MAN ALIVE - AMC Research - Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad Research

Breaking Bad is one of my favourite AMC productions and the style of script writing will be a huge influence for MAN ALIVE. The series deals with changing the protagonist into the antagonist. I want to develop this in our series too by changing Ethan Harper in to antagonist, and Michael Harding into a protagonist. I find it interesting that through script writing and the ability time gives to story development, you can change an audiences whole perception of a character from what you first created. 

Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer at the beginning of the series. He turns to a life of crime, producing and selling methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), with the aim of securing his family's financial future before he dies.[1]

Premiering on January 20, 2008, the series is broadcast in the United States and Canada on the cable channel AMC and is a production of Sony Pictures Television. On August 14, 2011, AMC announced that Breaking Bad had been renewed for a fifth and final season consisting of 16 episodes. This final season is split into two parts, each consisting of 8 episodes and broadcast over the course of two years; the first half premiered on July 15, 2012, and concluded on September 2, 2012, and the second half is scheduled to begin in summer 2013.

Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim. The series has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards—including three consecutive wins for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Cranston, two wins for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Paul, and three nominations for Outstanding Drama Series. Cranston has also been nominated three times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series: Drama and nominated four times for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, which he won for the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Conception

Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan, who spent several years writing the Fox series The X-Files. Gilligan wanted to create a series in which the protagonist became the antagonist. "Television is historically good at keeping its characters in a self-imposed stasis so that shows can go on for years or even decades," he said. "When I realized this, the logical next step was to think, how can I do a show in which the fundamental drive is toward change?" He added that his goal with Walter White is to turn him from Mr. Chips into Scarface. The concept emerged as Gilligan talked with his fellow writer Thomas Schnauz, and they joked regarding their unemployment that the solution was "putting a meth lab in the back of an RV and driving around the country cooking meth and making money."

Gilligan has said it is difficult to write for Walter White because the character is so dark and morally questionable: "I'm going to miss the show when it's over, but on some level, it'll be a relief to not have Walt in my head anymore." Gilligan later said that the idea for Walter's character intrigued him so much that he "didn't really give much thought on how well it would sell", stating that he would have given up on the premise given it was "such an odd, dark story" that could have difficulties being pitched to studios. As the series has progressed, Gilligan and the writing staff of Breaking Bad have made Walter increasingly unsympathetic. Gilligan said: "He's going from being a protagonist to an antagonist. We want to make people question who they're pulling for, and why." Cranston said by the fourth season: "I think Walt's figured out it's better to be a pursuer than the pursued. He's well on his way to badass." Gilligan defines the term "breaking bad" as "to raise hell".

While still pitching the show to studios, Gilligan was initially discouraged when he learned of the existence of Weeds, and of its similarities to the premise of Breaking Bad. While his producers convinced him that the show was different enough to still be successful, he later stated that he would not have gone forward with the idea had he known about Weeds earlier.

Development history

The network ordered nine episodes for the first season (including the pilot), but the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike limited the production to seven episodes. The series is set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.It is shot on 35 mm film. Breaking Bad reportedly costs $3 million per episode to produce, higher than the average cost for a basic cable program.

In July 2011, Vince Gilligan indicated that he intended to conclude Breaking Bad with the fifth season. In early August 2011, negotiations began over a deal regarding the fifth and possible final season between the network AMC and Sony Pictures Television, the production company of the series. AMC proposed a shortened fifth season (six to eight episodes, instead of 13) to cut costs, but the producers declined. Sony then approached other cable networks about possibly picking up the show if a deal could not be made. On August 14, 2011, AMC renewed the series for 16 episodes.

