Read on Twitter
Quick break from screaming back fascism for a THREAD FOR FANS about PROMOTION (do with it what you will).
I see a LOT of tweets saying "X network doesn't care about Y show or Z's fans, because LACK OF PROMO/BAD PROMO."
4 things to consider...1/
I see a LOT of tweets saying "X network doesn't care about Y show or Z's fans, because LACK OF PROMO/BAD PROMO."
4 things to consider...1/
#1 Age of show
#2 Money
#3 Covid
#4 Who does the promo
#1: Age of show. Season 1...LOTS of promo. Show needs to launch and get branded. Season 2...SOME promo. Show needs to retain audience. A lot of inevitable loss after S1 and the attempt is to limit that loss... 2/
#2 Money
#3 Covid
#4 Who does the promo
#1: Age of show. Season 1...LOTS of promo. Show needs to launch and get branded. Season 2...SOME promo. Show needs to retain audience. A lot of inevitable loss after S1 and the attempt is to limit that loss... 2/
...Season 3 and beyond? Almost NO promo (especially on NETWORK TV). Why? Well...
#2: Money. Promo department gets a budget and they have to apportion it and so...return to #1. The priority is launching shows and supporting newish shows. By S3, shows are mostly... 3/
#2: Money. Promo department gets a budget and they have to apportion it and so...return to #1. The priority is launching shows and supporting newish shows. By S3, shows are mostly... 3/
...on their own, ESPECIALLY since S3 & beyond shows often have their rebroadcast deals in place (which is where studios REALLY make their money).
#3: Covid. This one is obvious. Normally there are on-set photographers flying around taking photos or publicity people... 4/
#3: Covid. This one is obvious. Normally there are on-set photographers flying around taking photos or publicity people... 4/
...creating campaigns and NONE OF THAT IS HAPPENING. Zip. Zero. Zilch. The reason you're not seeing new images is because shows are focusing on safely shooting episodes and anything more is just not prudent.
Lastly #4: Who does the promo. The answer to this is NOT THE SHOW... 5/
Lastly #4: Who does the promo. The answer to this is NOT THE SHOW... 5/
...Showrunners & producers are mostly NOT consulted after S2.Often they don't even SEE the material before you the fans do. Is this imprudent? Yes and yes and YES. Worse, the people doing promo often are not really connected with even the current executives working on...6/
...the show. They are an entire independent department, existing waaaaaay over there and they just do what they think is best...without first consulting the show.
Part of this is an issue of time. Promotion material has to happen fast and furious and therefore its hard to...7/
Part of this is an issue of time. Promotion material has to happen fast and furious and therefore its hard to...7/
...have the proper checks and balances on story accuracy and value add and show culture, but -- IMHO -- something needs to change, because BAD promo hurts a show 1000% worse than good promo helps. The wrong image/tag line confuses the audience and depresses viewership... 8/
...which is why promo should talk to creative FIRST.
The big message here is: there's a lot less going on than you think there is and you'll save yourselves a lot of aggravation if you just read less all into it.
One more thing: fan created promo...9/
The big message here is: there's a lot less going on than you think there is and you'll save yourselves a lot of aggravation if you just read less all into it.
One more thing: fan created promo...9/
...often 100% better than what comes out of the network and studio shops. Why? Fans LOVE the shows they promote. I think networks/studios should spend more time buying and repurposing fan art, thereby harnessing the passion of those who have committed to their shows. /end
I would like to add — at the behest of a secret someone who I adore — that some networks are really good (and open) at letting Showrunners reach out and be part of the process. The more it’s integrated, the more it helps show and fans.
