Introduction to Stranger Things

long form television drama conventions

• 8/10 episodes in each season

• long episode times (45-60 mins)

• flexi-narrative storylines that run over episodes/seasons

• established characters

• non-diegetic sound (soundtrack)

• complicated (must pay attention)

how is tv different now?

• can watch shows on demand

• digital convergence (lots of devices and app options)

• watching less live tv

• lots of different genres

• can download to watch shows offline

• more piracy

stranger things production

• originally broadcast in 2016

• produced for netflix by 21 laps entertainment and monkey massacre

• created by the duffer brothers

• distributed by netflix streaming services

ownership - co-production of ST

• 21 laps is a production company owned by shawn levy

• monkey massacre was the duffer brothers' production company for the production of the first four seasons of ST

• the duffer brothers are freelance writers and dirctors

• they established upside down pictures which is an overall deal with netflix following the success of ST

• netflix is owned by its majority of shareholders like reed hastings, david hyman and ted sarandos

21 laps entertainment production works

• lots of comedies aimed at children

• lots of sci-fi

• all genres from the movies are shown in ST

distribution

• original netflix series, paid for by them, only distributed on netlix platform

• first season was released worldwide on 15th july 2016

• fast paced and 'binge-able' (first season)

pros of releasing a tv series all at once

• easier for viewers to binge it (more profits as many people will subscribe)

• don't have to wait

• convenient for viewers

• easier to follow narrative

cons of releasing a tv series all at once

• spoilers

• worldwide time zones make release dates tricky

• short-lived hype

• lose the gradual social discussion

• feel like you need to binge (need 8 hours to complete)

netflix

• not a conglomerate

• despite being big, there's few executives to overcome for green lighting a project

• netflix has shown a tendency to green light riskier projects that traditional companies avoid

common features of netflix originals

• tv series > movies

• teen based things

• true stories/documentaries

• big budgets

• american settings

• adaptations

• netflix bloat

what is netflix bloat?

making their narratives too big, dragging their stories out, making them slow paced to keep people on the platforms