CAST:

• Bryan Cranston as Walter White – a chemistry teacher diagnosed with Stage IIIA lung cancer who turns to making meth to secure his family's finances. As his shady businesses progress, Walter gains a notorious reputation under the name of Heisenberg. Cranston stated that, though he enjoyed doing comedy, he decided he "...should really focus on doing something else. But I think any good drama worth its weight always has a sprinkling of comedy in it, because you can ease the tension to an audience when it's necessary, and then build it back up again. Walt White has no clue he's occasionally funny, but as an actor I recognize when there are comedic moments and opportunities."[24]
• Anna Gunn as Skyler White – Walter's wife who was pregnant with their second child prior to his diagnosis, and who becomes increasingly suspicious of her husband after he begins behaving in unfamiliar ways. Gunn sees Skyler as "grounded, tough, smart and driven". Gunn sees Skyler's stalled writing career as her biggest dream, saying "I think she really deep down yearns to be an artist and to be creative and productive."[25]
• Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman – Walter's former student, Pinkman is a drug dealer who partners up with Walt and makes high-level meth. Paul sees Jesse as a funny kid. "He's just this lost soul – I don't think he's a bad kid, he just got mixed in the wrong crowd." Paul elaborated on the character's background, saying "He doesn't come from an abusive, alcoholic background. But maybe he just didn't relate to his father, maybe his father was too strict and too proper for Jesse." Paul compared the character's relationship with Walt to The Odd Couple.[26]
• Dean Norris as Hank Schrader – Walter's DEA agent brother-in-law. Hank has been described as the "comic relief." Norris, who has played several cops before in film and television, stated "Having played so many cops, I've talked with a lot of technical advisers, so I've been able to pick up a lot. Coincidentally, one of my best friends growing up is a cop in Chicago, and one of my other best friends out in LA is a sheriff. So I get to see all the components of that culture."[27]
• Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader – Hank's wife and Skyler's kleptomaniac sister. Brandt described Marie as "an unpleasant bitch", but also stated there was more to her than that. "I think we're seeing more of it now that she would be there for her family. But it's all about her."[28]
• RJ Mitte as Walter White, Jr. – Walter and Skyler's son, has cerebral palsy. He begins lashing out after Walter's cancer announcement. Like Walter Jr., Mitte has cerebral palsy, although his is a milder form.[29] Mitte stated he had to regress from his therapy to portray the character, staying up late into the night to slur his speech and learning to walk on crutches so his walking wouldn't look fake.[30]
• Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman (recurring season 2, main cast season 3–5) – a crooked strip mall lawyer who represents Walt and Jesse. Odenkirk based his character on film producer Robert Evans. "I thought about Robert Evans because I've listened to The Kid Stays in the Picture on CD. He's constantly switching up his cadence and his delivery. He emphasizes interesting words. He has loads of attitude in almost every line that he says. So when I rehearse the scenes alone I do my impersonation of Robert Evans to find those moments and turns. Then I go out and I do Saul."[31]
• Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo "Gus" Fring (recurring season 2, main cast season 3–4) – a high level drug distributor who has a cover as a fast food chain owner. Esposito stated for the third season, he incorporated his yoga training in his performance. "Gus is the coolest cucumber that ever walked the Earth. I think about Eddie Olmos way back in Miami Vice. He was like dead – he was hardly breathing. I thought, how is this guy just standing in this fire and doing nothing? Gus has totally allowed me that level of flexibility and relaxation – not because he has ultimate power and he knows he can take someone's life. He's just confident."[32]
• Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (guest star season 2, main cast season 3–5) – an all-purpose cleaner and hitman who works for Gus. The character of Mike has been compared to Harvey Keitel's Winston Wolf character in Pulp Fiction, which Banks says he isn't trying to emulate: "I immediately tried to put it out of my mind, quite honestly. His cleaner ain't my cleaner. But throughout this world, you would suspect there had been a great many cleaners, whether government-run or individual contractors."

MAN ALIVE - Creating the world Part 2

MAN ALIVE SETTING THE SCENE

THE NETWORK (aka TNW)

The Network is a television corporation, run by multinational individuals, with inprecidnented wealth and power  from all over the world, which they accumilate through running global media. The Network owns newspapers, television stations, film production and telephone communications in every corner of the Earth.  In the last decade, The Network has gained the rights to the prison system in America. It has given total control of every Primary State prison to the public, by the creation of “CellBlock” a totally interactive television show. The Network, aquried the prisons, after the continuing economic downturn in the United States, which eventually resulted in Bankruptcy. Crime rose at an alarming rate,   and prisons were overflowing with prisoners, with no money to secure, guard or feed them. The Network’s bid was granted in the house of the representatives and the senate, and finalised by the current president. After serving for eight years, he is now ready to leave office, but has gained much respect and love by the people, for being firm and fair, and starting to build the economy back up from the ground. The Network, however need more power, and more controversial laws passed through government, and have spent BILLIONS on the Campaign for their CEO Michael Haring to be elected as the new President this coming spring. He has many plans up his sleeve, with no real desire for peace or justice, just absolute control, global domination and media success. His first move will be to get “Lockdown: Last Man Standing”, commissioned. 

