Good TV
I seldom watch local TV because of the impression I get from the productions on Channel 8. Cliched, over-the-top acting, regurgitated storylines, the same background music with the grating synthesized steel guitar melody, and horrible production values.
Its like MediaCorp Studios is running a factory that churns out the same show in slightly different wrapping paper, with the sole purpose of filling up the prime timeslot with something local rather than an imported show, as recommended by the authorities.
Sure, there’s a local cachet of aunties that will religiously watch every single Channel 8 drama out there, even the reruns. What about the rest who go for high-quality mainstream US dramas like Lost and Heroes. Or niche shows like Battlestar Galactica, Dexter and Nip/Tuck—shows that deal with dark and controversial topics?
How about those who clamour after Korean dramas like Winter Sonata for the romantic moods and attractive leads. Or the younger set who go for innovative dramas and anime from Japan. We don’t attempt such shows here. Why?
What happened to good productions like:
- The classic “The Awakening” (雾锁南洋)
- Or the more recent “The Price of Peace” (和平的代价)
- Themed shows that deal with a single topic or world, like “The Unbeatables” (双天至尊)
- Fantasy and novel adaptations like “Return of the Condor Heroes” (神鵰俠侶)
- Dramadies like “Chase”
I was glad that I decided to watch the recently concluded drama series “Perfect Cut” (一切完美) broadcast on Channel U rather than Channel 8. (I think the broadcaster wanted to send a message that this show was different.) It was not perfect, but definitely a cut above the typical MediaCorp fare.
- The cast was great, especially Thomas Ong (王沺裁) and Michelle Chia (谢韵仪)
- The storyline was handled in a very mature fashion
- The dialogue was well-written
- The MediaCorp-style over-the-top acting was toned down considerably, though there are some spots where it rears its ugly head
- The choice of background music is much better, although overbearing and manipulative at times
WaWa Productions, the studio commissioned by MediaCorp to produce this series, did a great job. Ochre Pictures is another studio that comes to mind. Even their documentary productions are beautifully shot.
MediaCorp’s in-house productions pale in comparison. I don’t know what the management is thinking, but they really need to set the quality bar a bit higher before more viewers get alienated (just like they recently admitted for Channel 5).
The common refrain is that our market is limited, population is too small, etc. Think global, and develop shows that have globally-accepted themes. Sell these shows overseas, just like what the Koreans do. Market our stars. Singapore does have good-looking and talented actors. Heck, market the directors and producers too! The US has J.J. Abrams and Joss Whedon, why can’t we have ours?
On the production quality and technical side, there are some great things that these small studios are doing that MediaCorp persistently neglects (even for the good productions listed above):
- Shooting in progressive and HD for a more film-like quality: Stop using square-screen TV cameras that produce interlaced video that’s just on par with cheap consumer video cameras!
- Colour grading to change the colour and tonal quality of the video to portray different moods
- Widescreen aspect ratio, for a more movie-like experience that’s great for widescreen TV sets common today
- Better cinematography: People can tell subconsciously when a show is shot haphazardly vs. when attention is given to proper framing, camera motion and lighting
One area that could be improved is sound and music:
- Productions are still not in 5.1 surround
- There’s always noise and hiss because they typically use the sound that was recorded when the scene was shot. My guess is that they do not budget much for audio and music even though it makes up 50% of the experience
- ADR (where actors re-record their lines in the studio) is seldom used to improve the quality of dialogue
- Better music score: Budget more for music, and attach a local music talent to score a single show, to keep the tone consistent
Given what we’ve seen in past productions, Singapore can come up with good stories to tell and has the talent to tell them. The local TV monopoly needs to realize that they’re alienating viewers by setting the quality bar too low such that it tends to produce more drivel than hits.
The subject-matter and acting styles can be more varied. How about a sci-fi series? Scripts, dialogue, sound, music, cinematography and post production has to improve. A show is an experience, and every aspect counts.
Don’t disappoint the next generation of viewers.
