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Original Message
"BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"

Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-13-01 at 00:27 AM
LAST EDITED ON 06-15-01 AT 05:17 AM (EST)

This is a new thread, as suggested, to lay out the status and gameplan for BlowsVivor (formerly Shakesvivor, formerly Supesvivor), without having the ideas going back and forth among different threads and giving everyone a headache.

Here's where we are, as of now.

1. I intend for this thing to go for 14 episodes, just like Survivor:The Australian Outback did. To accomplish that, we needed to replace a reluctant cast member. Through random number generation, I have added PepeLePew13 as the new cast member for BlowsVivor; he will join the cast in E3.

2. The following people are going to write episodes, as of now:

E1 -- shakes -- "Send In The Whores" (booted=desert_rhino, BB)
E2 -- BadAs -- "BA To The Rescue" (booted=skierdude10, AA)
E3 -- Outfrontgirl -- "Spoiled Again"
E4 -- Superman
E5 -- SherpaDave
E6 -- Survivorerist
E7 -- idiotcowboy
E8 -- George Tirebiter
E9 -- Pendragon
E10-- dabo (depending on timing)
E11-- not shakes
E12-- dangerkitty (unless it's the first two weeks of August)
E13-- GG
E14-- AyatollahKhomeini

Others have also volunteered and will be added to the mix if needed.

Some people have volunteered to write more than one episode, but my plan is first to give everyone a turn who wants one. Please either e-mail me or post on this thread if you would like to be added to the list.

Note that four contestants (maybe five) are going to write episodes. It has been suggested by a few people that only non-contestants write episodes, since contestants may have their own biases, but I have not adopted this policy. All I can say is that this may not be fair, but, as the immortal (or should it be immoral?) Jerri Manthey would say: "Nothing about this game is fair." For a better view of how contestants should treat this responsibility, please read Outfrontgirl's post below.

I debated setting some ground rules for each of the writers, such as who should be booted each week. I decided against it, because I want to see where everyone goes with issues like alliances, friendships, double-crosses, etc. Feel free to be creative, but remember (especially for you contestants) that others will have the chance to do unto you as you have done unto others.

The writer of E14 (meaning me) will set up the final two. I know that shakes had planned to reveal the final vote in chat, but I am not willing to make any commitments right now regarding it. We'll wait and see what develops as the show goes on.

I have never stopped being amazed at the creative talent on this board. I have no doubt that you will continue to amaze me with regard to BlowsVivor.

Edited to add dabo and dangerkitty to the list of volunteer writers.
Edited again to add George Tirebiter as author of E8.
Edited one more time to list all the episodes.
Another edit to add not shakes as author of E11.
And once more to add dangerkitty as author of E12.
A further edit to add Survivorerist as author of E6.
Yet another edit to add GG as author of E13 and to add episode titles.
Run away! Another edit to add Pendragon and dabo as authors of E9 and E10.


Table of contents

Messages in this discussion
"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by dabo on 06-13-01 at 00:59 AM
I will volunteer to write an episode, AK, but I will gladly step aside if you have more volunteers than you need. It's up to you, of course.

I do have an idea about how to handle the problematic final episode by using the inbox to inform and gather information from the jury and the finalists.

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-13-01 at 02:24 AM
LAST EDITED ON 06-13-01 AT 02:28 AM (EST)

And then there was Light..., Camera, and Action
Out of chaos, order emerges. Excellent!
Can't help but comment:

>Note that three contestants are going to write episodes. It has been suggested by a few people that only non-contestants write episodes, since contestants may have their own biases, but I have not adopted this policy.>

(I apologize to anyone who read my similar thoughts elsewhere, but I'm restating a portion here on this consolidated thread)

When we speak of cast members writing the episodes, we are forgetting our agreement to distinguish between our board personas and the fictional characters Shakes created for the game, which are now getting passed along to subsequent writers.

The "contestants" are figments of our collective imagination that share names and a few exaggerated personality traits with personas of board members. Their "loyalties" to each other are and have been subject to manipulation regardless of how the board members feel about each other.

The episode-writers, on the other hand, all belong to a real peer group (posters to this board) temporarily assuming the discarded mantle of His Royal Clownship (ewww, and it's stained too, and it smells funny).

To suggest there's a conflict of interest--well, I'm shocked, shocked I say, to find gambling going on... <sorry, wrong movie>

Even if some of us might be rooting for our fictional characters to win, at best we can each only save ourselves and our best buddies for one episode.

>All I can say is that this may not be fair, but, as the immortal (or should it be immoral?) Jerri Manthey would say: "Nothing about this game is fair.">

Hmmm, I agree, but then I quoted that same line earlier today. Our new slogan?