Televison prisons

Each cell is fitted with a tablet pc built into the wall, that notifies the prisoners each day what they have been selected for, i.e. their food, yard time, activities work etc, from the audience outside. 

Prisoners lives are generally voted for by the public, although some high paying customers can choose to sponsor a prisoner, usually family or enemies who want to improve or degrade their life in prison.

The tablet can also show them videos selected by the public and music, for an hour a day. Once a month, messages can also be posted by family and friends. The communication is only one way.  The prisoners have NO communication with the outside world what so ever, there is no visiting. One package a month however is granted with one letter.

Each cell has one camera on the ceiling, and one in the Tablet PC, there is no audio, and any breach of the communication rules are severely punished, so prisoners are not allowed to mouth dialogue to the outside world or write notes. The highly intelligent cameras can pick up on this right away. 

The television series on focusses on State Primary Prisons as these are of High Security, particularly those with death row, as executions are broadcasted live. Other prisons are only viewable on dedicated websites. State Primary prisons are viewable twenty four seven, with a two hour highlight package “CELLBLOCK” each night, on TNW. 

Of course there is a lot of corruption, money and sponsorship plays a huge part. 

Due to the level of surveillance there has never been an escape, and in the history of American Justice, “Cell Block” has been the most effective way of running state prisons. 

Lockdown Games

Every year, the last two weeks of August, hosts the The Lockdown Games” - where the primary state High Security prison is locked down for two weeks, with none of the audience voting on their lives. They are in a state of limbo with basic rations and no yard time. They can however watch the games on the Cell Devices (A built in wall iPad). At the beginning of July, voting opens, for audiences to select ten prisoners, from each primary state prison to compete. Throughout the two weeks, the chosen prisoners will fight, in a knockout tournament. The winner is granted early parole. 

Man Alive - Creating the World Part 1

The Backround Story to Man Alive - Rules of the Game

MAN ALIVE SETTING THE SCENE

America - a modern reality, the government as we know it has collapsed, after the financial crisis took a turn for the worse, bankrupted America and they were forced to go war with North Korea. A television network, placed a bid to sponsor the prison system after crime escalated beyond control , in return for filming rights. As their power progressed the state of prisons were left in their hands, with the viewing public voting all aspects of the inmates life. Currently the CEO of the the network, Michael Harding is running for President and has plans to televise a new“Game” for inmates. 

As the situation stands, those who were in prison before the change want to get out and those outside want to get in. In an age where anyone will do anything to have five minutes in the spotlight, whether money is included or not, a prison system with cameras seems like the new platform for reality stardom. 

The prison is controlled by The Network, but most decisions are voted for by the public, for instance when a new prisoner is announced they can select from multiple choice, his sentence, his cell mate, his food rations and privileges. Most actions of the prisoners are viewable 24 seven via the internet, and a two hour highlight every night on TNW (The Network). 

“Lockdown” is the period once a year where inmates are on lockdown for two weeks, without any privileges and where the members of the public have no control over their lives.  Ten inmates are selected by the public to take part in a fighting tournament. The winner gets parol and with him a monatary reward to start his new life. 

Harding, The CEO running for president, wants to gain power in order to change the “Lockdown” into a fight for the death. He believes he can gain large support from eastern countries who would increase the audience ratings online and provide him with more power and investment. The prize would become $100,00,000 equal to just $1,000 dollars now due to the financial crisis and catastrophic inflation

To test the waters for such a change, the CEO has set up an execution to go wrong in Coldmarsh prison, if the video goes viral, and a mans death is shown graphically but enjoyed by audiences, than LOCKDOWN: Last Man Standing will be introduced. 

