When I was at one of the many colleges I attended over the better part of a decade, I saw a class offered on “Film”. I thought to myself, which is usually the best way to do it, “Huh, self. I like films. And to get three credits for watching them? That’s a non-brainer.”
[dropcaps type=”colored”]S[/dropcaps]o I signed up for what turned out to be a semester spent dissecting and discussing such box office smashes as “Hiroshima Mon Amour”, “The Tree Of The Wooden Clogs” and “Waiting For Godot”. Though, to be honest, I was momentarily excited for the day we were going to screen “The 400 Blows”.
What I came away from it with was an appreciation for Ben Gazarra and some lessons that can be applied to morning show “bits”, charitable campaigns and later, social media.
Great films have a story line that is never predictable and keeps you engaged through the credits. Most of our charity stuff is wallpaper devoid of a premise or a reason. So, when it was time for Paco Lopez at 102 Jamz in Orlando to do a school supply drive there was a set up, a plot twist and finally the finale.
There was an actual reason to do this: the Y2K computer screenings of the school district system kicked out his name as a delinquent library book holder. He’d taken out “Yes Bobby, Your Body IS Changing” in 5th grade and never returned it. The fine was $37,000+ dollars, but the superintendent offered to waive the charge if Paco could help them hit their goal for supplies for low income students.
Bing, as Ned Reyerson would say. Now there’s a premise.
So you need to raise funds for the Burned Kittens Foundation? First ask yourself “Why?” and then create a theatrical answer to that question.
Conflict, Resolution. That’s the formula for film. Applied to a morning show contest or feature, what do you think “War Of The Roses” is?
Great films and TV shows have an antagonist. Newman on “Friends” would be a terrific example of someone who added a great new element to the show as it headed into its middle years.
So how do you address that on the Radio or on social media? A few of the night shows have added “crazy listeners” to their arsenal. Just some nuts woman who hates them and is continually attacking them on Facebook…which immediately activates the fans to rush to his defense.
Last night? Steve O from KDWB was Tweeting about how he was going to be interviewing a member of One Direction today. I jumped in and replied “Harry or one of the other ones who no one knows their names and will be working at a food court in ’15?”.
Every party needs a douchebag that’s why they invited me. Twitter blew up and today I’m the most hated man in Minnesota, which is becoming a bit of a trend these days. But it completely jumpstarted the thread, and honestly, when was the last time you Tweeted anything that got more than one reply?
Next week? Our special guests will be Ray Jay Johnson, Phyllis Davis, Brett Somers, the majesty of the Shenkman Puppets and some more lessons from our friends in Hollywood.
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