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Make The World A Better Place – Effect

This project has had a fairly profound impact on how I view media and the technology associated with it.  Through the creation of this project, I have discovered how important having an understanding of all media can be.  Without this project, I would know very little about the impact of technology on new and various types of mediaImage

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Dexter: Show Structure

While the writers for the Showtime series “Dexter” do enjoy mixing up their structure to provide the audience with unexpected twists and turns as they follow the most likable serial killer any of us have ever known, they tend to follow a fairly consistent overlapping structure when planning out the entirety of the season.  It goes as follows: A,B,C structure with most episodes being three consistently spaced acts, and some episodes having an extended sequence to fill in for the ‘C’ storyline.  Every episode tends to have between 7-13 scenes, and tends to follow the three pronged approach to developing each story.  For my spec script, I will be picking up right where Dexter left off at the end of the seventh, and second to last season.  Apparently Michael C. Hall has to go film 50 shades of Grey… You may have heard of it.  But Anyhow, I will be taking the same three act structure approach, but will also be applying an elongated sequence as the ‘C’ storyline to provide a proper introduction for Season 8’s main killer (who shall remain anonymous until the end of the episode).  Seeing as Dexter picks one overarching killer storyline to progress along with the season, this will serve as the introduction.  The ‘B’ storyline generally revolves around Deb, Dexter’s sister.  She is still wrestling with the killing of the Lieutenant from season seven.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoy how Dexter is structured, and have absolutely no problem adopting it for my spec script.  My elongated sequence may stand out in their writer’s room, but I see no problem with adding a bit of flare to the end of the episode.  

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We Demand OnDemand

The Future of Fandom

Up until this most recent decade, television shows were all but limited to the screen.  We get our fill once a week, and are then forced to wait in agony until 167 hours pass and we can once again become immersed in our characters and stories.  That is an age gone by.  Now that television has entered the Internet age, we as fans are no longer forced to wait an entire painstaking week to gobble up content from our favorite programs.  The introduction of Internet content and OnDemand features now give us HBO (and many other stations/syndicates) subscribers something else to keep us satisfied, drooling over, and most importantly, engaged in whatever content they provide.  For Game of Thrones alone there are over twelve extra features on Charter (yes… Even Charter is getting with the times…), all of which I personally have watched several times.  This is not the only program providing its viewers with a bevy of additional content.  All HBO shows have some form of additional features, as do many network stations like NBC and CBS.  But HBO takes their content a step above all others, granting us fans the depth and insight into the creation and execution for a show of this magnitude.   Now, Game of Thrones has a rather expansive viewership, so many different OnDemand features are warranted.  One area though where I may be selfishly critical is the distribution of this content (in terms of time).  Maybe it’s the inner fan in me, but I believe many networks including HBO could do a much better job spacing their content evenly, and hooking the audience into a prorogated engagement with more than the show has to offer.  Although, if this is my biggest concern with HBO, well then they deserve my extra ten dollars in cable fees paid each month.  Keep up the good work HBO.   

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March Madness… Can’t get enough

Character Tournament – I just couldn’t get enough March Madness, so here’s another bout of brawn, Game of Thrones style.  This tournament pits each character up against one another to determine who (with use of their weapon of choice) would take the cake in a 1 v 1 showdown.  Something tells me Tyrion can’t recruit Bronn this time…  Let me start with an honorable mention in Daenerys Stormborn… If dragons were a handheld weapon this would be little contest.  But you can’t swing a dragon… (or can you?)

  1. Jaime Lannister
  2. Khal Drogo
  3. Robb Stark
  4. The Mountain
  5. Bronn
  6. The Hound
  7. Sir Loris Tyrelle
  8. Lady Tarth

 

(1) Sir Jaime Lannister vs. (8) Lady Tarth [Being that these matchups are being fought in their prime, I have to give this one to Jaime Lannister.  While there are certainly many circumstances that could hold Jaime back (sitting in his own feces while being marched along the Stark camp…), One on one in the proper conditions Jaime takes this one.

(2)  Khal Drogo vs. (7) Sir Loris Tyrelle [Sir Loris may take this mighty warrior with the lance, but few can match up with the Khal in close quarters.  This one may end up closer than many would expect, but the Khal closes on Renly’s lover.

(3)  Robb Stark vs. (6) The Hound [Robb Stark leads an army.  The hound does not.  But put these two in a room and ask them to talk it out… Who comes out?  The Hound pulls the massive upset here and moves on.

(4)  The Mountain vs. (5) Bronn [The Mountain, much like his sibling, holds a direct size advantage, but what Bronn lacks in size he makes up for in combat experience and speed.  Bronn topples this Mountain in a quicker bout of bloodshed than most would expect.

Round 2

(1) Jaime Lannister vs. (5) Bronn [Unlike the first round matchup, Bronn cannot quick step his way out of this one.  Jaime Lannister mirrors him in both speed and experience, but clearly takes the cake in combat ability.  Jaime puts his sword hand forward in this blowout.

(2) Khal Drogo vs. (6) The Hound [Talk about similar opponents… The only difference is one has the speed to move without armor while the other must be rather meticulous in his slowed movements.  Drogo pierces more than armor to advance to the next round

Championship Round

(1) Jaime Lannister vs. (2) Khal Drogo [Once again, put these two on a level playing field and you get a fight for the ages.  These are two of the fiercest warriors in all the seven kingdoms.  The key to this matchup will be who strikes first.  Drogo is bigger, stronger and faster, but is susceptible without burdensome armor.  Meanwhile, the quick hands of Jaime Lannister immediately pose a threat to a fast start from the corner of King’s Landing.  In the end, Drogo deals an early blow and is crowned champion of the Seven Kingdom’s tournament of combat. 

