BLOOD AND SAND

It is intriguing how TV is slowly turning into short format versions of feature films. The quality and the effects are being improved every day on television. From a business stand point of view, I believe that the series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is a perfect example for this. In the following behind the scenes video, you can see how the production approached their effects work in a very unconventional way for a TV series. It actually resembles the ones of high budget studio films, and I even dare to say that it operates to a whole new level by adding some styles not even seen in Hollywood features before.

I believe the future of television has been changing with the passing of time and the evolution of new technologies. It is imperative as filmmakers to realize TV series are also career targets, ever since so many filmmakers only dream with making feature films. Stories are stories, and good content is good content. It can be told throughout multiple formats and platforms. The industry is leading to high quality and easy-access platforms already which do not only involve Blu-ray and other 3D technologies, but also Netflix and Amazon-on-demand online streaming. That in the mixture with this evolving trend of feature film quality TV series raises the bar for all of us filmmakers. It is our task to change our mindsets to keep the good content flowing, but with the goal of also selling it throughout these new platforms and formats. We cannot forget that in the end we are also “sales men” which bring new products to the table. I agree, we have the freedom to choose our styles and type of content. It is in deed however our task to understand that we still need a target audience beacuse we are selling entertainment, and not showcasing free personal projects to our families and friends. We are showing it to people who know nothing about us and only value what they see on screen.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand” is a series that sets an example for us. Regardless of the type of content and your personal taste or opinions about it, the product sells. It rejects the soap opera look and regains a cinematic view that is admired by audiences worldwide. The show brings elements that we have seen before such as in “300” and “The Matrix”. Yet, it also brings new elements to the TV series format such as a more intrinsic storyline than “300” but with a superb production value. Just like with “The Sopranos”, the series is taking time to produce and deliver its seasons in the market, but it already has an assured audience craving and waiting for the new episodes to be released.