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From a missing Treehouse News
: Continuing storylines
Because "Hollow Victory" is the episode in which we get the first clue that there's more to the disappearance of Veronica's parents than she realizes, this is a good opportunity to finally talk about continuing storylines in TLW.
As a topic, continuing storylines are discussed in the Story Department at least as often as they're discussed on this board, though the term we use is "serialization" Ð a word that generally elicits cheers from fans and yet brings fear to show producers and broadcast executives. Here's why.
1. In syndicated television, consistent week-to-week viewership is remarkably sporadic. In other words, dedicated fans Ð like most of the people on this board Ð who make a point of watching each first- run episode when it airs are the exception to the rule. The vast majority of viewers tend to watch on a more casual basis, catching on average about two out of four episodes every month. That's one key reason why TLW tends to stay away from two-part episodes. No one wants to have viewers turn on an episode, see that it's "Part Two," and thus turn it off because they didn't see "Part One."
2. Syndicated television shows tend to make money for their producers when they are "stripped" Ð the term for selling a series in a secondary broadcast market, as previous seasons of TLW are being shown on TNT. It's almost a law of nature that when series are stripped, they will not be run in the order in which they were originally aired. Too much serialization can lead to utter confusion when episodes are shown out of order. And utter confusion does not entice viewers to tune in.
As you've all noticed, however, there was more serialization in Season Three than in One and Two. Oddly enough, most of that was due to the need to have Veronica and Malone come and go throughout the season. Rather than have them just disappear without explanation, the Story Department created storylines to account for their absences, which on one hand generated a much richer storytelling environment for the series, and on the other hand caused the official board to get regular "Where's Malone?/Where's Veronica?" postings from casual
viewers (to say nothing of the ongoing "Where's Summerlee?" contingent!).
So what does all this mean for TLW? Pretty much that we can all probably expect things to stay the same for the foreseeable future. Though it's unlikely there will ever be two-part episodes other than end-of-season cliffhangers, definitely there will be serialized story elements, such as the ongoing trials and tribulations (and triumphs) of Marguerite and Roxton. Other elements that work for serialization without causing confusion are things like the Trion symbol and Ouroboros, which can be part of an episode one week, and then turn up
in later episodes with a word or two of minor explanation for those who might have missed them the first time through. And, of course, there are guest characters that the Story Department would love to have back for a second (and third) visit.
So, as you call for continuing storylines on TLW, have some compassion for a Story Department that's trying to be all things to all people Ð from the first-time viewer to the dedicated fans on this board. And keep watching for the little details and odd bits of dialogue that turn up from time to time Ð Can someone say ÔAvebury?' The Story Department just might come up with a surprise or two in Season Four!
BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: "Hollow Victory"
[For any who missed it, this is a repeat of an original piece first posted March 28, 2002.] "Hollow Victory" was yet another episode that emerged from the first story conference of Season Three. Jeff Hayes, a big fan of classic
science-fiction adventures, wondered if the Explorers could take part in a new Journey to the Center of the Earth story, without repeating Season Two's, "Under Pressure." The Story Department was already eager to use science-fiction settings popular at the time Doyle was writing the original Challenger stories, and one of the best of those settings was the Hollow Earth. Plus, by having the Explorers travel into the earth by balloon this time, the story setting and atmosphere would be distinct from the dark cave and tunnel look of "Under Pressure."
Fortunately, after sitting out the second season, the balloon basket was in great shape, having been wrapped up and stored on the lot. Though it looks to be a lightweight basket made of wicker and wood, the wicker is only a covering. Underneath is a welded steel frame Ð completely unsuitable for flight, but exactly what's needed to hold five extremely valuable actors as they dangle from a crane on location, or from a hoist on the stage.
For "Hollow Victory," many of the safety issues concerned the balloon basket and the precautions required to film the cast in it. When it was shot on location, the basket was actually suspended from a large crane which could simultaneously lift and swing it. But the real drama for the safety crew came during the launch and landing
sequences, when the actors had to jump on and off while the basket was in motion. In these shots no one could wear the hidden safety harnesses that are usually used whenever an actor is put into a position from which he or she might fall.
Because safety is always an overriding concern on TLW (that is, for everyone on the production except for the actors themselves Ð they're fearless), the initial concept meeting for each episode always includes the safety supervisor, and careful planning goes into every action that might present the slightest degree of risk. When an
episode's shooting breakdown is issued, the breakdown also includes a detailed report of all the safety measures to be taken in each scene. Basic safety measures include being sure there are enough mats and pads to protect all the actors and "stunties" (as they're called Downunder), for any action that requires anyone to hit the ground, during fights, chases, and dinosaur attacks.
Weapons, in particular, are treated with exceptional care. Most weapons in the series have soft rubber duplicatesÑused whenever there's a chance an actor might come into close contact with the weapon, especially by accident. (In one of the new episodes to come, there is a spectacular fight involving bladed weapons. Though the fight's prop weapons are not really metal, they are rigid so they'll look believable when they make contactÑwhich means that the slightest miscalculation on the part of the actors engaged in battle could
definitely have serious consequences.)
Safety notices also appear regularly on the call sheets for each day's planned shooting, often warning the crew of dangerous flora and fauna in the location area, even, at times, reminding the crew when to tuck their pants into their boots. And while on location, safety officers call attention to any particular plants and insect infestations to avoid. (During the production of Episode 320, just as action was about to be called for an on-location scene, one of the lighting team politely asked for a brief delay because a snake was attacking his boot! All held their positions, the snake eventually gave up, and the show went on.
J&G
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