I can only say that I in no way confuse Aya Probe (fictional host) with Aya K (Hollywood alter-ego persona) with Ayatollah Khomeini (all-seeing, all-knowing moderator and dispenser of fairness for all).

If I did conflate them, I might be crying "foul" that the "host" (read 'puppet of exec producer') volunteered to write Ep 7 and our moderator approved. Unless I miscount, that would be the crucial post-merge episode where the challenges have, in the past, established the "dominant or majority" tribe and heavily affected the outcome of the game.

And yet, do I suspect conflict of interest? Not at all.
But don't think I didn't notice which episode you picked, Aya K.

(Subliminal message to host: Go Arrogant Aussies! Bye-bye Bores!)

OMG>click. Just as I posted this our local news ran a piece on Farewell to Bozo in Chicago. Coincidence?


"E7"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-13-01 at 03:15 AM
>I can only say that I in no way confuse Aya
>Probe (fictional host) with Aya K (Hollywood alter-ego persona) with
>Ayatollah Khomeini (all-seeing, all-knowing moderator
>and dispenser of fairness for all).
>
>If I did conflate them, I might be crying "foul" that
>the "host" (read 'puppet of exec producer') volunteered to write
>Ep 7 and our moderator approved. Unless I miscount,
>that would be the crucial post-merge episode where the challenges
>have, in the past, established the "dominant or majority" tribe
>and heavily affected the outcome of the game.

I wondered how long it would be before someone commented about which episode I picked for me to write. But E8 could neutralize E7, depending on the writer.

>And yet, do I suspect conflict of interest? Not at all.
>But don't think I didn't notice which episode you picked, Aya K.
>
>(Subliminal message to host: Go Arrogant
>Aussies! Bye-bye Bores!)

Subliminal messages only work if I actually write it, though -- it depends how many volunteers we have!


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by dangerkitty on 06-13-01 at 01:32 AM
I would like to write an episode as well!

This should be quite a collage, and a masterpiece no doubt.

Let's see some more female writers jumping into the fray! Come on, women of SB.com!!

I am out of town the first two weeks of August, hopefully I can be worked in around that.

Thanks for all you do, AyaK!!!



"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by VampKira on 06-13-01 at 01:49 AM
Thanks, AK.. You are the glue that holds us all together!!
Did someone say glue??? *sniiiiiiiif*

Dying Words Of Famous People:
That was a great game of golf, fellers.
~~ Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby, singer / actor, d. October 14, 1977

w.l.s.f.c.

Du ar min hjälte, Supermänniska



"A Humble Submission..."
Posted by IceCat on 06-13-01 at 02:30 AM
Here is a suggested new logo...

Sorry... I was rushed...


"RE: A Humble Submission..."
Posted by SherpaDave on 06-13-01 at 02:32 AM
Awesome, Ice! Although the "Out Out" really makes me want to add "damned spot."



"RE: A Humble Submission..."
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-13-01 at 02:39 AM
Wow Ice, I love the post-its. How perfect.
Just wondering when that cool shiny button thingy goes back on line and leads us to the new and improved site?

"Can't help it. I'm a born button-pusher"



"RE: A Humble Submission..."
Posted by IceCat on 06-13-01 at 03:24 AM
The 'Out! Out! Damned Clown' on the short-lived Supesvivor site was a definite homage to The Bard. There have been quite a few Shakespeare references with respect to the Shakesvivor project... the best of which was GT's Yorick/Shakes pic.

With respect to Elizabethan literary devices, in general, the old 'Wheel of Fate' would be an appropriate analogy about now too.


"RE: A Humble Submission..."
Posted by mistofleas on 06-13-01 at 12:12 PM
LAST EDITED ON 06-13-01 AT 12:13 PM (EST)

>Awesome, Ice! Although the "Out
>Out" really makes me want
>to add "damned spot."

But why does he need to be outed??? He's soooo cute!!


--ponders why "spot" is damned


"RE: A Humble Submission..."
Posted by ItzLisa on 06-13-01 at 09:27 AM
LAST EDITED ON 06-13-01 AT 11:21 AM (EST)


ROFLMAO!!!! I love the new logo, Ice!

Edit to add:

Aya - I think I'll pass on trying to write a summary - I'll just kick back and bask in the glow of the truly gifted!

Outfrontgirl - *whine* You're too intelligent, you made my head hurt!!! I love ya, but I cringe whenever you say something, because then it means I have to think, LOL!!! (I hope you take this in the MOST joking manner possible - you know I love ya, OFG, and I love reading whenever you have something to say - I'm joking and being sarcastic, but I totally mean this as a compliment - you have a brilliant way with words!)

Vampy - Not a famous person, but the last words of my ex-boyfriend's elderly uncle (died sometime in late 93?) - "Aaah, the hell with it - when it's time to go, it's time to go!"