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March Madness: Game of Thrones Style

In honor of March Madness, I thought it to be in line with the current spirit of tournament play to hold a couple tournaments of my own… Game of Thrones style.  So mount your horse and grab your lance… Here’s hoping The Mountain isn’t on the other side. 

If a quote decided who mounts the iron throne, who among these would you call king?

1 vs. 8 – While Cersei may be one of the more conniving characters in the show, she is no match for the Mother of Dragons.  Daenerys Stormborn takes the first matchup in a landslide.  Besides, who would argue with those dragons anyhow?

  1. Daenerys: I have never been nothing. I am the blood of the dragon.

Vs.

       8.   Cersei: The gods have no mercy, that’s why they’re gods.

2 vs. 7 – A Tyrion vs. Tyrion matchup.  Wonder who will win.  While the 9th episode of the second season is argued by most to be the best episode thus far, it’s hard to go against my favorite monologue from the entire series (through season two).  Although, this quote would have had significantly less humor had Bronn not stepped in.

  1. Tyrion: Where do I begin, my lords and ladies? I am a vile man, I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting. I have lied and cheated, gambled and whored. I’m not particularly good at violence, but I’m good at convincing others to do violence for me. You want specifics, I suppose. When I was seven, I saw a servant girl bathing in the river. I stile her robe and she was forced to return to the castle naked and in tears. I closed my eyes, but I could still see her tits bouncing. When I was 10, I stuffed my uncle’s boots with goat shit. When confronted with my crime, I blamed a squire. Poor boy was flogged, and I escaped justice. When I was 12 I milked my eel into a pot of turtle stew. I flogged the one-eyed snake, I skinned my sausage. I made the bald men cry into the turtle stew, which I believe my sister ate. At least I hope she did. I once brought a jackass and a honeycomb into a brothel…. 

Vs.

 7.    Tyrion: Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let’s go kill them!

3 vs. 6 – It’s time to pull the upset.  Robb’s words to captive Jamie Lannister serve as a staple for Robb’s determination and will to avenge his father.  While Tyrion’s words are of elevated impact due to their break from his normal humor and sarcastic wit, Robb takes this one in a close showing.

  1. Tyrion: I will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think you are safe and happy, and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth. And you will know the debt is paid.

 Vs.

 6.   Jaime: Three victories don’t make you a conqueror.

             Robb: It’s better than three defeats.

 

4 vs. 5 [Before I saw Tywin in his debut (episode 2 of season 2) I imagined him to be a ruthless, yet intelligent leader of the Lannisters.  The second I saw him on screen, I immediately realized where Jaime, Cersei and Tyrion get there personality.  Tywin is ruthless, cruel, but above all else, intelligent.  Lord Tywin takes this matchup.

 

  1. Tywin: Your mother’s dead, before long I’ll be dead, and you, and your brother, and your sister and all of her children. All of us dead, all of us rotting in the ground. It’s the family name that lives on. That’s all that lives on. Not your personal glory, not your honor, but family. Do you understand?

 Vs.

  5. Robb: Tell Lord Tywin winter is coming for him. Twenty thousand northerners       marching south to find out if he really does shit gold. (5)

 

Round 2:

1 vs. 4 – Again, I have to give this one to Daenerys for how meaningful this quote remains to both her character and her pursuit.  She has gone from a little girl to a full blown leader over the span of just 2 seasons.  Tywin may have pulled out of round one alive, but he won’t make it past the Mother of Dragons.

2 vs. 6 – For me, this one isn’t even close.  The brash nature of Tyrion’s words immediately catapults him over the round 1 upset.  This monologue is not only brilliantly composed, but so accurately depicts Tyrion’s personality in literary form.  He just knows the right words for every situation.

Championship Round:

1 vs. 2 – This came down to the wire… How do you pit the Mother of Dragons up against the sharp wit of the imp?  You hope Daenerys leaves her dragons at home… That’s how.  While there is no question which character (as of the end of season 2) holds more power, Tyrion’s wit overtakes Daenerys’ confidence in this tight war of words.  Tyrion reigns above the words of all others, despite coming from below.

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Tyrion: Toddler or Tyrant?

 

Tyrion is my favorite character in this cast of beautifully crafted individuals for his intellect, his wit, and his proclivity for the finer things in life.  While Tyrion is seen as a tyrant by those watching the show, he is often perceived as nothing more than a bastard child amongst his family and a whole capital of his closest friends.  But what is it about Tyrion that causes him such strife along the social pecking order of King’s Landing?  The very thing that shaped his mind into a sharp instrument deadlier than just about any sword in the Seven Kingdoms; his height.  While all may look down at Tyrion, seeing his squat legs and scarred face, he is all but a man of small stature.  Through his ridicule and pain growing up with his lack of height, Tyrion studied not the sword, but words.  This is what makes Tyrion a writer’s dream character, because all possible venues of wit and intellect can be funneled directly from the writer to the character.  There is no filter required for anything he says due to his complex nature as a character, which often times even soars above the head of the smarter audience members.  George R.R. Martin, and subsequently D.B. Weiss and David Benioff can write in anything for Tyrion.  Nothing is off limits when writing for a character such as Tyrion, because there has been enough credibility established with the audience to confirm just about anything he says as being brilliant and witty.  So is Tyrion a toddler?  Certainly not.  Is Tyrion a tyrant?  Certainly not… Not yet.