The Pyrate's Booty

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Epic On-Line TV shows

I've viewed, compared, and contrasted the elements of three different on-line mini TV shows. Each varies in genre, scripting, use of technology, direction, and theme.

28 Day Slater
"Mario Gets a New Job"


This high school comedy spoof of the epic show Saved by the Bell is so awesome, Preppy! The guys at Team Tiger Awesome have brought the world another dimension to the drab high school dramedy. The most important key to the success of this show is that they've managed to stick faithfully to the three act structure. This enables 28 Day Slater to be accessible to a mass audience, who are used to seeing this exact formula in most all prime time TV shows. Visually, this production is clean and simplistic. The theme introduced is the classic approach of the hero meeting adversary and triumphing in the end.

The first episode introduces the sexy dimpled Mario Lopez, as well as his alter ego "A.C. Slater". During the month of February, Mario turns into his on-screen counterpart, the buff, the curly-haired, the crotch itching "Slater". The episode not only gives you a bit of backstory, but also opens the door for more episodes to follow. There is suspense, wrestling, music, sweat, blood, and tears, Baby! What more could you ever want?

Fugitive Chef
Episode 1


This show is not only a spoof of those reality cooking shows, but also a spoof of the 1993 Harrison Ford flick, The Fugitive. This show contains genres such as the detective, murder mystery, and comedy concepts. The theme addressed, is the idea of an innocent man being accused of something he did not do. While most detective and/or murder mystery shows dedicate most episodes to such a theme, Fugitive Chef adds a twist. The hero of our story, Jose, manages to drop the panties or briefs of all who taste his delictable dishes. He is in competition with a one-eyed sous chef, who we find out, is actually the REAL murderer.

Lou Hernandez wrote, directed, edited, and also stars in this chef/detective comedy. Hernandez sticks to the three act structure, and even manages to squeeze in a condensed backstory. The first episode ends with Jose fleeing the scene with Detective Sturt hot on his tail. Stay Tuned!

Rezelscheft


This off kilter period piece is more than a gypsy dancing, hay throwing, hat and boot wearing melodrama. Oh no! It is a short film about three big-headed and small-bodied "things", that scream and toss their whimsical little arms in the air. The film is spliced with intruiging dramatic clips of a rural family afflicted with some sort of treachery and deceit underlying their happy-go-lucky existence.

I chose this film to critique because it is so unusual and different from any kind of script that I know of. The creator of this odd ball film is Brian L. Perkins. He is part of the San Francisco sketch comedy troupe and film production company, Killing My Lobster. Perkins' brain child has some typical scripting elements, such as a quick intro/backstory in Act I, and from there the film meanders, cuts, and spilts every which way the Rezelscheft deem fit. You have to see it to believe it.