****************************************


"The Viking Volunteers (for something)"
Posted by Leif Eriksen on 06-13-01 at 11:09 AM
The Viking will do the ratings, as he has already done for BadAct, for every episode. I may even read some of them.

Just volunteering, that's all.


"lovable asshole-type"
Leif Eriksen


"Get a Life.."
Posted by BadAs on 06-13-01 at 11:28 AM
LAST EDITED ON 06-13-01 AT 01:46 PM (EST)


"RE: Get a Life.."
Posted by dabo on 06-13-01 at 11:37 AM
LAST EDITED ON 06-14-01 AT 01:34 AM (EST)

With a bit of work, BA, you could turn that post into a pome for the summer competition, just thought I'd make that observation.

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: Get a Life.."
Posted by Survivorchick on 06-13-01 at 01:18 PM
Yeah! And if you did make it into a poem, he wouldn't be able to bug you about your grammar. Poets have artistic liscence.



"RE: Get an english tutor"
Posted by Leif Eriksen on 06-13-01 at 01:34 PM
>>The days of the clown were<<
>>so much better than any<<
>>dribble that came from your<<
>>mouth.<<

Very good sentence, BadAct, but I am sure you meant to write "drivel" instead of "dribble". It may have something to do with the jock in you, I think dribble is something you do with a basketball. Isn't it?

>>Your comments and ASSHOLE behavior is<<
>>so deeply appreciated as always.<<

I think the "is" in the sentence should be an "are". You are getting a little better with your punctuation but you still missed the comma after "appreciated". I do like the effect of the capitalized "asshole", it works well in the sentence.

>>Just an observation, since your are<<
>>the worlds biggest Jerk!!<<

I think you may have made a little error in the use of "your are", I think you should have just said "you're" or "you are". And of course there should be an apostrophe in "worlds" between the "d" and the "s". Unless you are using jerk as a proper noun, I don't think you should capitilize it. You may want to capitilize the whole word for effect much like you did in the previous sentence with "asshole".

>>your welcome for the relpy LOSER.<<

Capitalize the first letter in each sentence, that is grade school stuff, BadAct. I am going to put the mistake you made in the word "reply" down as a typographical error, not a spelling mistake. You see how capitalizing "loser" has a great effect on your sentence, good job.

>>Every attempt you make, you always<<
>>LOSE to me, so why<<
>>do you keep trying.<<

A question mark, BadAct, a question mark is missing. By the way, is this a line from a Police song?

>>I am glad you get your<<
>>jollies from your posts, and<<
>>these responses.<<

Don't really think you need that comma, BadAct.

>>Speek professional help!!<<

I suppose I have to assume that you mean "seek" in this comment, you were probably just a little exuberant on the keyboard when you added the "p" to the word. Of course, with your track record, you may well have been trying to say "speak" in this comment as in "Speak professional? Help!!".

>>I will even pay for it<<
>>since you can't afford it!!<<

My opinion is that there should have been a comma after "it", but I could be wrong. The double exclamation points have a good effect in both of the last two comments, even though I am not sure whether that is grammatically correct, but it works.

Just correcting, that's all.



"lovable asshole-type"
Leif Eriksen


"Ratings"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-13-01 at 02:12 PM
LAST EDITED ON 06-13-01 AT 02:44 PM (EST)

Thanks for the offer to do the ratings, Leif. However, as you know, we canned the ratings system due to its potential to create mischief. Thank you for illustrating why that was the correct decision.

Edited to add -- Here are pictures of ratings being used as a tool for improvement:



"RE: Ratings"
Posted by George Tirebiter on 06-13-01 at 04:03 PM
You know, I don't know why these boys can't get along. . . too much alike, perhaps? I DO know that I find their escapades highly entertaining--mainly because I don't have to be the one to strap them into the car and take them places together. . . I HATE it when the kiddies interfere with my grocery shopping, and in this heat, I can't even trust them enough to leave one of them in the car (many pets die each year due to the rapid heating, you know, and then you've got to worry about strangers making off with them, if you leave the windows cracked.)

I do hope you two can channel your energies on bashing the game, rather than perpetuating your little poking match. . . you know--finding common ground by attacking a mutual enemy? Leif--as the eldest, I expect you to set a good example now, you hear? And BA--your status as the spoiled younger child will not gain you much leeway here, either. . . SHAPE UP! And both of you get those tongues back in your mouths--don't think I'm too stupid to notice those antics!

Harumpf. Kids. Whadda'ya gonna do? . . .


GT


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by RudyRules on 06-13-01 at 06:30 PM
Thanks for taking command of this AK. I could possibly be persuaded to write an episode if you don't have enough volunteers, although I do think that having non-contestants write them would be better.
So long Skierdude, we hardly knew ya! (SB market Cheater!)

