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QUALITY

“I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it”

Subjectivity What makes a media project

good ? No definition, but can be described

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QUALITY: A 5 PART EQUATION

Form--the craft Content--what is being

communicated Artistry--interaction of form and

content The Viewer--approach and effect Business/Commercial Success

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1. FORM: How we present the content

Create an illusion be invisible (drama)

Create an effect effects are not hidden (music video)

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1. FORM: How we present the content

sound/music

photography lighting writing directing casting performance/

acting

Sounds are appropriate, clear, positioned

Exposure, composition, sense of style

Even, but expressive, appropriate mood

Natural dialogue, understandable plot, subtexts, simplicity

Understands script, performances feel natural, nuance

Actors believable, capable, correct look and feel

Natural, involve the viewer, understand the script

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1. FORM: How we present the content

wardrobe/makeup editing technical quality

sound image

special effects graphics setting

Visually interesting, era/reality, believable, unified look

Transitions motivated, continuity, rhythm/pace, simplicity, scenes/story make sense

Exposure, levels, color, etc. No distortion, hum, etc

Accurate color and signal to noise ration

Believable, seamless, appropriate

Composition, clarity, safe area

Shootable, visual interest,

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1. FORM: How we present the content

Design

Navigation

Visually interesting, unified look, easily understandable, uncluttered

Easily followed, logical, simple

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2. CONTENT: What we want to communicate

Significant relevant thorough accurate challenging appropriate interesting Timely moving

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2. CONTENT: What we want to communicate

use oblique approach

be about something

Not just excitement

Human condition Great themes Useful

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2. CONTENT: What we want to communicate

socially redeeming provides insight into the

human condition deals with difficult

subjects has seriousness of

purpose has a reason for the

telling addresses universal issues

illuminates the human spirit

is significant to the culture

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3. ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other

Interaction of form and content indefinable, but necessary

creative unique appropriate original

whole is greater than sum of its parts

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3. ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other

Magic programs which are blessed programs which "sing” Chemistry originality

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3. ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other

innnovativeness unpredictability Passion risktaking intensity daring

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3. ARTISTRY: How form and content effect each other

difficult to quantify or measure artistry may be perceivable but not

definable necessary to art

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4. THE VIEWER

Approach to the Viewer respect audience not cynical not preach relevant, informative, challenging

Effect on the Viewer grabs emotional impact stimulate thought move to action

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4. THE VIEWER

assume that the audience is intelligent and capable of understanding and appreciating quality

avoid preachiness and not just intend to sell products challenge teach, enlighten satisfy nourish stimulate entertain

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4. THE VIEWER

provide a framework to make connections engenders curiosity makes people think stimulates them to talk about its subject matter

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5. BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

Numbers/ratings if nobody watches, is it good ? may be irrelevant if not watched particular audience....how well you

hit the target

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5. BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

maximize audience size how effective is a program which few people see you cannot have a substantial effect in a mass

medium without a large audience effectiveness in gathering and holding viewers how well you reach the targeted audience

age education, sex.

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5. BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

Audience data useful in evaluating quality clearly is only part of the mix.

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Some General Characteristics

-factual projects/programs should be impartial, tasteful, and fair

-fictional projects/programs should not be impartial, but should be challenging, passionate, and well crafted

-programs should deal with issues indirectly to avoid being pedantic

-quality programs should require active rather than passive viewing

-quality television is intimate television

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General Characteristics

Comedy "it should be wildly funny and make a social statement".

Producer of WKRP In Cincinnatti

Steven Bochko, the creator of NYPD Blue, says there is an indefinable element which is a “chemistry” or a Gestalt

quality programs should make people think, move them to action, stimulate them, entertain them, and take them out of their lives.

"chill bumps" at moments of discovery stimulating the viewer to take action.

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General Characteristics

Does the program meet its goals maximizing audience social significance. Each professional creates with goals in mind consideration of those goals in evaluating

quality.