TV Science-Fiction: A Genre In Decline on TV?

[Temis the Vorta]

That doesn't actually sound like reality TV to me. How about this instead: follow the efforts of several wannabee filmmakers as they try to create a sci fi TV show or movie? Let the audience vote and the one that wins gets funded by skiffy to air for real.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

How about this instead: follow the efforts of several wannabee filmmakers as they try to create a sci fi TV show or movie? Let the audience vote and the one that wins gets funded by skiffy to air for real.

Wait a second are you talking about say 7 filmmakers with scifi genre scripts they wrote or are just directing?
If they wrote them then I think they would have a hard time going through the motions for preproduction to have it not happen and then SyFy (owned by NBC Universal) own the script and that writer could never get it produced elsewhere. Of course SyFy would make them sign that away in their contract to be on the show...

How about several wannabee filmmakers as they try to create the same script of sci fi TV show pilot all with their own vision and storyboarding and designs. The audience picks the one they like the best?

 

[Harvey]

All the reality (non-scripted shows) on SyFy aside why doesn't SyFy just put on a virtual studio space opera show?

The channel is marketed towards scifi fans right?
How expensive would it really be to build a bridge, engineering, corridors and have a show set on a deep space ship?
Is it more expensive to do a virtual studio with a CGI bridge or to build an actual bridge?

Caprica did a lot of virtual sets, and it turned out to be more expensive than anyone had planned for. They ended up spending the money allocated for 20 hours of television on 19 hours. However, virtual sets are exactly the approach SyFy is using on Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, so perhaps Caprica ended up going over-budget in other areas.

Speaking of the cost-effectiveness of virtual sets vs. physical ones, I think we'll find out if/when Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome comes to TV.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

How about several wannabee filmmakers as they try to create the same script of sci fi TV show pilot

Maybe the same general topic, just so it can be apples and apples. Space opera vs space opera, not vs zombies.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

That doesn't actually sound like reality TV to me. How about this instead: follow the efforts of several wannabee filmmakers as they try to create a sci fi TV show or movie? Let the audience vote and the one that wins gets funded by skiffy to air for real.

On paper, this seems potentially like one of the most interesting reality series to me, because it seems the scope of the contest should address all aspects of a science fiction production, rather than focusing on just one aspect like, e.g./i.e. makeup.

However, one of the things I hate about reality shows is the way they all tend to bridge commercial breaks with exaggerated drama. I could easily see even this promising idea devolve into a battle of drama queens instead of offering what would actually be the sole reason I would tune into it, insight into the production of science fiction film. As soon as the show devolved into drama and cliffhangers of bickering, I would tune out.

A case in point is Top Shots, which is one of the only three reality shows I've watched more than a fraction of an episode of. The boredom factor of dealing with all the drama it milks has just about overridden my desire to watch it for its edutainment value.

The only other reality shows I've watched are American Idol and America's Got Talent.

 

[Kegg]

I know there's a thread about this already, but since a lot of the discussion turned to prospective sci-fi pilots, there is a quite interesting Brazilian one that's been released on the web. Here's the first part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_rvS7nX7pM&feature=feedlik

Caprica did a lot of virtual sets, and it turned out to be more expensive than anyone had planned for. They ended up spending the money allocated for 20 hours of television on 19 hours. However, virtual sets are exactly the approach SyFy is using on Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, so perhaps Caprica ended up going over-budget in other areas.

I read somewhere that outdoor shooting was one of Caprica's additional expenses, as they had to do it more often than the mostly set-bound Galactica.

Presumably, a similarly spaceship-focused Blood & Chrome will not have this problem.