"Them people had to be pretty dumb to put their camp in a riverbed" - Rudy Boesch


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-13-01 at 06:37 PM
Rudy, to speak up for the absent:
Ski4Speed44 was the username for the blatant Survivor Market cheater. I don't think he was the same guy as the real Skierdude10 (at least we don't know fer sure one way or the other), who seemed genuinely interested in spoiling Survivor, despite the fact that, as Shakes put it, his posts had been flamed more times than pottery.


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by dabo on 06-14-01 at 10:59 AM
I just realized there are no plans for a filler/recap E8.5 "just like in Survivor: The Australian Outback." Obviously, we can easily do without it, but if we are going to recreate the S2 experience it is something that should be considered. Similarly the follow-up getting home safe episode.

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-14-01 at 01:51 PM
Dabo--
The desirability of another 8.5 depends heavily on how the Finale
air date relates to Sweeps. This is tricky due to the highly variable intervals between episodes, but I believe that either Sleeeve or Idiotcowboy could solve this complex variable problem and come up with a solution--not necessarily the right or only solution, but at minimum a working hypothesis.



"Recap episode"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-14-01 at 05:48 PM
LAST EDITED ON 06-14-01 AT 06:33 PM (EST)

dabo, I've thought about an E8.5, although I haven't made a decision yet (need to be careful about diluting the franchise, you know). But I still need to hear a reply from you regarding my e-mail (you did get it, right?). Pendragon, I'll be in touch soon.


"RE: Recap episode"
Posted by dabo on 06-15-01 at 01:14 AM
>But I
>still need to hear a
>reply from you regarding my
>e-mail (you did get it,
>right?).

Have replied, of course I'll do ep 10. Long hot day at work today. I really don't care if there is a filler ep or whatever, however, as I noted in my reply, I will be on vacation (dates not for public consumption), shouldn't be a problem at the rate the eps are coming, but maybe somewhere along the line a recap with some bits of "spoilage" might be a good thing.

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by idiotcowboy on 06-14-01 at 09:10 PM
Calculations... did someone say calculations?

Let's see E1 came out May 27, E2 came out June 12. By this cowboy’s calculations that would mean a 17 day delay between episodes (since of course it's not a leap year). Well based on that the schedule would be as follows:

E3 June 29
E4 July 16
E5 August 2
E6 August 19
E7 September 5
E8 September 22
E9 October 8
E10 October 25
E11 November 11
E12 November 28
E13 December 15
E14 January 1, 2002

Now I would bet your money that this won't happen (matter of fact as long as it is your money... I'll bet a lot of it). My sources have indicated that a certain evil dictator has a much tighter control on the editing process than a certain clown did, and the delay between episodes will be closer to 5-9 days from the previous episode. So... based on that lets assume that the episodes from here on out will be on average 7 days apart. Which would put the real schedule much closer to the following:

E3 June 19
E4 June 26
E5 July 3
E6 July 10
E7 July 17
E8 July 24
E9 July 31
E10 August 7
E11 August 14
E12 August 21
E13 August 28
E14 September 4

Figuring in the Summer Olympics in two years and a National holiday or three (unless you're a Canadian in that episode) it may turn out that E5, E6, or E14 could be delayed by up to an additional week... add in a possible E8.5, and the final episode could be pushed out as late as the last week of September, or be done as early as the end of August.

Was that what you were looking for OFG?

-ICB

"... you got idiotcowby's 2+2=5 logic down" - Dalton


"Boredom and BlowsVivor"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-14-01 at 09:40 PM
ICB, you are correct about the schedule if we do an episode a week. Unfortunately, at that pace, we'll all be bored of BlowsVivor before it finishes. I've been hoping for a two-a-week schedule, which I think is doable considering the number of people working on it. In my vision...

The preview for the first episode in a week would be posted on Monday -- the episode would be posted on Wednesday.

The preview for the second episode in a week would be posted on Thursday or Friday -- the episode would be posted on Saturday or Sunday.

How can this be done? Well, for one thing, I know that Superman (the author of E4) already knows who will be booted in E3. After E3 is posted (but before E4 is), I would expect Superman to tell SherpaDave (the author of E5) who will be booted in E4, and I expect this pattern to continue. This way, the author of the next episode can start blocking out the contestants that are left (and what interactions they might have).

For those of you who are writing E9 and later ... I would say that there is a 50% chance that there will be an E8.5, recapping the action to date. That will give you a little extra time, if it materializes.

An ambitious schedule? Certainly. But I don't want us to lose interest before it's done. If we end up doing a lot of between-episode spoiling, then we can let the schedule slip some ... but I don't see much spoiling going on right now!


