To succeed in production, one must have a knowledge of the fundamentals of storytelling.  Good storytelling is not the domain of a gifted few, but a balance of instinct and structure in application of protagonist, antagonist, suspense, and creating hoped for and feared outcomes.

• Creating mystery and suspense through management of character and audience knowledge
• Creating hoped-for and feared outcomes through the protagonist/antagonist relationship
• Crating cues and symbols that communicate the experience you are selling

Creating setups and payoffs to connect storylines between episodes, seasons and franchises

4 levels of content function

• business - commerce

— the audience and the person

• situational
  • family show, daylight saving, watch tv earlier
  • who else will be watching this?
• societal
• psychology

travel log makes more money than expensive competition shows

• commedian cant take attention OFF of themselves
  • they are constantly reaching for the next laugh
  • put attention on a situation he’s in

Business

subscriber revenue

• does the show dirve subscribers and retention?