On his rise to power, he has had a number of senates wiped out, including Senator Lawson, a prime candidate for the presidency. Instead of killing him off, which would have looked too suspicious in a world where everyone is watching, the CEO has publicly ruined his life, by hacking every aspect of it and convincing people he is a child raping murderer.  Senator Lawson is locked away in Coldmarsh Prison where a pilot run of the fight to the death lockdown is due to be held. There he meets Ethan Harper.

Ethan Hunter is an ex LAPD officier, He was locked away after trying to shine a light on the brutality of the force, when his life was hacked, showing him to be benefiting from every known drug dealer in LA, including the murder of his partner. He is serving on Death Row.

Ethan MUST get out of prison to save his wife and their sick child MOLLY.  He knows only too well that the corrupt cops will try and hide them from the rest of the world. The Network’s main priority is ratings, they do not side with the police when it comes to audience opinion. If Ethan can win over their votes, he will attempt to wine “Lockdown  Last Man Standing” 

MAN ALIVE - THE IDEA

“Man Alive”

“Cellblock” - Is the name of the TV show

“Lockdown” - The name of the Competition held each year

“Lockdown: Last Man Standing” - The Show proposed by the president candidate

The Idea

Man Alive, is a Ten Part mini series, written for the network AMC, for Sundays at 9pm. The series will be aired  between the two halves of the Walking Dead series four which is due to air Oct - December 2013 and Febuary 2014 till April 201. Man Alive would begin 8th December 2013.

The series is a satirical drama, set in a world where the global media orgnisation, The Network, has total control of The American Prison System. Taking advantage of a bankrupt United States, The Network aka TNW, has turned the correction facilities into an around the clock television programme, viewable on multi-platforms. With a corrupt police force and a justice system that only cares for ratings, will Ethan Harper an Ex LAPD officer, who has been framed for the murder of his partner, survive the notorious Coldmarsh Prison?  

Man Alive, takes Prison Break, mixes it with Black Mirror, The Hunger Games and Big Brother then ramps up the volume. The most frightening aspect of the series is that the audience can see this happening around the corner.

The key plotline in the first series, sees Ethan Harper, trying to find a way to get back home and make his fellow colleagues pay. His only escape is to play “Lockdown” a annual contest on “CellBlock”, where inmates fight for the winner takes all prize of freedom. Little does he know that the soon to be President and sadistic CEO Michael Harding plans to make “Lockdown” a fight to the death, to raise his wealth and power to an unprecedented level, but all is not as it seems. With twists and turns, betrayal and corruption no one is who they appear to be. 

The series deals with issues of Globalisation, Voyerism, Media Control, Corruption and Computer technology, with satirical storytelling and an unapologetic intensity.

MAN ALIVE - Series Names Ideas

Naming Our Series

Initially I came up with the name “Lockdown”, which is a key part of the story. However we felt AMC tend to use catchy two words names such as “Breaking Bad”, “The Killing”, “Mad Men”. In line with this we played around with a few ideas of escaping, freedom, a journey, media, news etc and we decided on “MAN ALIVE”

“Lockdown” still features in our series as it is the name of the games featured in the show within the show. “Cellblock being the name of the fictional television programme.

Lauren has been working on logo ideas which I am really pleased with. I gave her the prison I want to base ours on, which is San Quentin in San Francisco, which she has used in the logo. The colours are also important due to the style and tone, as well as the themes of incarceration, justice, power, technology and media power. I will therefore be using the below logo form now on. 

MAN ALIVE - AMC - Network Research

AMC Network:

“STORY MATTERS HERE”

AMC History;

“AMC Networks Inc. has been dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years. AMC Networks owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television” -AMC website

AMC is an American cable television specialty channel that primarily airs films, along with a limited amount of original programming. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics; since 2002, the full name has been de-emphasised as a result of a major shift in programming. AMC is owned by AMC Networks and signed on October 1, 1984. AMC's most successful original series include Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Hell on Wheels.

For most of its first 18 years, AMC provided uncut and uncolored films without commercial interruption. Its revenue came from the cable providers that offered the channel to subscribers. AMC then gradually began to put ads between, and then also within, movies. This began in 1998 when AMC began incorporating limited commercial interruptions between films, while its sister movie channel Romance Classics became an entirely ad-supported channel.