"RE: Boredom and BlowsVivor"
Posted by Survivorerist on 06-14-01 at 09:47 PM
Sounds good to me, AyaK. This will make the show end at around
beginning of August, right? I'll be gone then but I'll be sure to catch up when I return

================


Sir Erist

"It's day seven and we just caught our first fish. It did take us a week but, hey, it's better than two weeks."
-The Early Days of the Late Amber Brkich


"RE: Boredom and BlowsVivor"
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-15-01 at 00:14 AM
Aya K,
I'm going to offer a little critique to your high-speed plan and not just to complicate things:

>How can this be done? Well, for one thing, I know that Superman (the author of E4) already knows who will be booted in E3. After E3 is posted (but before E4 is), I would expect Superman to tell SherpaDave (the author of E5) who will be booted in E4, and I expect this pattern to continue. This way, the author of the next episode can start blocking out the contestants that are left (and what interactions they might have).>

The thing I realize from being in the midst of this, is that if this project is to flow at all and not have each episode contradict the one that goes before--one needs to see the entire previous episode. There's much more to it than the bootee. Alliance are formed, patterns of challenge-winning, even things like small interchanges between the characters and interviews really ought to get picked up on by the subsequent writer.

Otherwise it's going to sound completely choppy. No character continuity. There's enough that changes from writer to writer without the next person writing blind. For example, my rules for myself with this thing are that whatever Shakes and BA wrote: that happened; it's a fact that goes into my episode, a tone, a mannerism. I can tweak them a little but I have to build on them. I would hope the same would apply for who follows, and that Superman can't write an episode that really follows mine by knowing the bootee and looking at BA's episode.

Beyond that, what if the next writer is the bootee? I see 4 places on the list where that could happen. What if you don't want to tell them in advance?

I'm not trying to slow down the schedule, but encouraging that the real writing on the sequel not begin prematurely.

So I'll try to get it together and stop replying to posts...

PS To Sleeeve and ICB: You both rose to the challenge and nailed it. You boys are so good at what you do.



"Agree, but..."
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-15-01 at 02:05 AM
Outfrontgirl, I don't disagree with anything you say, and yet I still think this schedule is doable without sacrificing quality.

>The thing I realize from being in the midst of this,
>is that if this project is to flow at all
>and not have each episode contradict the one that goes
>before--one needs to see the entire previous episode. There's
>much more to it than the bootee. Alliance are
>formed, patterns of challenge-winning, even things like
>small interchanges between the characters and interviews
>really ought to get picked up on by the subsequent writer.
>Otherwise it's going to sound completely choppy. No character continuity.

I completely agree that the following writer begins with the end of the previous episode and must carry it on. I don't want characters who are plotting together in E4 to be strangers in E5, for example. But I think that there is both a macro and a micro element to writing these episodes. At the macro level, the writer has to determine what IC and RC are going to be, who will win them (and how), who will plot together (and why), what external forces might be present (e.g., have the contestants become hungry enough to turn cannibal, and will the producer(s) stop it or encourage it?), and finally, who will get booted. The episode writer can plot (and block) all of those things while the previous episode is being created --- and these are things that provide much of the detail for the preview teaser, as well.

I agree that the episode shouldn't be written until the writer has had a chance to study the previous episode. But, keep in mind, MB tended to run with long story arcs, and I'd expect we'd do the same. For example, in E7, we saw Barramundi build its camp on a flood plain. We had some foreshadowing of doom then and again in E8, when Rodger talked about not wanting to build there, but Jerri was just too much of a bitch to ignore. Nothing happened in E9 until the TC, when it started to rain. In E10, we saw it rain ... a lot, so much so that it interfered with fishing. Finally, in E11, there was a disastrous flood that dominated the story.

I would expect that our stories would move forward similarly. Whatever happens in E7 generally won't require the writer of E8 to completely revamp her story, because the real "payoff" will be further down the story arc. But. if the writer of E10 decides that now is the time for it to rain heavily, I'd expect him to pass that information along to the writer of E11 at an early stage.

>For example, my rules for myself with this thing
>are that whatever Shakes and BA wrote: that happened; it's
>a fact that goes into my episode, a tone, a mannerism. I can
>tweak them a little but I have to build on them.

Exactly true. But, as more episodes are completed, the tone becomes clearer. After Mike fell into the fire in E6, you didn't need to read E7 to know that Jerri could be gone as early as E9 -- even if Ogakor dominated post-merger -- unless there was a cross-tribe alliance. It wasn't until E8 (with Lis' rice-cooking story) that we learned that a cross-tribe alliance including Jerri was out of the question, though.

>Beyond that, what if the next writer is the bootee?
>I see 4 places on the list where that could happen. What if
>you don't want to tell them in advance?

One thing you don't see on the list is any place, except E3/E4, where a contestant follows another contestant. If SherpaDave decides to boot Survivorerist, he doesn't need to worry about Survivorerist making him look bad --- he's not in the game! Under those circumstances, I would hope that the preceding author would tell the following one who gets booted, even if it's him/her.

