DIFFER Entertainment: Television Programming

I watched A LOT of TV when I was a kid. I could quote seasons of The Simpsons, tell you the birthname & codename of each of the X-Men, and recite 151 pokemon. I spent my formative years with tv. Then my attention span must have grown somewhat in highschool and I became obsessed with feature films. My first job was even at a movie theater so I could do more "research" for my obsession.

As I watched and added stories to my mental library, I started noticing the repetitive patterns—predictable character arcs, the same formulas applied to familiar stereotypes across different shows and genres. It made me wonder: Who does it benefit to continue telling these same stories from these same perspectives?

Questions like this remind us of our duty as filmmakers to challenge both the audience and ourselves. Are we content with following formulas, or do we want to create meaningful narratives that provoke thought, empathy, and change in the real world?

Why do we watch anything on TV?

Is it to project ourselves into experiencing some dramatic or terrible or fantastic journey -- to live in another man's shoes for 22 minutes at a time?

Do we just wanna see ourselves represented? Or do we have standards for representation?

What would it take for you to truly feel seen, considered, or acknowledged in tv/film?

What Stereotypes/Role Models should we lookout for?

Who is your favorite character? Do they pass the vibe check?

Why do you think they call it TV "Programming"?

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