Historic 1987 CBC broadcast features former MCHS teacher Graeme Decarie speaking of demise of $1 bill

1. 

   graeme decarie says:

   February 14, 2017 at 10:49 am

   Well, I was expecting a Valentine card. But this is almost as good.

   I hope this reply gets through. I recently had trouble with one..

   graeme

   Reply
2. 

   Jaan Pill says:

   February 14, 2017 at 10:52 am

   This reply (the one in previous Comment panel) works well. Can you resend the previous message?

   You do a great job of playing the role of CBC commentator. Highly professional! One has to get into the role. That along with a command of content is the key to an affective TV performance. Role play, which is a vital part of communications, is the second item on my recently made-up theory of storytelling:

   Storytelling: Getting attention; playing the role; collaboration

   I couldn’t just stop with three key elements; I had to add three more. I think that’s where I’ll stop. Six is a good number of items, at least for now:

   The elements of good storytelling include (4) backstaging, (5) reinhabitation of places through narrative, and (6) open-endedness

   An additional theory is that we’re all experts at storytelling, unless we are not. I like to make sure that I have all the bases covered.

   What is valuable about my theory is that it’s applicable to every meeting that I go to, such as the following meeting attended on Feb. 7, 2017 in New Toronto:

   Advisory Group for Long Branch Urban Design Guidelines had a productive meeting on Feb. 7, 2017

   Pure and Breaking Bad

   I also recently applied my theory to the final show of the season for the CBC TV series Pure. I also applied it to the ads that continuously disrupted the show. I don’t quite see how people can watch such great material night after night. I guess if a person got into the TV-watching habit when young, they can watch such a combination of content (two forms of scripted role play drama: ‘serious drama’ and ‘ad drama’) forever. I also saw a bit of CNN news when I watched the Pure season finale. The role play was strongly reminiscent of the TV show and the ads. CNN is a third form of dramatic storytelling. One thing blends effortlessly into the other.

   Here’s my Pure quick review:

   1. Attention: To capture the viewer’s interest in such a show, good to have some extreme conflict. In fact, it’s (generally speaking) a requirement. A script calling for the shooting people, strangling of them, or burning them at the stake demonstrates the necessity of some good “hooks” to get people involved with dramatic build-up of interest and suspense.

   2. Play the role: The acting has to be good. In the Pure series, the acting is good. Great timing on the facial expressions, the fleeting play of emotions. Good editing goes with that, as it directs the viewer’s attention.

   3. Collaborate: Good production values in the series. Everybody works together. That said, the action occurs in a pretty limited set of locations. There’s the feeling of a fixed stage. Cameras tend to be pretty static. But who cares? The viewer’s capacity for suspension of disbelief is well developed.

   4. Backstaging: The fronstage concerns rituals (and ritual statements) related to strong held beliefs, whatever the religion may be. The backstage concerns the political economy of the cocaine trade. Without the Drug Wars, such storytelling would not be possible. So in a sense, as story followers (that is, consumers of storytelling) we owe thanks to the Drug Wars.

   5. Reinhabitation of place through narrative: One day, the TV technical crew is wandering around an empty movie set. Then the talent turns up and the story springs to life. That is, “people make the place.” The concept applies to: 1) scriptwriters; 2) camera people, sound people, lighting people, logistics people; and actors; 3) editors; 4) producers; 5) broadcasters.

   6. Open-Endedness: There are many ways to look at things. I’m reminded of the Netflix series Breaking Bad.

   Reply
3. 

   Jaan Pill says:

   February 14, 2017 at 11:47 am

   I owe thanks to Bob Carswell for sharing a message from Graeme Decarie to Bob:

   Could you please tell Jaan I’m having trouble replying to his messages. The screen message says it cannot send because I have not filled in two boxes marked with a star. But I have have filled them in.

   There is a third one I have not filled in because I don’t know how to. But it is NOT marked by a star.

   Interesting wartime pictures you sent.

   Graeme Decarie

   Reply

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