>I'm not trying to slow down the schedule, but encouraging that
>the real writing on the sequel not begin prematurely.

Hopefully, I've explained why I think this schedule is doable, despite the issues that you have raised. If not, please feel free to discuss this further.

>PS To Sleeeve and ICB: You both rose to the challenge
>and nailed it. You boys are so good at what you do.

They are, aren't they? And sleeeve even addressed the July 4 issue...


Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup show up to admire sleeeve and ICB


"RE: Agree, but..."
Posted by Outfrontgirl on 06-15-01 at 02:36 AM
Oh, you are always so reasonable and convincing...
Clearly you are one of those who work with a plan, a method I applaud.
With any luck I'm the only one on the list that works from micro to macro. I just free associate with the material until I have something going and THEN I find where the pattern's going. Then I make a structure. It's a pretty painful method overall with some fun moments...

Fortunately, I have complete episodes to work from so what am I worried about--nothing as far as my own job goes.

You're of course right about the story arcs. It's fuzzy right now because it's so early and there was a pretty huge disjuncture beteen the interests of the first two. Soon we will have a real story line and much less difficulty.

One of the differences between this story and Burnett's of course is that players came into it knowing each other. Not just the board posters, but the characters. Look at Vamps and Supes: did Ep 1 show how they met and fell in, well, whatever state you might call it... No, they were a done deal as a couple...It'll be interesting to see if the pre-existing alliances hold.

I have emailed Supes and will work with his schedule. I thought I would finish today but it was too hot here and I lost the edge to focus on writing out the details. I'm thinking tomorrow or Saturday, June 16, which is Bloomsday--holy day for Joyceans and I may have to join in some wild Irish ritual...which would be bad news for working on Sunday.

As for hearing about your boot in advance (even from a non-contestant) just as you're envisioning a plot that lets you make it to the Final Four? No story, no TC, just, hey, you're out, soon you'll know how it happened?
Ha, you have no worries about that:the host can't get booted.
(Smiley wink, too tired to add icon).



"RE: Agree, but..."
Posted by SherpaDave on 06-16-01 at 03:16 AM
Aya, I have to admit that I have pretty serious concerns about a three-day turnaround as well. I think each writer has his or her own work process. For some of the writers, three days is more than ample. BA, for example, said he turned his around in 90 minutes. But, while BA's was very funny, it didn't have a whole helluva lot to do with ep1. I'm sure that'll probably be true of some of the other writers as well, and I don't really object to that. Humor: good! Napster: bad! Sorry, tangent.

But I do think that several of the folks who have volunteered are really looking forward to digging into the characters and plotlines they've been given and writing episodes that, while they may not be as laugh-a-minute funny, will more closely follow the storyline that they've opted into. And doing that in three days time is really hard. Sure, each of us will have all the previous episodes to work from, but there are potentially major pieces besides bootees that can influence what happens next. What if someone got hurt? An alliance changed? What was the RC and the IC (which we should know to insure that we don't too closely repeat it). Any other major events?

Anyway, I think there is so much other great stuff going on right now (bless you, Kis) that having a week pass between each episode isn't going to seem like that big a hardship. Really. I wasn't on OT during the season, but was it typical for posts to fall off the front page in less than a day? People will survive waiting a week, and I think the episode summaries would be the better for it.

Thanks for letting me ramble.



"RE: Boredom and BlowsVivor"
Posted by George Tirebiter on 06-16-01 at 03:11 AM
AK--I'm afraid I must add my voice to OFG's and tell you that a three-day turnaround is just too fast. . . I really doubt that people will be able to fully integrate what the previous writer has done with the characters in that time, as well as making certain that the spoilers don't bother with their part. . . And you should consider that this is only feeling disorderly because of the abrupt way it changed--if allowed to get back into a weekly routine, I'm sure it won't lack interest. . .


It's unfortunate in a way that the writing competition has goobered up the boards and divided attention spans, but I would really prefer to think this will maintain some level of quality and not just be rushed through so we can say it's completed. I'm convinced now that I'm not the only anal one out here with the determination to avoid mediocrity. . .

Is that so wrong?

GT


"RE: Boredom and BlowsVivor"
Posted by IceCat on 06-17-01 at 01:44 PM
I have to agree with GT...

There is really no need to rush through the process of completing the episodes.

An interval of a week should allow for the creation of high quality episodes. The interest created by OFG's very high quality effort should inspire other writers to produce work that is compelling enough to hold the interest of the board from week to week.

The addition of an episode preview and the attendant spoiler discussion will also help to fill the seven days per episode. I suspect that one of the reasons that an accelerated schedule was adopted was that the whole 'Shakesvivor' project had produced a couple of negative effects early on. Now that a more positve group effort is underway, it should be given the chance to proceed at a natural pace, but with a clearly defined schedule.

