Exploring Hollywood's reliance on series bibles over the Bible, Rob Long suggests a reexamination. Discussing the challenges of balancing creative concepts with commercial demands in the entertainment industry. Delving into the hesitation to embrace religion and faith in show business, contrasting skepticism towards biblical narratives with acceptance of esoteric practices.
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Quick takeaways
Hollywood relies on series bibles for TV show development, but exploring the Bible as source material can offer rich storytelling potential.
Successful TV series require well-written scripts over elaborate planning, emphasizing the importance of practical execution in storytelling.
Deep dives
Complex Relationships in the Entertainment Industry
In the entertainment business, the traditional roles of writers and executives have shifted. Writers now seek funny jokes and attractive characters while executives focus on character arcs and deeper moments. This change has led to a mix of high-quality and poor television content, highlighting the confusion in industry expectations. The dynamic of story notes and character inputs has blurred the distinction between writer and executive responsibilities, resulting in a challenging environment for show business.
Creation of TV Series vs. Writing Process
Creating a successful TV series involves more than just conceptualization; it requires a well-written pilot script that leaves room for future development. Professional writers prioritize writing the actual script over elaborate planning, emphasizing that the Bible, representing the series outline, is inadequate without a tangible script. Despite common misconceptions, successful television writing hinges on the practical execution of dialogue and action within the script, reflecting the essence of storytelling in the industry.
Exploring Religious Themes in Entertainment
Religious themes in entertainment, particularly related to the Bible, offer rich storytelling potential embraced across the entertainment industry. While faith-based content can be profitable when executed effectively, there is a reluctance within show business to fully engage with religious narratives, especially those concerning Jesus. Despite societal interest in spirituality, the portrayal of religious themes in entertainment remains a sensitive and apprehensive topic among industry professionals.
Sixty percent of Americans say they read the Bible regularly. But in Hollywood, where Jesus and religion can feel — how do you say it — downmarket, people rely instead on the series bible, where writers flesh out their TV series’ characters, situations and possible future episodes. But Rob Long suggests Hollywood, much like he has, take a fresh look at the Bible — the one with a capital B, no IP rights, and packed with tragedy, sex and human weakness fit for a limited series.
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