From 2002 to 2007 AMC has been showing classic films and documentaries about film history such as Backstory and Movies that Shook the World. In 2007, AMC debuted Mad Men, a period piece about Madison Avenue advertising executives in the 1960s. The show was immediately lauded by critics, and has won 15 Emmy awards. The establishment of Mad Men, followed by that of Breaking Bad in 2008, has given AMC a reputation on par with premium cable networks HBO and Showtime, both of which rejected Mad Men before it came to AMC.

Original Series That AMC have created, and show where Man Alive would fit. 

Mad Men - 2007

Breaking Bad - 2008

The Prisoner - 2009

The Walking Dead - 2010

The Killing - 2011

AMC Networks Inc. has been an innovator in television programming and entertainment for 32 years. AMC Networks owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television, AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and IFC Films.

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to win the Emmy^® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe^® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience celebrates great stories. AMC’s origin l stories include the critically acclaimed dramas Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and The Killing. AMC launched in 1984 as American Movie Classics.

IFC creates and champions authentic, original content that is "Always On. Slightly Off." Since 1994, IFC has cultivated television programming that challenges the conventions of storytelling. Today, IFC continues to embrace content with an indie perspective. Original series - headlined by brand-defining scripted and sketch comedy such as Onion News Network and Portlandia - air alongside an extraordinary collection of films and cult TV shows. IFC’s long and short-form original content inspired by music, web, gaming, animation, news, and culture is available on multiple platforms.

Sundance Channel is the destination for Whats Next, Now. Showcasing both today’s creative icons and the emerging talent of tomorrow, Sundance Channel tells credible, authentic and emotionally immersive stories of invention, fashion, film, travel, design and enterprise. The network’s originals include the social media phenomenon Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and All on the Line starring Joe Zee. Launched in 1996, the network provides perspectives dedicated to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity.

WE tv is the women’s network devoted to the wild ride of relationships during life’s defining moments. The original series and hit wedding shows, including Braxton Family Values, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, Bridezillas and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, underscore the network’s brand position and tagline, Life As WE Know It, which signifies the connection that women share based on similar life experiences. WE tv launched in 1997 and was originally branded Romance Classics.

IFC Films consists of multiple brands that are devoted to bringing the best of specialty films to the largest possible audience: Sundance Selects, IFC Films, IFC Midnight, IFC Productions, IFC Center and SundanceNow. IFC Films pioneered a distribution model that makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on demand. All three of their distribution labels currently utilize this unique model: Sundance Selects, a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films that focuses on American independents, documentaries and world cinema; IFC Films, a leading U.S. distributor of high profile talent-driven independent film; and IFC Midnight,a leading U.S. distributor of genre entertainment, including horror, science-fiction, thrillers, erotic art house, action and more.  The division also operates IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; IFC Center, a five screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York\’s Greenwich Village; and SundanceNow, an online destination where consumers can rent or buy the best in contemporary and classic independent films from all over world.

MAN ALIVE - Production Concept Initial Ideas

Initial Ideas.

Over the past year my consumption of television series in particular those from America, have taking over my viewing of cinema. This is a fundamental change, as most evenings I would watch 1-2 films, now I watch 3-4 episodes of a series. I feel that since the Band of Brothers, production values in American Television has seen an enormous boost, and the writing has improved, especially with the works of AMC such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. 

Currently I am watching a number of American series; The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Breaking Bad and The Revolution. Due to this I feel I have a good understanding of how series work in America, and unfortunately they are overall much better than the UK’s (except perhaps the recent Utopia and Black mirror). I have therefore been longing to attempt writing an American television series, with elements of British story telling and technique, and will do so for my Production Concept Brief.

To Get Started I will need to:

• Research the channel I would like to produce the show with (AMC)

• Research the screenplays of their famous shows

• Research my story elements, create a world

• Create Basic Plot outline

• Create Characters and Profiles

• Cast Characters (I find it easier to write when I have someone in mind to play them)

• Fine tune elements of the story

• Begin writing the script.