I think that a one week interval meets the needs of both quality and expedience.

Submitted for your consideration.

IceCat


"RE: BlowsVivor: Status and Gameplan"
Posted by sleeeve on 06-14-01 at 10:04 PM
>Dabo--
>The desirability of another 8.5 depends
>heavily on how the Finale
>
>air date relates to Sweeps.
>This is tricky due to
>the highly variable intervals between
>episodes, but I believe that
>either Sleeeve or Idiotcowboy could
>solve this complex variable problem
>and come up with a
>solution--not necessarily the right or
>only solution, but at minimum
>a working hypothesis.


Okay... with AyaK's updated expectations, I'd like to try my hand at the math:

Without Ep 8.5, we have the following schedule:

Ep3: June 16
Ep4: June 20
Ep5: June 23
Ep6: June 27
Ep7: June 30
Ep8: July 4
Ep9: July 7
Ep10: July 11
Ep11: July 14
Ep12: July 18
Ep13: July 21
Ep14: July 25


Now we all know that the summer sweeps rating period is the month of July, so it would be wise for the SB executive producers to add another episode... this would push the season finale back until July 28 (the last Saturday of July) completely filling up the schedule... but where should the episode air???

In S2, it was ep 8.5... this was the half-way point, in terms of number of contestants, but Ep7 marks the half-way point in terms of both length on the sound stage, and also in terms of number of episodes... so it might be wise to put the recap show after Ep7 (As Ep7.5)... what would this do???

Well, it would mean that Ep7.5 would premeire on July 4... a wise move by the great minds at SB productions, as July 4 is an American holiday, and ratings traditionally drop on that day.


Therefore, I predict that there will be an Ep7.5, based soley on my acute spoiling abilities...

Oh sh!t... did I say spoiling... quick... where's "not sleeeve"... I might be in violation of my contract...

Ummm.... just disregard everything I said.





You never know what might be up my sleeeve...

"Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-17-01 at 06:17 PM
LAST EDITED ON 06-17-01 AT 06:18 PM (EST)

As I have stated before, I make mistakes. I have read everyone's comments in this thread regarding the upcoming episodes, and you have convinced me that I made a mistake with the two-a-week schedule.

If anyone is able to meet the two-a-week schedule, fine. However, if you need longer ... a week is OK. As a result, we will add a recap episode (x.5), though I'm not sure exactly when right now.

Now, the next question --- if we're going to need up to 13 more weeks to finish BlowsVivor up, should it have its own forum? My inclination is to say it should, and I know Cherberrie agrees. How does everyone else feel?


"RE: Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by Pendragon on 06-17-01 at 08:25 PM
I agree that BlowsVivor needs it's own forum. (At least in the interim.) With the writing compettition in full swing and so many entries coming in, it seems that the two are competing for just one forum and Blowsvivor is goobering up the contest. (, GT).

I also think that with it's own forum, it will make it so much easier to wade through all the posts and find the ones I am looking for, whether it be for blowsvivor or whatever.

Anyway, that is just my two tippance.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pendragon


"RE: Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by dabo on 06-17-01 at 09:23 PM
>As I have stated before, I
>make mistakes. I have
>read everyone's comments in this
>thread regarding the upcoming episodes,
>and you have convinced me
>that I made a mistake
>with the two-a-week schedule.
>
Just to put in my tuppence here, I was willing to try to stick to the two-a-week schedule even though I foresaw some difficulties, I even have my episode half figured out (in my head, nothing in writing at this point) depending on what characters remain available to me.

>If anyone is able to meet
>the two-a-week schedule, fine.
>However, if you need longer
>... a week is OK.
> As a result, we
>will add a recap episode
>(x.5), though I'm not sure
>exactly when right now.
>
In my opinion an x.5 episode should not absolutely be done unless a timing/scheduling conflict makes it necessary somewhere along the way. What I mean is just this, don't waste a useful tool for no reason. Also, if it must be done it should contain some "spoilage" re alliances or whatever that hasn't been previously seen, in order to give the board somewhere to go with it.

>Now, the next question --- if
>we're going to need up
>to 13 more weeks to
>finish BlowsVivor up, should it
>have its own forum?
>My inclination is to say
>it should, and I know
>Cherberrie agrees. How does
>everyone else feel?

I don't think it needs its own forum, nor does the storytime competition, so much as the links need to be put somewhere where they can easily be found, such as on the other reality shows forum. I don't have any problem with a new forum being created, though, it's just that I hate to see an unnecessary waste of resources.


"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by IceCat on 06-17-01 at 09:32 PM
As an option, I could put links to the threads on the webpage...

Dunno if that will help.


