks are sort of in an arrested development, canceling shows willy-nilly without regard to quality or the long term. They are particularly short sighted when it comes to continuing story arch shows. You never know when a story line will just be dropped and no resolution will occur. Even when the producers of the show write around the chance of cancellation, it becomes a bit like hack television. Some series will start with stand alone shows and then morph into a continuing storyline. Some shows will pull all the strings of a plot together just in case they are canceled and then have to write themselves out of a false denouement. There are a lot of variations, and that does keep it somewhat interesting but none of this contributes towards the feeling that these series are works of art, something that you want to own, or something that is a gem to watch on Netflix.  Sometimes series succeed despite the constant threat of cancellation, sometimes not so much. If Netflix could somehow become a cherry picker of series to finish then these series would be much more valuable than say, NBC's "Surface" which has all threads of storyline ending in suspension. Who would want to buy that on DVD? Or watch it on Netflix. If Netflix could somehow work closely with producers to rescue the most grievous cancellations, then everyone would benefit from having a long term property that is of value. If an "Internet television network" can separate itself from the night by night ratings grind and look at series more like a fully contained unit, things would be much better.

 

One might think that I would like movies, which are fully contained units. Well, not so much. While it might seem like movies have the advantage in artistic freedom, there really is a set format that is limited by time. A movie can only be so long and all parts of the story have to fit. There is little time for character development, there is limited time for changing the plot to suit the actors, etc. It leads to predictability. One might think movies to be analogous to novels and television to short stories, but I find the opposite to be true. And Netflix, they understand this. The release of "House of Cards" as a complete unit rather than a nightly series was right on target. A "work" had been presented. I notice that British television often has contained units of 3 parts or 5 parts, or really any number of parts, for many shows. This is sort of like the demised American miniseries. And it works. Netflix understands this too and has a number of these types of shows in their lineup. I think viewers like shows with endings and viewers like shows with long story archs. I myself like to be enveloped by a story for long periods of time. I like familiar faces. And I would rather watch a rerun of a good series than watch one from the beginning not knowing if it will fail or succeed. Broadcast networks need to know that their type of disrespect for the viewer will eventually be their undoing. I don't trust them with new shows, do you?]


 

Title: Netflix Introduces 'Sense8'

Source: Entertainment Close-up. (Apr. 2, 2013):

Netflix announced it will bring Georgeville Television's Sense8, a global tale of minds linked and souls hunted, exclusively to its members to watch instantly in late 2014.

According to a release, the 10 episode season one of Sense8 marks a foray into television by the Wachowskis, the creative geniuses behind Bound, The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, V for Vendetta, Speed Racer and Cloud Atlas, and is the latest project from veteran show runner J. Michael Straczynski, creator of the Babylon 5 TV series and whose film credits include Changeling, Thor and Underworld Awakening,

"Andy and Lana Wachowski and Joe Straczynski are among the most imaginative writers and gifted visual storytellers of our time," said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. "Their incredible creations are favorites of Netflix members globally and we can't wait to bring Sense8 to life."

"We're excited to work with Netflix and Georgeville Television on this project, and we've wanted to work with Joe Straczynski for years, chiefly due to the fact his name is harder to pronounce than ours, but also because we share a love of genre and all things nerdy," said Andy and Lana Wachowski. "Several years ago, we had a late night conversation about the ways technology simultaneously unites and divides us, and out of that paradox Sense8 was born."

"We are proud to be working with Netflix on this new series," said Straczynski. "Lana, Andy, and I are fans of each other's creations, and have been looking for something to do together for nearly a decade."

Netflix said Sense8 is being produced by Georgeville Television, in association with Studio JMS. Georgeville Television is a Reliance Entertainment company and independent television studio, formed by veteran film and television producer Marc Rosen, in partnership by Motion Picture Capital's Leon Clarance and Producer Deepak Nayar. Formed in 2012, Georgeville Television currently has two series in pre-production, including NBC's Crossbones starring John Malkovich. Rosen, Clarance, and Nayar will serve as executive producers on Sense8.

Studio JMS, launched last year by Straczynski and CEO Patricia Tallman, was founded to produce a range of film, television, comics and other media properties. In addition to The Flickering Light, Straczynski's feature directorial debut, and Sense8, Studio JMS has created a new comics imprint, Joe's Comics, published in partnership with Image Comics. Its first series, "Ten Grand," will debut in May. In addition to Sense8, Motion Picture Capital is producing The Flickering Light, which begins filming in Berlin later this year.

"Sense8 is a dream-come-true creatively, and we look forward to working closely with our new partners at Netflix, with whom we could not be more excited to bring the Wachowski's first TV series ever to life," said Rosen.

"We're delighted to once again partner with Joe, and have the opportunity to work with Lana and Andy, two of our movie-making heroes, on their television debut," said Clarance. "They have created a brilliant concept, which will be a wonderful story to produce, and a rich conceptual world for viewers to experience."

Netflix is an Internet television network.