Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
Last post I noted that making Virtual Stars (those media creations of "stars" that are entirely fabricated) has many reasons to be an appealing endeavor for the right business. Of course there are also ways it could go drastically wrong, which I want to address.
Without further ado, let me explore the challenges, risks, and disadvantages of a Virtual Star.
(Last week I posted to a link on an article about rejected SF and Fantasy novels, and one of our regulars noted that Dune had been rejected for length at one point – and then noted how some series and books seem to be overlong. That got me thinking and this column is the result).
What is the ideal length of a book? A series? A TV episode? A movie? A movie series?
You have an idea in mind. Publishers, TV executives, authors, and everyone has an idea in mind. I daresay you could, with little prompting start quite a conversation – or argument – about the ideal length/duration of any form of media. We all have ideas about such things, some held quite passionately.
I love Mythbusters. That's a tame statement actually, but human vocabulary is limited. Let's just say now and then when I fire up Netflix, the people I live with dread I'm going to watch some episode for the 3rd or 4th time. Seriously though, how can you not watch a hot water tank take off like a rocket again and again?
In fact, I love shows like Mythbusters, though they're my prime love. I love these oddball reality-esque shows that look at weird jobs, foods, areas, history, and more. You know the formula – get the right host with a good personality, a subject, turn them loose, and film the fascinating results. From blowing up toilets to eating tuna eyeballs, these shows are addictive to people like me.