"Ice Ice Da Man!!!"
Posted by dabo on 06-17-01 at 11:30 PM
LAST EDITED ON 06-18-01 AT 00:15 AM (EST)

volmel created a link page for storytime (but it needs to be updated currently), it is a problem with ot forum running two main series and whatever individual efforts people decide to post. Ice, it was great of you to jump in and volunteer, but check with volmel about the storystuff. However, if you want to add links to all Blowsvivor posts (spoilers etc., I assume that's what you meant) that would be fabulous! You always jump in, it's amazing! uuhhhhh... by the way, can I get your help coming up with a visual for ep 10?

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")

edited to add: Oh, and a blowsvivorblows tribe voting record and whatever ... (LOL) ... honestly, Ice, I think the Blowsvivor site is fine just the way it is.


"RE: Graphics Help..."
Posted by IceCat on 06-18-01 at 06:05 AM
Happy to help in any way I can

Let me know.


"RE: Graphics Help..."
Posted by dabo on 06-18-01 at 10:38 AM
Great, I'll let you know when it gets closer to ep 10 time what I'll need, mainly I am hoping for two or three "vid caps" for promo "spoilage" (nothing animated) but a lot will depend on what characters are left. Still, if you want to get a jump on things, Aya Probe getting mauled by a croco.. (just kidding) Nope, not gonna give anything away here.

"If the race of man should be left naked upon a desert island, we should become extinct in six weeks. A few individuals might linger, but in a year would become worse than monkeys." (Samuel Butler, "Erewhon")


"RE: Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by George Tirebiter on 06-17-01 at 11:29 PM
First of all, GT is breathing a sigh of relief, cuz hers was to be done the week son finally comes home for a break from school (and all we ever do is watch silly movies and stay up all night playing computer geek, and it would've been tough to fit in the added writing duties with a week of driving and irresponsible parenthood. . .)

Secondly, although both the writing competition AND BV are definitely OT and both have their own respective websites, it seems to me that BV is more along the lines of what you'd want to stick in its own forum--it IS Survivor-related, and since the threads aren't necessarily noted as relating to BV, it could be more difficult to make sense of them all (i.e. the pre-episode 3 thread regarding the death of the clown is too integral to let settle to the archives--IC, should that be on the site as well?)

Phew--what a rush! It's always nice to see a little anarchy and revolt can still get results in this day and age--and we didn't have to resort to any of that "sit-in" crap.

GT


"Duhhhh. . . ah fer-got!"
Posted by George Tirebiter on 06-17-01 at 11:58 PM
When considering adding a new forum, I meant to point out that Boot Stomp still has TWO forums, and if both aren't superfluous at this point, at least one of them should be!

Did anyone actually watch that show?


GT


"Two thoughts"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-17-01 at 11:59 PM
>Secondly, although both the writing competition
>AND BV are definitely OT and both have their own
>respective websites, it seems to me that BV is more
>along the lines of what you'd want to stick in
>its own forum--it IS Survivor-related,
>and since the threads aren't necessarily noted as relating to
>BV, it could be more difficult to make sense of
>them all (i.e. the pre-episode 3 thread regarding the death
>of the clown is too integral to let settle to
>the archives--IC, should that be on the site as well?)

Plus, if this isn't going to be over until September, how the heck will anybody (especially the last-episode writer) ever find the original posts to tie them back in, unless they're in their own forum? I just kept shakes' first two posts out of archives, but others will start dropping in tomorrow.

>Phew--what a rush! It's always nice to see a little anarchy
>and revolt can still get results in this day and age

Anarchy and revolt? That was certainly what happened at the start of this week, But here, what I saw was a reasoned discussion among a group of people committed to a project, which convinced the self-proclaimed, somewhat delusional group "leader" that he had made a scheduling mistake.


"RE: Episode Schedule: You Win!"
Posted by SherpaDave on 06-18-01 at 00:28 AM
Thanks, Aya. My heart is palpitating at a slightly more normal rate again now.

As regards a seperate forum, I think moving BV over makes a good deal of sense. Hopefully, with its own forum and a high quality first season, it'll become a much-anticipated offseason ritual.



"Accomplishment"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-18-01 at 09:30 PM
It's hard to believe that we've accomplished so much so quickly. My thanks to Webby, for the new forum and for moving the threads; BadAs, for getting us started again; Outfrontgirl, for her excellent E3 summary as well as associated spoilage; IceCat, for the BlowsVivor website; and to all the volunteer writers and spoilers who are turning this game into something fun.

"Thanks AyaK..."
Posted by IceCat on 06-18-01 at 09:34 PM
Here, here... congrats all around to everyone!


"Update"
Posted by AyatollahKhomeini on 06-26-01 at 08:28 PM
We finally have most of the BlowsVivor threads in the BlowsVivor forum. I hope they help future writers and spoilers remember what's happened so far!